She went in quietly.
And it rapidly became apparent that an afternoon’s lovemaking had been on someone else’s mind too. The panting and begging said they’d been at it for a while.
Her mind in a furious turmoil, Maria went up the stairs three at a time. Threw the door open. She’d . . . timed her entry well. Caesare was so preoccupied in thrusting up into his kneeling mount that he didn’t even realize Maria was there for a moment.
Maria took in the white body, slightly pendulous breasts, the long elegant neck and perfect face complete with tiny mole above her mouth. The face was flushed and prim mouth wide. It was a double shock. The last time Maria had seen her, she, Maria, had had one of the woman’s Spanish combs in her hair. Seeing Kat’s sister-in-law here . . .
Maria—having got this far—suddenly realized she didn’t know quite what to do next.
She picked up the ewer and flung it at them, as one might at a pair of dogs.
The water had the same effect.
“My hair!” shrieked Alessandra.
Caesare abruptly parted from her, grabbed for his rapier. “Maria! What the hell are you doing here?”
“I live here, remember? Or maybe you forget. Like your promise that you were faithful to me? That you loved me?”
The woman, now with a sheet around herself, snapped. “Get out, you little dockside puttana! He’s my lover. He’s been mine for years! Long before he met you.”
“Get out, Maria. We can deal with this later.” Caesare’s voice was dangerously even.
Maria’s reply was not. “For you and me, there is no later, Caesare Aldanto! We’re finished. Finished, you hear me? FINISHED!”
Caesare advanced on her. Stark naked except for his sword. “Get out. Get out now.”
“Or what!? Or you’re going to kill me?” She snarled back. Right now she didn’t care.
She’d forgotten how fast and strong he was. He grabbed her arm and spun her round and pulled it up behind her back, his sword arm around her throat. He hauled her painfully, half off her feet, down the stairs, ignoring her struggles and screams. “Shut up, you bitch. Or I’ll give you something to scream about.” He took two fingers off the sword hilt and put them around the chain around her neck. With a sharp, flesh-tearing jerk he snapped it, tinkling the keys to the apartment onto the steps. He pushed her past the steps, thrusting her into the barred gate. He picked up the water-door key.
“You’re going to get out of that door, now. And stay out,” he said grimly. “Love you? A canal girl? I never did, but you were very useful. Now you’re not. Get out, stay out and keep quiet. I’m warning you. I never do that twice.”
Maria felt something break inside her. A tiny voice that seemed to belong to someone else said, “Unlock the door then.”
And as she stepped out into the summer brightness of Venice, she heard Alessandra’s mocking laughter echoing down the stairs that used to be hers.
Chapter 77
Benito was sick of it. His “transfer” to the Case Vecchie world was going to drive him mad. It was all very well for Marco, learning things he was interested in. So far he hadn’t even seen a Dorma cousin he was interested in getting into the pants of, let alone spend time in endless social chitchat with. Dorma was treating him like a child.
For crying out loud. He was fifteen now! A mere year and a half younger than Marco—who was already married! On the canals or even on the ships, at sixteen you did a man’s work. Only among the soft Case Vecchie did they give you another five years to grow up. Yeah sure, the house was at sixes-and-sevens with Angelina showing signs of being ready to pop.
He would take off again tonight. Seeing Maria always cheered him up. In the months since he moved in here, he’d been back to visit more frequently than Marco had.
So he would be absent without leave again tonight from the soiree. They couldn’t sing anyway, compared to Valentina and Claudia. He’d slip off to Barducci’s instead.