Free The Scarletti Curse by Christine Feehan Page A

his
payment." She shook her head as Nicoletta placed a steaming bowl of soup
in front of her. "I knew he was looking for you. He stared at Mirella as
if she were an apparition. I think the old fool thought he was intrigued by
her. He asked about you, and I told him you were resting." She glared at Nicoletta.
"You
were
resting." She simultaneously made it a statement and
a question.
    "In my way." Nicoletta waved her hands airily and sat across from
Maria Pia at the small table. "Please continue."
    "He asked if you knew a great deal about healing. He was speaking so
casually, so easily, I was distracted at first, he was so kind. But then a man
came in and spoke to him in a whisper, and during that pause I realized I was
telling the don things I did not want to tell." She crossed herself again
and kissed the crucifix around her neck. "I am sorry, Nicoletta. I got up
to leave and would not look at him again, but Mirella simpered and fawned all
over him in a terrible display." Maria Pia's faded eyes were watery and
could not look at her young friend.
    Nicoletta placed her hand over the old woman's, feeling the papery skin
beneath her palm. Maria Pia shook her head and jerked her hand away. "I am
as guilty as Mirella. I betrayed you, too. He knows you are the true
healer."
    Nicoletta took a deep breath and let it out slowly. "We must eat while
the food is hot." She bowed her head over the food to give herself time to
think.
    Maria Pia prayed devoutly for some time before signaling it was time to eat.
Nicoletta took several cautious sips of the soup before speaking. "What,
exactly, did Mirella say to him?"
    "She told him you were magical. She actually used the word
magical.
I interrupted and tried to say she meant you were so filled with joy and
laughter and could light up a room, but Mirella just stared at him completely
spellbound and went on as giddily as a girl."
    "The don had to leave to meet someone—I heard him tell his manservant,
Gostanz, that he had a very important meeting and would return late. I hurried
Mirella out of there, I can tell you that, and scolded her all the way home.
She was very contrite, as she should have been, but I fear that will not save
you. Though it breaks my heart, we must send you away, far away, where you will
be beyond the don's reach."
    Nicoletta continued to eat calmly, her mind racing. Now she didn't dare tell
Maria Pia what she had seen from the cliff. She would be sent away for certain.
The don had obviously gone to meet someone of importance at the cove, but it
had been an ambush, ending in two killings at his hands. If he knew she had
witnessed the event, he might well wish to dispose of her by naming her a
witch. Don Giovanni Scarletti might live in a pagan household, but he had close
ties to the Church. He had close ties to everyone in power.
    "I will stay here, Maria Pia. I do not intend to hide from him.
Besides, no one hides successfully from the don. You have said so yourself on
many occasions. No one has yet come to haul me away. After supper I will go to
Donna Mirella and comfort her. I do not want her to worry that she has placed
me in a terrible position."
    "But likely she has, Nicoletta. You are not taking this matter as
seriously as you should."
    "I am taking it very seriously," she said softly, "more
seriously than you can know, but I do not think it fair for Mirella to blame
herself when I believe the don is able to… to
influence
people in some
way. You said yourself he influenced you. You said he is rumored to read minds
as well. It is not Mirella's fault."
    Maria Pia looked at her a long time and then smiled slowly. "I did a
good thing when I took you in,
bambina.
You are right, of course. We
cannot allow the old fool to be ashamed and mourn. She is dimwitted—that is her
excuse. I, however, have none. If the don should threaten you, I will travel
far from here with you."
    Nicoletta smiled sweetly. "You will remain here where I know you are
safe, and you will trust me