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And she was learning those differences, she thought drowsily.

He gave pleasure as well as took it and, since she was to become his leman, she was glad it was so.

Perhaps after she learned the way of it she could perform this duty as well as she had the tasks she had been given by Giovanni.

It was important to have pride in your work.

Sleep persisted in closing in around her, but she forced her lids to remain open to ask, “I did not displease you?”

He was silent a moment, gazing into the fire. When he spoke his voice was muffled. “No, you didn’t displease me.”

“I’ll get better at it.” Her eyes closed and she turned and curled up on her side. “I learn quickly. Show me how and I’ll find ways to please you. Show me…”

She had drifted off to sleep. Lion didn’t have to turn his head to know she was no longer with him.

His senses were still so acutely attuned to her physical responses that he believed he was aware of the actual second when she slid from the state of wakefulness to the depths of sleep.

Why in Hades should this be so when he had never been similarly attuned to any other woman?

Yet, in some mysterious fashion, he had experienced her pain when he had robbed her of her virginity, he had felt her yielding and then the first stirring of response.

It was as if he had somehow absorbed her into himself. Sweet Mary, it was all madness.

Show me, she had said. His lips twisted in a mirthless smile as he remembered the plea.

There would be no question he would show her all the ways a man could take a woman.

Even now he was stone hard and yearning to be back in the tightness that had cradled him and made him never want to leave.

He desperately wished to wake her now and move once more between her thighs.

There was no reason he should not do it, he told himself.

She wanted to please him. She would not complain if he used her a score of times this night.

She would not complain because she was not free to complain.

She wanted to please him because to please him was to survive.

He whirled and strode back to the bed. He lay down beside Sanchia, stretching out full length, careful not to touch her. He stared straight ahead, his muscles locked, his groin aching and heavy. Perhaps the soreness she was feeling would be gone in the morning.

He would lie beside her and think of all the ways he would take her tomorrow.

For he knew well that he would not sleep tonight.

“Solinari.” Caprino’s brow furrowed in a thoughtful frown. “You’re sure he said Solinari?”

“I’m sure.” Giulia turned and lifted the lid of the exquisitely carved ivory box on the table and dropped the five ducats into the velvet-lined interior. “I seldom make mistakes when it means ducats.”

“You waited long enough to tell me. I may not even be able to use the information now.”

She avoided his gaze as she seated herself beside the table. “I was busy.”

“Or soft?” Caprino suggested silkily. “It couldn’t be that you wanted your ducats and to give Andreas his chance too?”

“I was busy,” she repeated. Her gaze lifted to his face. “You know who is lord of Solinari?”

“Yes, and so do you. Francisco Damari. You should remember the name. We did some business with him some nine months ago.”

“Oh, yes, I remember Damari, it was the name of his palazzo I’d forgotten. You handled the negotiations and the transporting.” She grimaced. “If I’d known it was Damari, I might not have summoned you at all. You promised me he’d send Laurette back in six weeks. It wasn’t easy to replace her.”

“Accidents happen.” Caprino shrugged. “You knew there was a risk when you let him have her, but he paid enough for his pleasure to persuade you to take that chance.”

“I notice you didn’t send him one of your whores.”

“Damari wanted only the best, as is common in these condottieri who raise themselves up from the peasantry. He would have been insulted if I’d sent him one of my women.

Besides, I had none so uniquely qualified as your Laurette.

Most women are regrettably squeamish about having pain inflicted on them. ”

“He had no right to kill her. As you say, she was unique.” Giulia made an impatient movement with her hand. “But I suppose there’s no way to force him to recompense me now. Solinari is where you sent her? I knew I’d heard the name before.”

Caprino nodded. “Solinari is his palazzo, but he has lodgings in Pisa as well. The question is where to find him now.” He was silent a moment, thinking. “I’ll send Santini with a warning to the palazzo first, but if he isn’t there, tell him to go to find Damari in Pisa.”

She looked at him in surprise. “A warning? When have you ever given a warning that was not paid for?”

“Since you gave me no time to negotiate.” A snarl edged Caprino’s tone. “I’m not going to forgive you for that, Giulia.”

“If you have nothing to gain, why bother to send a messenger?”

“Oh, but I do have something to gain. Damari will be in my debt, and it’s always valuable to have a man who is on the rise in the world owe you favors.”

Giulia laughed. “You trust Damari to honor a debt?”

“Perhaps.” He smiled. “But if he doesn’t, I’ll still win if he captures little Sanchia. And you’ll win, too, Giulia. Rumor has it that you weren’t pleased about your hulking lover’s acquisition of my little thief. What do you think Damari will do when he lays hands on her?”

Giulia knew very well what a man of Damari’s perverse tastes would do to a woman who angered him.

For a moment she felt a remote sympathy for Lion’s slave.

The anger Giulia had felt toward Sanchia had vanished when she had set aside her attachment for Lion.

One emotion could not exist without the other, and she would allow neither to get in the way of what was important to her. “You hate her so much?”

“Hate?” He looked astonished. “She’s not worthy of my hatred, but she must be made an example.

If word got out that she’d bested me, it would cause endless trouble in the streets.

I’m not like Damari, who loves punishment for punishment’s sake.

For me, revenge must have purpose or it’s not worthwhile.

” He turned away. “I bid you a profitless night, Giulia, and may the man to whom you give your favors have the same tastes as Damari. I’m not at all pleased at your delay. ”

“I’m sorry to disappoint you, but the man who occupies my bed tonight is gentle as an untried boy and trembles at my every frown.” She smiled sweetly as she stood up. “And in the morning he will gift me with a jewel that will make you drool like a street mongrel in front of the butcher’s shop.”

“Very different from Andreas.” Caprino opened the door. “How fortunate for you.”

He shut the door behind him, and she stood there a moment before moving her shoulders as if shrugging off a burden. Caprino was right—she was very fortunate to be free of Lion Andreas.

She strode briskly to the bellpull and gave it a sharp tug to alert her maid to send Messer Gondolfo to her chamber.