Inspector Lynley 18 - Just One Evil Act

face, it seemed a calculation of her words was being made. Knowledge appeared to be breaking over him, and he seemed to confirm this when he put his hand on the back of her neck, said, “
Cara, cara
,” and drew her closer.
    The heat of his hand on her flesh was like a brand that marked her forever his. She felt it throughout her body, even to her blood.
    “
Cara, cara, cara
,” he murmured. “
Non me la riprenderò più, mai più
.” He lowered his mouth to hers. His tongue probed and caressed. Then he lifted the linen shift she wore.
    “
L’hai nascosta?
” he said against her mouth. “
Perché non sta nel granaio?
Te l’ho detto, no?
‘
La bambina deve rimanere dentro il granaio.’ Non ti ricordi? Cara, cara?
”
    But how could she have kept Carina hidden within the cold stone barn as he had demanded she do? Domenica wondered. She was a child, and a child must be free.
    He rained tender kisses against her neck. His fingers touched her. First here. Then there. And the flames seemed to eat at her flesh as he lowered her gently to the ground. On the ground, he entered her and he moved within her with mesmerising rhythm. She could not abhor it.
    “
La bambina
,” he murmured into her ear. “
Capisci?
L’ho ritornata, tesoro. Non me la riprenderò. Allora. Dov’è? Dov’è? Dov’è?
” And with each thrust, he said the words, Where is she? I brought her back to you, my treasure.
    Domenica received him. She allowed the mantle of sensations to cover her until they peaked at their completion. She did not think.
    Afterwards, he lay panting in her arms. But only for an instant before he rose. He adjusted his clothing. He looked down upon her, and she saw his lip move in a twist that did not speak of love. “
Copriti
,” he said between his teeth. “
Dio mio. Copriti.
”
    She lowered her linen shift in compliance. She looked up at the sky. Its blue was unbroken by a single cloud. The sun shone in it, like God’s grace falling upon her face.
    “
Mi senti? Mi senti?
”
    No, she
hadn’t
been listening. She hadn’t been there. She’d been in the arms of her beloved but now—
    He jerked her upright. “
Domenica,
dov’è la bambina?
” He barked the words.
    She scrambled to her feet. She looked to the earth where, between the rows of fresh young lettuces, the mark of her body flattened the dirt. She gazed at this in confusion. “
Che cos’è successo?
” she murmured, and she looked at him. She said insistently, “
Roberto. Che cos’è successo qui?
”
    “
Pazza
,” he responded. “
Sei sempre stata pazza
.”
    From this, she knew that something had indeed occurred between them. She could feel it in her body, and she could smell it in the air. They’d mated in the dirt like animals, and she’d stained her soul yet another time.
    He asked again where the little girl was, and Sister Domenica Giustina felt the pain of this question like a sword piercing her side to take the last of her blood. She said to him, “
Mi hai portato via la bambina già una volta. Non ti permetterò
di farlo di nuovo.
”
    She repeated herself, insistently this time: He’d taken the child away from her once. He would not do so again.
    He lit a cigarette. He tossed the match to one side. He smoked and said, “How can you trust me so little, Domenica? I was young. So were you. We are older now. You have her somewhere. You must take me to her.”
    “What will you do?”
    “I mean no harm. I want to know she is well. I have clothing for her. Come. I’ll show you. It’s in the car.”
    “If it is, you may leave it and go your way.”
    “
Cara
,” he murmured. “This I cannot do.” He glanced beyond them where through the magnificent camellia hedge the villa loomed, silent but watchful. “You do not wish me to remain here,” he said. “That would not be good for either of us.”
    She understood what he was threatening. He would remain. There would be trouble unless she produced the child.
    “Show me the clothing,” she said.
    “That is my wish.” He opened the gate and held it for her. As she passed him, he smiled. His fingers lightly touched her neck, and she shuddered at the feeling of his flesh upon her own.
    At the car, she saw the bags on the floor. There were two of them. He had not lied. Clothing was folded neatly within them. It was a little girl’s clothing, used but still serviceable.
    She looked at him. He said, “I seek her comfort, Domenica. You must learn to trust me again.”
    She