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Dante's Inferno
by Evie Byrne
As he made his bow, she took in his clothing. Whatever he
chased after or transported in his ships rewarded him well, for
he was dressed like a prince. His long waistcoat was
fashioned of amber silk, richly embroidered and closed with a
double row of pearl buttons. Over it he wore a full skirted
coat of olive velvet which matched his breeches. Snowy white
lace cascaded around his neck and wrists. Striking a courtly
pose, he said, "I trust this morning finds you well, Signora
Alberenghi?"
"Thank the Lord, yes, I am quite well. Please have a seat,
Signore Valaresso. May I offer you something?"
"Thank you, Signora, but I want for nothing."
Of course you don't, Serena thought, and wondered how
long their politeness would last. He offered his regrets over
her husband's passing. She condoled him over his father.
Together they admired the long friendship of the two men.
Miserable, she asked, "How goes your moving in? My servants
tell me the lower floors swarm like a hive."
"Very well, thank you. Fortunately my man supervises the
operation, leaving me free to conduct other business." His
self-satisfied smile reminded her of her lover. How she wished
she could be in their rented room at Luigi's that moment.
Wishing to hurry the interview along, she plunged forward.
"Regarding your letter, Signore."
He interrupted her with an elegant, careless gesture, "I do
assure you, Signora Alberenghi, that I am entirely eager to
make the transition as easy for you as possible. In fact, I will
place all my resources at your disposal."
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Dante's Inferno
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"That is kind of you." she returned coolly. The man was a
pompous ass. Yet somehow his deep, rich voice reminded her
of her scoundrel. "I wonder if you understand, Signore
Valaresso, that your father intended my husband and I to live
here in perpetuity."
"I understand that my father outlived your husband, and
so kept his promise to him. My father left no instruction for
me regarding you or regarding this place at all."
Serena shifted in her seat. Not only was this conversation
unpleasant, but now she was beginning to fancy he
resembled her lover. Though she tried to keep her mind on
the conversation, she could not stop the pieces from coming
together. His voice, the shape of his lips, his hands, his
height, they were all so familiar. Then again, the man she
knew was not so affected, so foppish, and certainly not so
rich. Even more reassuring, he gave no sign of recognizing
her at all. In fact, he looked straight through her. As they
spoke, his eyes wandered the room, taking in the
architectural detail, no doubt imagining the changes he would
make as soon as she was out. Serena pushed the
resemblance from her mind and regrouped.
"Signore Valaresso, please lend a widow your sympathy."
She extended her hands in supplication. "I love my home and
have no desire to leave it. Would you consider leasing this
apartment to me for another year? I would pay more than fair
market value for the privilege."
For a brief moment, he was surprised enough to actually
look her in the eye. She hated his eyes for being so
fascinating, hated the seductive way the lashes lowered and
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then raised again as again as he began to speak. "I am
curious, Signora. Why do you wish to stay here another
year?"
She clipped her response into a warning. "That is no
concern of yours."
His gaze drifted back to the windows. "But surely you have
relations who will take you in until you marry again?"
"That has nothing to do with my request, Signore." She
clenched her jaw and narrowed her eyes at him. What demon
of ill-fortune had brought this man into her life?
Taking on a confidential air, he leaned forward and said,
"Certainly you must know how unusual it is for a young widow
to live by herself. For you to continue living alone will only
invite speculation on your character. And to live alone above
me will only hasten those speculations." His smile was full of
suggestion, and so familiar it stopped her heart. But it was
not him. It could not be.
"My character is none of your concern." Serena's voice
cracked and she clutched her rosary, sinking her hands into
her skirts.
He did not even seem to notice her distress. Instead he
leaned back and crossed his legs. "I am afraid it is. There is
living alone, and there is living alone. I assumed you at least
kept some kind of companion with you." He paused to scan
the room as if he hoped to find an elderly relation propped in
a corner. "But it seems you do not. This prevents me from
moving in as I planned."
Serena had little patience for such niceties. "Signore
Valaresso, we do not share a house. We live in separate
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apartments with separate doors. If proximity is a sin, then the
entire city sins. I hardly fear for my reputation."
"You live under my roof. That is all people need to know
for the gossip to begin."
"Is your own reputation as dubious as that?"
He made a show of straightening his cuffs, then looked
straight at her. "Pray you don't find out, Signora Alberenghi."
Serena swallowed a cry. That unrepentant wickedness,
that crooked smile. Her head swam and she barely heard
what he said next.
"Very well. You are here, I am here. We must make do
until you leave. I have already hired a staff. They must stay. I
will have to come and go to some extent, to pick up clothes
and direct my affairs, but I will do so as discreetly as possible.
I will sleep elsewhere, most likely on my ship."
"That is absurd," she said through numb lips. "Sleep
wherever you like."
"Do you have a maiden aunt or some such who will come
and stay with you?"
"No, I do not." The last thing she needed was a nosy aunt
about the house.
"Then I must stay elsewhere." His voice was as clipped as
hers.
Serena pinched the bridge of her nose. She had to set
aside her mounting hysteria and do what she set out to do
buy herself more time.
"Signore Valaresso," she began. She had to pause to take
a breath before continuing. "That is most inconvenient for
you. Perhaps we can come to an agreement. Extend my lease
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as I asked and perhaps I can find a maiden aunt to live with
me. Then you can live in comfort below."
He chuckled. "That would be a bold stroke of negotiation,
Signora, if you had a leg to stand on. But you do not. You
remain here at my pleasure. Rest assured I can wait two
months, but a year?" He shook his head in hollow regret and
spun his wrist in an elegant gesture. "A year is out of the
question."
Then once more he was leaning toward her, insinuating
himself. Lord, he was good at it.
"You see, I have been at sea for many years, and now I
have come back to stay. I plan to marry soon, Signora." He
smiled as if that news should please her. "I need a home
large enough to hold my family and friends, and impressive
enough to promote my business. I must have the entire
house at my disposal as soon as possible. Surely you will
understand the naturalness of my desire to make my life
here, and I apologize if my plans interfere with any of yours."
I have been at sea. They were both sailors, both recently
arrived in Venice.
"I understand." Her stomach churned, and she thought she
might be sick. Desperate to be alone, she stood and
dismissed him. "Good day, Signore Valaresso."
He flicked a dark eyebrow at her, but rose without hurry
and put his hat on, adjusting it to just the right tilt. As he did,
his lace cuffs fell back and she saw that the skin around his
wrists was chafed raw.
Darkness closed around her like a sucking tide.
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Dante's Inferno
by Evie Byrne
Chapter Seven
Serena knew she was a coward. If she had any spirit at all,
she would march straight down to Luigi's in her widow's [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]