whose life has been ruined by a . . . rotten figlio di una puttana—but she’s made my life a misery, to say nothing of old Madelena’s. Madelena would kill Alessandra if she knew. My brother was the apple of Madelena’s eye. Let her take one step out of line, and we’ll go for her.”
When they arrived at the Casa Montescue, their plan was ready. A whispered question to Madelena, as she opened the door, established that Alessandra was in one of the small salons upstairs. “Go get Grandfather, Madelena,” Kat ordered softly. “Bring him to the corridor just outside the salon. But keep him outside the room until the right moment.”
Madelena’s brow creased in puzzlement. “You’ll know when it comes,” hissed Kat. “Just do as I say.”
* * *
When they entered the salon, Alessandra was inspecting her fingernails. She didn’t even look up; just stared at Maria’s bare feet. “Grandpapa said you’d gone out to fetch a new servant. It’s about time we had some younger maids! I was going to say I need a new one, but I want someone who doesn’t have dirty bare feet.”
“She’s not a servant, Alessandra!” snapped Kat. “She’s a companion for my night expeditions.”
Alessandra snorted. “It’s a bit late for a duenna, isn’t it? Your reputation’s in tatters anyway.”
“Not as much as yours, you slut,” hissed Maria.
Alessandra finally looked up, straight into Maria’s angry brown eyes. “You!” she screamed, leaping to her feet and retreating behind the chair. “You’re supposed to be dead! Caesare—” She broke off, gasping.
Kat watched as Maria tensed that strong jaw. “Oh, Aldanto promises that about once a week,” Maria said dismissively. “Doesn’t he, Kat?”
Kat chuckled, as if caught by a memory which was half-fond, half-exasperated. The sort of sound a woman might make, thinking of a lover. “He is a liar. Not that he doesn’t make up for it in bed.”
Alessandra’s
When they arrived at the Casa Montescue, their plan was ready. A whispered question to Madelena, as she opened the door, established that Alessandra was in one of the small salons upstairs. “Go get Grandfather, Madelena,” Kat ordered softly. “Bring him to the corridor just outside the salon. But keep him outside the room until the right moment.”
Madelena’s brow creased in puzzlement. “You’ll know when it comes,” hissed Kat. “Just do as I say.”
* * *
When they entered the salon, Alessandra was inspecting her fingernails. She didn’t even look up; just stared at Maria’s bare feet. “Grandpapa said you’d gone out to fetch a new servant. It’s about time we had some younger maids! I was going to say I need a new one, but I want someone who doesn’t have dirty bare feet.”
“She’s not a servant, Alessandra!” snapped Kat. “She’s a companion for my night expeditions.”
Alessandra snorted. “It’s a bit late for a duenna, isn’t it? Your reputation’s in tatters anyway.”
“Not as much as yours, you slut,” hissed Maria.
Alessandra finally looked up, straight into Maria’s angry brown eyes. “You!” she screamed, leaping to her feet and retreating behind the chair. “You’re supposed to be dead! Caesare—” She broke off, gasping.
Kat watched as Maria tensed that strong jaw. “Oh, Aldanto promises that about once a week,” Maria said dismissively. “Doesn’t he, Kat?”
Kat chuckled, as if caught by a memory which was half-fond, half-exasperated. The sort of sound a woman might make, thinking of a lover. “He is a liar. Not that he doesn’t make up for it in bed.”
Alessandra’s