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Thirteen

L ion returned to Mandara seven days later.

Sanchia was sitting on the balcony enjoying the afternoon sun when she saw Tabron picking his way down the twisting street toward her house.

Her gaze rose from horse to master, and she felt a surge of emotion so strong she was dizzy with it.

It couldn’t be joy. Please God, it mustn’t be joy.

It had to be relief that Lion had suffered no harm from Caprino.

Lion raised his head and saw her. He reined in Tabron, his expression unreadable as he gazed at her for a long moment.

“I’ve brought you a present.” He jerked his head at someone riding behind him.

“Though God knows why you would want him. He has the obstinacy of the mule he rides. He would scarcely let me stop to eat or rest in his eagerness to get to you.”

Her gaze flew to the small figure mounted on the mule Lion was leading.

“Piero?” she whispered in disbelief. “Piero!” She jumped to her feet and ran toward the doors of the balcony, down the steps and out the front door.

By the time she reached the gate Piero was squirming on the small mule’s back, obviously trying to figure out how to dismount.

“Hold,” Lion said as he slid to the ground. “I didn’t bring you all this way to have you crack your stubborn head open on the flagstones.” He reached up, plucked Piero from the saddle and set him down. “What good is a present if it’s broken?”

Piero hurled himself into Sanchia’s arms and held on with all his might. “Sanchia, I want to stay.” He added with the fierce tenaciousness she knew so well, “I’m going to stay.”

“I told you he was stubborn. He’ll probably cling to you like a barnacle.” Lion smiled faintly as he stood gazing at the two of them. “Just as he clung to that mule all the way from Florence.”

“Piero…” Tears were running down Sanchia’s cheeks as her palm caressed the little boy’s fair hair. She hugged Piero’s small, sturdy body closer as she looked over his head at Lion. “Why?”

“You care for him. Is that not reason enough?”

She started to speak, but he went on quickly. “Elizabet is now wed and seems content. Your Bartolomeo is fired with the desire to become the best printer in all of Florence and the signor appears well pleased with him.”

“You went to see them?” she asked, surprise coloring her voice.

He scowled. “I knew you would want word of them. And after I finished my business I had time to spare to inquire.”

“Caprino?”

“Lorenzo told you?” Lion shrugged. “He will no longer trouble you. As I said, the business is finished.”

He meant that Caprino was dead. After years of fear Caprino’s threat to her was now ended. Strangely, the knowledge brought no feeling of relief only an enormous weariness.

“He betrayed us.” Lion’s gaze was on her face. “He deserved to die. He was as guilty as Damari.”

“What happened at Solinari is over. At first I was so angry I thought I wanted revenge, but now I wish only to forget about it.”

“I’m not so gentle-natured. I told you I returned good for good and evil for evil.

Solinari will be over when all who are responsible for what happened to you are punished.

” He swung onto Tabron’s back. “I’ll visit you this evening.

There are things I wish to discuss.” He glanced over his shoulder as he turned his horse and tightened his grip on the mule’s lead rope.

“You’d better feed the boy. He’s eaten scarcely a morsel since we set out. ”

“I will.” Her voice was still muffled with tears. “Lion?”

He reined in and looked back at her. “Why?”

His gaze met hers, his expression impassive. “Solinari.”

He turned and rode down the street in the direction of the castle.

“Sanchia.” Piero was stepping back, wriggling out of her arms. “I’m staying, Sanchia. He said I could stay, but even if he hadn’t, I’d stay anyway. I’m not going back to Elizabet.”

“Shh, it’s all right.” Her palm cupped his cheek. She had forgotten how soft and warm a child’s cheek could be. “You don’t have to go back. But weren’t you happy there? You look well.” She grinned. “I can tell you’ve been living with a baker. You’ve grown plump as a pigeon since last I saw you.”

He shrugged, his gaze fixed on her face. “I didn’t belong there. I belong with you. I told him so when he asked me.”

“Lion?”

“Lord Andreas asked if I’d be willing to come to you. He said that you’d been hurt and were lonely for me. Have you been lonely, Sanchia?”

“Yes.” She hadn’t realized how lonely until she had seen Piero on that mule coming toward her. “I’ve missed you, too.”

“It’s because you belong to me and we should be together. That’s what I told Lord Andreas,” he said solemnly.

“And what did he say?” She lovingly smoothed Piero’s hair back from his face.

“He said he understood and that I was going with him to Mandara.”

Yes, Lion would understand about belonging and possessing, she thought without bitterness.

As she gazed down at Piero, she was too filled with passionate gratitude to have any room for resentment.

If Lion had taken much from her, he had also given back.

“And you did come to Mandara.” She hugged him quickly.

“And didn’t let Lord Andreas stop or rest until you got here.

You’re lucky he didn’t smack that mule and send it running back to Florence. ”

Piero’s jaw was set with determination. “I wanted to see you.”

“And I’m glad you hurried.” She rose from her knees and took his hand. “Now, come inside and I’ll get you something to eat and a bath to cleanse you of the dust of the road.”

He hung back, looking after Lion, who was disappearing into the distance.

“Piero.”

“He understood, Sanchia. I didn’t think he would, but he did.”

She nodded, her gaze following Piero’s with joy, bewilderment, and trepidation.

She had been trying to develop more resistance to Lion since the day he had left Mandara but now found herself once more disarmed and uncertain.

“I know, Piero.” Then she turned and pulled him gently toward the door.

“I think you’ll like living here. It’s even prettier than the baker’s house. ”

“My Lord Andreas,” Rosa announced and then scurried from the salon.

Lion frowned as he gazed after her. “What’s the matter with the wench? She looked at me as if I sported horns.”

“She’s only timid.” Sanchia rose to her feet. “You should see the way she stares at Lorenzo.”

“No doubt that’s why he hired her for your service. It amuses him to prey upon the fear in which he’s held.”

“The fear is well deserved,” Sanchia said, remembering how skillfully Lorenzo had kept her from attempting to leave Mandara with a few words a little over a week before. “He’s a formidable man.”

Lion studied her intently. “Did I detect a note of bitterness? What’s Lorenzo been doing to you while I’ve been gone?”

“Nothing. He’s been very kind to me for the most part. He calls on me every day to bring me a book from your library, and teaches me things he thinks I need to know.”

“What things?”

“Oh, table manners and how to dance the pavane and the moresca and the difference between bad wine and good.” She made a face.

“Giovanni would have been delighted with that lesson.” She met his gaze with bold directness.

“He teaches me anything that he believes would prepare me to live in your house as your mistress.”

“And you accepted the lessons?”

“Knowledge is never wasted.” She paused. “Even though it may never be used in the way intended.”

His lips tightened but he failed to rise to the challenge. “My mother tells me she called on you.”

“Yes, to tell me she didn’t want me here.” She smiled. “And I told her I didn’t want to be here either. Consequently, we agreed that I would leave as soon as possible.”

“You think to annoy me with your defiance? I don’t want you here either. We’ll return to Pisa next week.” He paused. “If you agree to my terms.”

She stiffened. “Terms?”

“I’ve been thinking this last week and…

I feel something for you that is out of the ordinary for me.

There is not only lust, there is…” He paused again, searching for words.

“Feeling. I don’t believe I could be content now with just…

” He halted again and then burst out with sudden fierceness, “Listen to me. I sound like a stupid, bumbling oaf.” He took two steps closer.

“Enough of this. I want you to live in my home and sleep in my bed, not only now but for the foreseeable future. I wish you to bear my children. In return I will give you your freedom, honor, and respect. What do you say to that?”

She stared at him, stunned. “I don’t know what to say.”

He suddenly smiled. “Then say yes. It’s a good bargain; you’ll never find a better. I have wealth enough to give you whatever you desire, and I won’t ask you for more than I told you.”

“What of Bianca?” she asked slowly.

His face became shuttered. “There’s no need to hurt Bianca. She’s content here at Mandara and we’ll be equally content in Pisa.”

“And will your mother also be content? Lorenzo said she is determined—”

“She will surrender her ambitions in time.”

“Or perhaps you will surrender to her ambitions…in time.”

“Sweet Mary, I have no desire to force Bianca back to my bed.” He smiled cynically. “I was even relieved when I discovered Marco was besotted with her. It gave me an excuse to let her go her way and I to go mine.”

“Unless you change your mind and decide your mother is right.”

“I won’t change my mind.”