Page 36

Eleven

T he flames of the smoking torches affixed to the stone walls on either side of the tall front doors of Mandara cast an eerie orange-red light on Lion’s dark hair. He strode out of the pools of light, hurrying across the courtyard to Lorenzo.

“Cristo , you took long enough.” Lion motioned for the lackey to take the reins of Lorenzo’s horse as he dismounted. “She’s settled?”

“As much as she’ll let herself be settled. Did you talk to Marco?”

“Yes, Damari is definitely with Borgia. He rode for Cesena directly from Pisa.”

“Which means you can’t touch him yet without pulling Cesare down on Mandara. You’ll have to be patient.”

“I don’t feel like being patient. I may not be able to touch Damari, but I can drag down Caprino. I leave for Florence tomorrow at dawn.”

“Then do you go to Sanchia tonight?”

“No.” Lion turned abruptly and started up the stone steps. “Not tonight.”

“Ah, I understand. You wish to spend the evening in the arms of your sweet wife.”

“Lorenzo, someday I’ll—” Lion stopped. “You have what you wanted, but I’ll not give you total victory.”

Lorenzo followed him into the great hall.

“But the victory will be yours. That will be the beauty of it.” He started up the wide oak stairs.

“But I admit I’m weary of all this destiny shaping.

Even God rested on the seventh day. Do what you wish tonight.

I intend to spend the hours before sleep wandering with Dante in his inferno.

He doesn’t truly understand the nature of hell, but it comforts me to know that someone believes there’s a Hades other than the one we make for ourselves.

It strikes a certain balance in the universe. ”

“Sleep well, Lorenzo.”

Lorenzo looked down at him from the landing and a rare smile lit his face. “Thank you, my friend, and may your own sleep bring you counsel. It’s all so simple, if you would but see it.” He continued up the stairs to the chamber he had made his own for the thirteen years he had been with Lion.

It was more than two hours later when the door of Lorenzo’s bed chamber was thrown open and Caterina Andreas marched into the room.

She wore a splendid midnight blue velvet gown with a low round neckline bordered in sapphires set in filigree silver.

Combs ornamented with sapphires held her dark hair smoothly in its bun on her nape and she looked very much the grand lady of the castle.

Which had probably been her intention, Lorenzo thought in amusement as he closed his book and leaned back in his chair.

“It was your doing, wasn’t it?” She slammed the door behind her. “Lion has never brought a woman to Mandara before. I won’t have it. Do you hear me? I won’t have it, Lorenzo.”

“Good evening, my lady. I trust you had a pleasant evening? I was sorry to miss the joyous homecoming repast.” Lorenzo pushed his chair away from the desk.

“Sanchia and I had to make do with bread and cheese at the trattoria . Sanchia was content, but then she’s not accustomed to anything else.

” He gazed at her in reproach. “Do you not feel guilty in depriving the poor child of a better life here at the castle?”

“I do not. Let her make a better life away from Mandara. Lion spends little enough time here as it is. I won’t have him distracted from his duty.”

“Duty? Ah, the impregnation of the lovely Bianca. You’d think, considering Lion’s appetite for that sport, he would have a dozen offspring by now, wouldn’t you?”

“Stop playing, Lorenzo. I will have a grandson and Mandara will have an heir. This foolishness has gone on too long.”

“My exact words to Lion. It’s gone on far too long.” He shook his head. “And you know he won’t touch Bianca. He regards her as a little sister now.”

“That could change.” Caterina drew two steps closer, glaring at him. “She’s very beautiful.”

“She’s dull.”

“She’s gentle and obedient.”

“She’s a child.”

“She’s almost as old as Lion, far older than that redhaired urchin you persuaded Lion to bring here.”

“In years, perhaps, but Sanchia’s upbringing has given her a maturity Bianca will never have.

You know that as well as I do.” He met her gaze.

“And I did not persuade Lion to bring Sanchia here. You should know your son well enough to realize words would not sway him. Circumstances conspired to bring Sanchia here.”

“With your help?”

“I certainly offered every encouragement. Sanchia may be the answer to Lion’s quandary. She has courage and intelligence and I think they suit very—”

“Sweet Mary, you’re surely not telling me he could love her?” Caterina gazed at him in astonishment. “Good God, have you lost your senses? Passion, perhaps, but he’s no fool to mistake lust for those mawkish emotions mouthed by troubadours.”

“No, he’s no fool.” Lorenzo smiled. “And we both know love is a word for fools and children. Still, it could do no harm for him to have a woman who could offer him a mind as well as a body to enjoy.”

“Let him have her then,” Caterina said. “But not here. I must have an heir for Mandara.”

“You could marry again. You’re young enough to bear another child.”

She suddenly averted her face. “I like my life well enough as it is without bringing in a man to call lord, and perhaps, covet what is Lion’s.”

“Lion does not want Mandara. He guards it because duty is his nature, but he cares only for that precious shipyard of his in Pisa.”

“That’s only a whim. He’ll tire of it and return to Mandara.”

“No, you’re wrong. He’s found something there he was lacking and from now on he’ll return to Mandara only when he must. Mandara is what you want, not what Lion wants. He has no wish to continue your dynasty.”

“I desire no dynasty. I want only to keep what I’ve built here.

” Her dark eyes blazed at him. “Who do you think protected and nurtured Mandara while my husband and Lion were away fighting their battles? Carlo took Lion from me when he was little more than a baby, and Marco was always absorbed in his painting and music. I have no—” She broke off and then continued with steely determination, “Mandara is my child. It must go on.”

“Then you must look elsewhere for the means.”

“You will not help me?”

“Are you asking me for help?”

She lifted her chin proudly. “No.”

“That is good. I’d hate to refuse such a grand and noble lady. By the way, that gown is truly superb. Was it meant to overwhelm me with your consequence?”

“Yes.”

“You’ve succeeded. I stand abased and chastened.”

“You lie.” She gazed at him silently for a minute. “Well, aren’t you going to ask me to take it off and come to bed?”

“No.”

“Do you want me in your bed?”

“Oh, yes.” A brilliant smile warmed the coldness of his face as his gaze moved over her caressingly. “Yes, my dear Caterina, it’s my most earnest desire.”

“Why do you never come to me?” Caterina rubbed her cheek against Lorenzo’s naked shoulder with catlike contentment. “Why must I always come to your chamber and ask to be taken to your bed?”

Lorenzo gently stroked her silky hair. “You’re a great lady. I would not have your name bandied about by your servants.” His index finger moved to lazily trace the straight line of her brow. “And then, too, my self-love is very fragile. What if I should ask and you refuse? I should be devastated.”

“I should have known I’d get no satisfaction from that twisted tongue of yours.” She raised herself to gaze down at him with a smile. “It’s just as well you give me such satisfaction with another part of your anatomy or I would not bother sinking my pride to come to you.”

“Such bawdiness.” He lifted his head and kissed her lips. “Should the lady of the castle conduct herself so?”

She stiffened and then rolled away from him. “I’m not a bawd. Just because I come to you like this does not mean that I fornicate with all who ask me.”

“I did not say it did,” Lorenzo murmured. “I jest. You are overly sensitive tonight.”

“Yes.” She was silent a moment, gazing into the darkness. “It was the house.”

“I thought it might be.”

“It was the house Carlo kept for his mistresses. I wasn’t supposed to know about it.

” Her voice harshened. “How could I help but know about it? There were always those ready to taunt me with the knowledge of Carlo’s latest woman.

” She paused before continuing fiercely, “There was never affection between us, but I was his wife and he should have spared my pride.”

And she had such great pride, Lorenzo thought, as great as the splendid spirit that matched her equally splendid body. “You had no affection for him?”

She shook her head. “There was lust at first. But after the children were born and he had his heirs, he no longer came to my bed. He easily grew tired of a woman and wanted variety.”

“A most foolish man.”

“I didn’t care. I was never so stupid as to think he would be faithful to me. Men are not constant by nature.”

“How wise of you to realize and accept our faults.” He could feel the rigidity of her muscles against him and sensed the painful tumult the memories had resurrected within her. “Would you turn over? There’s a lovely hollow between your shoulder blades that intrigues me.”

She turned over on her side with a chuckle. “My shoulder blades?”

“You have magnificent shoulders.” He pressed his lips to her right shoulder.

“And I could write an ode to your shoulder blades.” He brushed his lips against her left shoulder.

“And a sonnet to this cunning hollow between them.” His lips nuzzled the hollow affectionately.

He could feel the tautness ebbing from her stiff muscles and deliberately kept his tone careless.

“Go on, you were telling me of this idiot, Carlo. Though why we’re bothering to discuss the boring fellow I don’t know.

I’m almost sorry I helped Lion dispose of his murderers.

He obviously deserved that knife between his ribs.

” His lips moved down the hollow of her spine.

“I suppose you were equally foolish and remained faithful to him?”