Byron! For heaven’s sake. Did you invite your family to the palazzo for dinner tonight?
How could she have forgotten? She had told Helena the night before but hadn’t checked with her to see if everything was going smoothly.
As soon as you asked me. Do not worry. I can easily un-invite them. For all of our sakes, it may be best. I would rather your family not be exposed to young Josef. No. Don’t you dare uninvite them. I’m not going to allow a wild animal to scare me away from my chance at meeting your family.
Franco opened the door, startling her. “Have you come to see Margurite? She’s better today. I brought her a computer, and I think it is the perfect idea to entertain her.” He kissed his cousin’s cheek as he drew her inside. “She’ll love to see your dog. Both children are already wild about him.”
“Where’s Marita?” Antonietta asked as she waved to Vincente and crossed the room to kiss Margurite. Celt pushed his nose against the child in a display of affection.
“She’s probably out looking for computer educational software,” Franco said. “She’s been agitated ever since she stumbled upon that…” He glanced down at his daughter. “You know. She’s been upset.”
“It was a frightening experience for her.”
“And she’s so sensitive and highly strung.”
Volatile.
The word was in her mind before she could censor it. She heard the echo of Byron’s instant agreement.
“I forgot to let you know Byron’s family is in the area, and I’ve invited them to dinner this evening. If you’re able, I would very much like you and your family to join us.” She caught Margurite’s hand. “How are you feeling,
cara
? Does it hurt much?”
Margurite shook her head. “Byron comes in at night and does something when I’m crying, and then my leg doesn’t hurt anymore. It works better than the medicine that makes me sleepy.”
“I didn’t know that,” Franco said.
“You’re asleep,” Margurite pointed out with childlike candor.
“Byron is even more skilled than I when it comes to taking away pain,” Antonietta explained. “I have to see to the details of tonight’s dinner, but I wanted to make certain you knew we were having company.”
Franco laughed. “The staff might take you seriously if you weren’t in your bathrobe, Antonietta. More and more you are sleeping the day away. You artists enjoy keeping strange hours.”
“So true.” She kissed him lightly. “But you love us anyway.”
“Yes, I do. Thank Byron for helping Margurite. And we will be at your dinner party, giving you full Scarletti support. Have no worries.”
“Can Celt stay with me?” Margurite asked.
Deep inside of her, she could feel Byron still and waiting. He didn’t protest. He didn’t object, but she felt him hold his breath. His concern made her feel cherished. “I’ll ask him if he’d like to visit a little later,” Antonietta promised the child. “I need him just a bit longer.” Her hand dropped to caress the dog’s silky ears. The borzoi did give her more independence. She would never have entered Franco’s quarters without taking him, afraid the furniture was moved in one of Marita’s frenzied decorating schemes, or that the children had left their toys out. Celt simply steered her around all objects without seeming to do so.
The cat’s scent is fresh in the grove. I see tracks around the garden area and the back courtyard in particular. The animal was trying to gain entry through the French doors. There is a distinct print on the door down near the bottom, as if he tried to pry it open. There are scratch marks up high on the frame.
Antonietta made her way through the long hallway separating Franco’s suite of rooms from Tasha’s. The sound of weeping made Antonietta frown and quickly knock on her cousin’s door. Tasha could cut someone in two with her tongue, but she rarely cried.
There was instant silence. The rustle of clothes. Antonietta tried the door. It was locked. “Tasha. What’s wrong?”
“Nothing, Toni, go away.”
“I certainly will not. Open this door, or I’ll get the master key.” Alarm spread rapidly. Tasha would never lock herself in her room.
“Is anyone with you?”
“Just Celt. What’s wrong, Tasha? You’re scaring me.”
Byron could feel Antonietta’s anxiety escalating. He stayed a shadow in her mind, even as he crisscrossed the grounds for evidence of the jaguar. The cats were known for their stealth and ability to keep hidden. This one, he was certain, was far more cunning than most.
The door opened slowly. Tasha stepped back to allow her cousin entry and then shut the door firmly and locked it. “Watch the chair, Toni. Just a minute, let me push it back in. I didn’t think about it being in the way.”
Antonietta, sensitive to every nuance, heard the tremor in Tasha’s voice, even though it was evident she made every effort to cover it up.
Something’s wrong with her, Byron. She tells me everything. Every little detail. This is totally unlike her.
Direct Celt to look at her.
Byron focused, using the images from the animal. Tasha’s face was swollen and wet with tears. He looked closer. Dark anger swirled in his belly. Use your fingertips, my love, someone has struck her. Her eye is swollen, and the left side of her face discolored,
Antonietta caught her cousin’s hand, drew her close. “Who dared to do this to you?” Her fingertips barely skimmed, careful of inflicting more pain. “You should have come to me immediately. I would have helped you.”
“I was too humiliated.” Tasha burst into another storm of weeping. “I didn’t want anyone to see me, to know. And you were still in bed with… that man.” She added the last accusingly.
“Christopher did this?”
“He came to visit today, as he does every day, with his demands. He doesn’t like my clothes. He wants my hair differently. I don’t know enough about art. The list of my shortcomings goes on and on, and he doesn’t even know about the most damning of all.” A sob escaped. Tasha wrapped her arms around Antonietta and cried into her shoulder as if her heart were breaking.
Antonietta held her. Even Celt pushed against Tasha’s legs in an attempt to comfort her. “You did tell that man to go to hell, I hope.”
“That’s why he hit me. He was furious when I gave him back his ring. He said he refused to allow me to break the engagement. He said horrible things to me.” Lifting her head, she pulled Antonietta’s hand to her hip. “He hit me so hard I fell, and then he kicked me right here.”
Fury welled up out of nowhere. Antonietta shook with it. She didn’t know if it was her own anger or if she was so deeply merged with Byron she was feeling his anger. The combination was deadly. “I’d sell the palazzo before I would ever let that horrible man near you.
Nonno
would feel the same way, as well Franco and Paul. I’d like to do a little violence to Christopher myself.”
She cupped the side of her cousin’s face, concentrated on finding the power inside of her. Byron, help me. She knew he would help her, that his healing power was great, and combined, they would take away every ache. She felt him moving through her. Gathering strength, reaching for Tasha. Antonietta heard soft chanting, words in a language she didn’t recognize, when she knew so many.
Tasha drew back when the terrible throbbing in her face lessened and nearly vanished. She touched her face. “It feels better.
Grazie
, Toni.” She paced across the room, pushing her hand through her hair in agitation. “Christopher can make trouble for us. For
Nonno
. He said he’d cause a scandal. Our family can’t afford any more scandals.”
“Scarlettis were born to be embroiled in scandals. I think we should call your handsome captain and press charges against Christopher Demonesini. Maybe we can have the rat spend a few hours in jail.”