Kat watched as Maria tensed that strong jaw. “Oh, Aldanto promises that about once a week,” Maria said dismissively. “Doesn’t he, Kat?”
Kat chuckled, as if caught by a memory which was half-fond, half-exasperated. The sort of sound a woman might make, thinking of a lover. “He is a liar. Not that he doesn’t make up for it in bed.”
Alessandra’s face went from absolute white to blossoming little spots of red fury on her cheeks. “You lied to me, Katerina! You little thieving bitch!”
Kat shrugged and paid off the scores of the last six years. “You lied to me, too. You should have heard him laugh about you this afternoon.”
“You lie! You lie!” screamed Alessandra. “I was with him this morning. Then he had to go to work this afternoon—God, I hate you. Thieving slut!”
Glancing to the side, Kat could see that her grandfather and Madelena were standing in the corridor just outside the salon. And had been there long enough, apparently, to have overheard the exchange. Just as she and Maria had planned. But . . .
The shocked, pale look on his face made her nervous. She suddenly remembered, a bit guiltily, that Lodovico Montescue was an old man, with an old man’s heart.
Enough, she thought. I’d better not let this go any further.
“Calm down, Alessandra. I lied.”
But Alessandra’s mouth had a mind of its own, it seemed. “Yesss,” she hissed. “You lie all the time. Caesare is mine. Mine! Always has been—for years and years.” She glared at Maria. “And he does what he promises for me, too. So you aren’t long for this world, you bitch!”
Lodovico finally entered the room, moving shakily. “I cannot believe what I’m hearing,” he whispered.
But Madelena did. The tiny little woman stalked forward, pushing past her master.
“You—puttana! You have betrayed the memory of your husband Alfredo!”
Alessandra was in full virago fury by now, knowing that she’d already said too much and betrayed herself. But she seemed still determined to cow them, to shock them into submission.
“Oh it wasn’t just his memory I betrayed. Alfredo thought he was such a lover, but I needed a real man.” She gestured crudely.
Lodovico straightened imposingly. He was a big man, with big shoulders, despite his age. “You will get out of my house,” he said between gritted teeth.
Alessandra sniffed disdainfully. “Ha! As if the Montescue are going to throw me out. As if you are going to tell the world Caesare Aldanto cuckolded your precious grandson.”
“If that is what I have to do to get this viper out my house’s bosom, then I will,” said Lodovico Montescue with a leaden voice. “You will go and you will go now.”
“Can I throw her out for you?” offered Maria, advancing on her purposefully.
“You keep away from me, bitch!” shrilled Alessandra. “This is all your fault.” And she swung wildly at Maria with an open hand.
Maria did not swing wildly, and she swung with a fist.
Kat’s sister-in-law was slammed against the wall next to the window. Stunned, she put her hand to her cheek. A heavy bruise was already distinct against her fair skin. “You hit me . . . You hit me! You are going to die for this. Caesare will kill you.”
Then she turned on Lodovico, still standing by the doorway. Except for the cheek where Maria’s blow had landed, her face seemed as pale as a sheet. But not from fear, Kat realized. Her sister-in-law was consumed with an almost insane rage.
“Just as he killed your precious grandson!” Alessandra shrieked. “And you thought it was Valdosta or the plague. Ha!”
Everyone stood as if they had been frozen.
Lodovico’s next words came in a growl. “I must know. Did he also kill your child? My pride and joy. Little Lodo? Did he?”
Alessandra started. “No! Even if he cried all the time.” There was guilt in that voice.
“So what did you give him to keep him quiet?” asked Maria caustically. “Grappa? Henbane?”
Alessandra stared at her. Then looked away, almost furtively. “I never dosed him. Never!”
“She used to give him some stuff in a blue bottle,” said Madelena suspiciously, “when she went out with him to her relatives.”