Page 40

P rincess Isabella begged me to remain, and then commanded in her most royal tone that I not go, but to no avail. I kissed her forehead, looked into her pleading blue eyes, and said, “My mother needs me.”

I sent Tommaso to find Dion and bring him to me.

Princess Isabella demanded I take a sedan chair, but Cal had left a skeleton crew of men to guard the palace. “I will not leave you unguarded,” I told her.

“What about Nonna Ursula?” She gestured at the poor, thin, broken woman on the bed. “Will you leave her unguarded?”

Dion strode in, looking pale, but strong and impatient, a man forced from the field of battle and unhappy about it. “You summoned me, my lady?”

“I must go to Casa Montague,” I told him.

“No.” Like his friends, like his master, he seemed to think he’d had the final word.

“My mother, Lady Juliet, is in child labor with no one to help her.”

He opened his mouth to refuse again, but he’d met my mother, and like every other man in the world, he worshipped her. Something shifted in his countenance. “I’ll accompany you.”

“Tommaso will accompany me. You must stay to guard Nonna Ursula.”

Dion looked between me and Tommaso, me and Nonna Ursula, me and Nurse.

“Dion, did you not think you were injured for a reason? That, by God’s foresight, you have been remanded in the palace, while your fellows go into battle, so you can remain to watch over your young princess and your old?”

Princess Isabella wrung her hands. “Cal will kill me if I let you go unprotected. You must take the sedan chair.”

“To travel in the prince’s chair would make her a broader target to the flagellants,” Dion said.

I nodded agreement and showed Princess Isabella the knife up my sleeve and the stiletto at my ankle, and indicated Tommaso, who stood, arms crossed over his chest, looking grim, solid, and dependable—ready to protect me.

“Last night, we could hear the shouts, see the flames, smell the smoke. Tonight we hear nothing, see nothing, smell nothing. The disciplinati have been cowed by the efforts of Prince Escalus and his men.”

Nurse assured her, “I slipped through the streets prepared for trouble”—she touched the glittering tip of her knife—“but all was quiet.” Her voice dropped on the last word, as if she feared challenging that quiet.

“We must hurry.” I allowed Nurse to toss my dark cloak around my shoulders.

She tied it close to my throat and pulled the hood around my head.

“The longer we tarry, the later it grows, and my dear mamma needs me. If Cal should return, tell him. He’ll understand.

” For he had lost his own dear mother, Princess Eleanor, not long after the birth of Princess Isabella.

I smiled at the young woman, so beautiful and untouched, and kissed her cheeks. I promised her and Dion that I’d keep my knife in hand; and in return, Dion promised he would die before the two princesses were harmed.

Old Maria was on her feet, needle in hand.

As I led the way toward the door, Elder appeared beside me. “You can’t stop me,” I said.

“I’m not trying to,” Nurse said in irritation.

“It’s the ghost of Prince Escalus the elder,” I told her.

Both Nurse and Tommaso dropped back.

“Of course, I can’t stop you.” Elder looked less corporeal than the first time I’d seen him, thinner, more transparent. “You’re a stubborn, foolish woman who imagines you can face any challenge in the pursuit of right.”

I didn’t stop walking. “My mother needs me.”

“I know. I need you, too, but Lady Juliet holds first claim to your heart.” He sighed as if he had breath. “As she should. I can hear what’s happening out there. Be careful, Rosie. Be strong. Be smart.”

“You sound like my father.”

“Who else would I sound like? I’m your father-in-law!”

“Not yet.”

“Exactly.” He seemed to think he’d made his point. “You do no good to your mother or me or Cal if you die on the way.”

“Exactly,” I said back to him. “I’ll be careful, strong, and smart, and come back to find your killer.” The guards opened the door for me. “We’re getting close, you know. Nonna Ursula was almost killed. Pasqueta has disappeared. Someone is desperate to hide the truth, and we will find him.”

“Soon. It must be soon.” His voice sounded wispy and sad.

“There’s no choice, Elder.” I halted. “While I’m gone, sit with Nonna Ursula. Continue to talk to her.”

“How can I do that? It’s ridiculous. I’m not here unless you are.”

“She’s your mother. Try!” I threw him a kiss, then willingly left the safety of the palace. I heard the great door thunk firmly behind me and the rattle of locks. Following Tommaso, and with Nurse taking up the rear, I now sallied forth onto Verona’s streets, seemingly undaunted.

Yet in my heart, I remembered and feared the man with the hellfire eyes.