Free Daughters of the Silk Road: A beautiful and epic novel of family, love and the secrets of a Ming Vase by Debbie Rix Page A

opportunities he had afforded him, but this kindness also served to create a sense of confusion in the young man’s mind. For at times he was required to behave like a servant – to fetch and carry and do the family’s bidding. At others, he was encouraged to improve himself, to imagine a future free of the shackles of service. Niccolò even allowed him to join in with the lessons of his own children. Andrea was a quick learner, and soon out-stripped Daniele in his understanding of mathematics and his love of reading. Niccolò’s son appeared to have little enthusiasm for learning, preferring more energetic pastimes. Maria, however, was a different matter. She had a huge desire to learn, and was an exceptional student. Andrea would watch her as she worked, fascinated by the way her long dark hair fell in a river down her back, or occasionally draped casually over one shoulder, revealing her neck – soft and inviting – on the other side. Her eyes, of course, were beautiful, remarked on by everyone who saw her. But she seemed to find any sort of compliment embarrassing and would brush such comments aside; this only served to add to her allure. For Andrea had fallen desperately in love with the daughter of his master.
    Maria was completely unaware of the young man’s feelings and would have been horrified had she known. She did not dislike Andrea but saw him as one of her father’s household. As far as she was concerned, he was simply a polite young man in the service of her father – nothing more.
    The three arrived at the Rialto just before lunchtime. There were stalls set up nearby selling all kinds of food and drink. Maria took it upon herself to order some meat and vegetables. She went from stall to stall discussing the produce and bartering the price like an old hand. She had watched her mother through the years as they travelled in the East, and had a good eye for both a quality product and a bargain. She chose some Tuscan mutton, but argued the price. ‘I will not pay three soldi for that. I will give you two.’
    ‘But Signorina ,’ the stall-holder implored her, ‘you do me an injustice.’
    ‘Two soldi is all I will pay.’
    The deal was done and the meat was wrapped. It would be delivered later that day, along with a selection of fresh vegetables.
    ‘Daniele, are you hungry? We could eat something here if you like?’
    The three chose a little taverna called the Cantina do Mori , next to the Fondaco , the German merchant’s warehouse. They settled themselves at a table near the window overlooking the canal and ordered some wine and food.
    Maria was not quite sure when she became aware of the blond man staring at her. She was spooning mouthfuls of ‘ risi e bisi’ – a mixture of rice with peas that was popular in Venice and which reminded her of the rice dishes she had eaten in the Middle and Far East, and giggling at one of Daniele’s childish jokes. As she laughed, a few grains of rice flew across the table, and at that precise moment she looked up and realised that the blond man from the gondola was gazing at her, smiling wryly. He was sitting at a table almost next to theirs.
    She covered her mouth in embarrassment, and blushing, looked down at her plate. Andrea noticed instantly that something was amiss.
    ‘Are you well?’ he asked Maria.
    ‘Quite well, thank you,’ she responded curtly, taking a large gulp from her cup of wine.
    Having composed herself, she looked up again; the man was still smiling at her. She smiled back briefly and continued to eat her food and chat to her brother and Andrea. Their meal finished, she stood and gathered her cloak around her ready to leave.
    ‘Come along, Daniele; we should be getting back.’
    As she passed the blond man’s table, he stood up and barred her way.
    Andrea pushed himself between this interloper and Maria. ‘Out of the way of my mistress,’ he said firmly.
    ‘Forgive me,’ said the blond man. ‘I merely wished to give the lady