Carpathian 10 - Dark Symphony

Eleanor Belandrake and their son, Josef, into the conservatory, Signorina Antonietta."
    The silence was deafening. Byron wrapped a comforting arm around Antonietta. "I take it Enrico is no longer alive." He had a sudden urge to laugh at the ridiculous situation but was certain Antonietta wouldn't appreciate his sense of humor.
    "Dead as can be," Helena admitted, pressing a hand to her mouth. "The maids went looking for the missing tablecloth, and the smell was so bad—"
    Antonietta held up her hand. "Spare us, please, Helena. This can't be happening, Byron. I can't have your family for dinner with a dead body in the laundry chute. What am I going to do? Poor Enrico. He's very large. I can't imagine how he got in there."
    "He's stuck," Helena reported. "I have no idea how we're going to get him out."
    "I will speak to my sister and her husband, Antonietta. I am certain they will understand.
    Call Captain Diego and inform him we have found the missing chef." We will discuss Marita later, when things have settled down. I'm sorry about your chef, and your mother's tablecloth.
    "We can't possibly uninvite your family for dinner," An-tonietta was horrified. Poor Enrico. He kept to himself, but he was a fixture here.
    Marita gasped aloud when Franco walked in, dressed in a charcoal gray suit. "Gossip
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    9/13/2007

    Dark Symphony
    Page 127 of 188
    travels fast here in the palazzo. Tasha is informing the authorities and asking them to be discreet and use the servant's entrance. Nonno is entertaining your guests in the conservatory, and you know he can be very charming." Franco squeezed his cousin's shoulder in sympathy.
    "We can pull this off, Toni. Don't panic. Marita, I'm allowing Vincente and Margurite a movie while we're dining. Please go quickly and get dressed. This dinner means a great deal to Toni, and we won't fail her."
    "We can't possibly sit down to dinner with a dead body in the laundry chute," Marita said.
    "Don Giovanni is explaining right at this moment that we've had a death in the palazzo.
    Enrico lived here practically his entire life. He's one of ours, and he'll be taken care of. Toni, you look beautiful. Go with Byron and meet his family. I understand there is some hysteria in the kitchen. I'll go down and see that the new chef, what's his name?"
    "Alfredo," Antonietta supplied.
    "I'll make certain Alfredo calms down and doesn't disgrace us. I'll take care of this, Toni.
    I know what this means to you. Marita, do as I say." He glanced around the room, noted the broken glass on the floor and the papers clutched in Marita's hands.
    She looked desperately at Antonietta and Byron as if they might save her, then she turned and ran from the room.
    "Helena, calm the maids and make certain this room is cleaned," Franco ordered.
    "Yes, Signor Scarletti."
    Franco took Antonietta's hand. "It will be all right, Toni. We'll get through this together, the way our family always does. Byron's relatives will be charmed by you."
    "In spite of the dead body in the laundry chute, wrapped in my mother's Irish lace tablecloth," Antonietta said wryly. "I just don't believe this is happening. Poor Enrico. Who would want to hurt him?"
    Byron hugged her close. "We will find out, Antonietta. I promise you. There is not much we can do for him at the moment. Come meet my family. It will not matter in the least to them if there is no dinner. They came to meet you, not to eat." Bella, do not be so distressed. I know you held affection for Enrico, I feel it in your heart. Marita's behavior is not what it seems. I read her mind, and she does not want money. She detests and fears this man. I could not tell why. She is very emotional, and it was difficult to see past the intensity to the real reason she took the Handel score. When I have time, I will examine her memories and find out what is going on.
    Antonietta leaned her head against his chest. "I feel as if my entire life has been turned upside down. Franco, did you see Tasha's face? You've known Christopher since he was a child. Did you know he was capable of such a thing?"
    Franco shook his head. "I plan on calling on him tomorrow."
    "There is no need, Franco." Byron spoke low, but his voice carried power. "I will have a talk with Christopher Demonesini about how one treats a woman. You have too