Lair of the Lion

instantly relaxed. "I met Sergio Drannacia's wife, Violante, today. She was interesting."
    Francesca nodded wisely. " 'Interesting' is one way to describe her. She likes being a Drannacia, that's for certain. When she was a girl, she used to tell her famiglia she would marry a Drannacia, and she did." Francesca flashed a mischievous grin. "She seduced him.
    She's way older than he is."
    "She seems as if she could be quite nice, given the chance. I'm withholding judgment for the time being. I think she is more intimidated by the palazzo than she cares to admit. I felt a little sorry for her. She's afraid her husband doesn't look at her with the eyes of love."
    "He probably doesn't!" Francesca sniffed, making her opinion known. "She's always ordering him around. She wants a grander home, to rebuild the Drannacia palazzo. She nags Sergio to ask permission from Nicolai, then mocks him that he needs the permission." She imitated Violante's strident voice. " 'That it has come to this, the Drannacia name every bit as good as DeMarco, groveling for his permission to rebuild what is already yours.' " She flipped her hair around, primping continually. "She thinks she's so beautiful, but really, if she's not careful, she'll end up with lines all over her face from frowning at everybody."
    "It must be difficult to be older than your husband. Sergio Drannacia is handsome and charming. She probably worries that many women are attracted to him and willing to bed him."
    Francesca twisted her hair around one finger thoughtfully. "I didn't think of that. I have seen some of the women flirting with him." She sighed softly. "That would be difficult. But she isn't very nice, Isabella, so it's hard to feel sorry for her. She didn't love him, you know.
    She just wanted a title."
    "How do you know she didn't love him?" Isabella asked, curious. She tried unsuccessfully to stifle a yawn.
    "I heard her. She told her madre she would have her own palazzo, and she didn't care what she had to do to get it. She seduced Sergio and then pretended she feared she carried a babe. Of course he did the honorable thing and married her, but there was no child then, and there hasn't been since. I think she's afraid that if her belly grows round, he won't want her."
    "If she wanted power, why didn't she go after Nicolai?" Isabella couldn't imagine looking at another man while Nicolai was free.

    Francesca looked startled. "Everyone is terrified of Nicolai. And Nicolai isn't one to fall for a woman because she bares her breasts for him. Nor would he let a woman treat his people unfairly or berate them for accidents. He wouldn't stand for Violante's vanity. She keeps the dressmaker busy all the time, and she's never satisfied."
    "How sad. I think it's possible she's fallen in love with her husband." Isabella sighed and curled up beneath the coverlet. "There's a sadness in her eyes. I wish I knew how to help her."
    "She might try smiling once in a while," Francesca pointed out. "You're too nice, Isabella. She's not losing sleep over you."
    . "I also met Theresa Bartolmei, and our encounter was so embarrassing. Her husband had tried to save me from Alberita's wayward broom, and he gripped me by the wrist, so it looked as if we were holding hands." Isabella laughed softly. "You should have seen their faces, Francesca! Do you know Theresa?"
    "I wish I had been there. That surely gave Violante food for gossip. No doubt she's still repeating the story to Sergio."
    "He was there. And so was Nicolai."
    Francesca looked shocked. "Nicolai?" she breathed in awe. "What did he do?"
    "Laughed with me, of course, only not in front of the others. I felt sorry for Theresa, because the incident obviously shocked her."
    Francesca tossed her head. "She's always crying and whining for her madre. And she isn't very good with the servants. She annoys them whenever she visits. And she's terrified of the don." Francesca said the last with satisfaction.
    "Why would she be afraid of him?"
    Francesca's gaze flicked away. "You know. Once, when he maintained his own visage, she was horrified by his scars. I heard her tell Rolando they made her feel ill." She rolled her eyes. "Nicolai shouldn't bother with the energy it takes to let her see him."
    "You don't like her." Isabella wasn't feeling much disposed to like Theresa at that moment either.
    Francesca shrugged. "She isn't that bad. She's terribly timid and not much fun. I don't know why Rolando chose her. Once they spent the night here