Part 10 (1/2)
Very well, so the woman wasn't a harridan. But she would still be protective of a beloved son if she thought Kate a fortune- grabbing female. And what else would she think when she discovered she was being asked to front twenty thousand pounds? If Urbano actually planned to ask her that. Kate couldn't quite see her way. All she knew for certain was that she had to display a total disinterest in Contessa di Poliziano's delectable son. And what woman, even a mother, would believe that?
She cleared her throat. ”Does he give you joy? I am glad.”
”Does he not give everyone joy?” the little woman asked.
”I personally find him exasperating,” Kate said. That was very unloverlike. And it had the virtue of being true.
The contessa gave a peal of laughter. ”Well, that also.””You are not alone in finding someone exasperating,” he muttered, his back still turned.
”How very rude, Gian, to the delightful Miss Sheridan. Miss Sheridan, would you like some tea? I have some very fine oolong. I import it myself.”
Kate smiled. ”That would be very kind, thank you.” She had been missing tea.
The woman clapped her hands and a servant appeared. The tea ordered, she continued. ”Now, you were saying that you find my son exasperating. Do elaborate.”
”Well, uh, he seems to enjoy bickering over nearly everything, and he belittles one.”
Urbano turned from the view out the balcony, his eyes narrowed. ”I bicker? If I said Cicero was a lover of freedom, you had to point out that he owned slaves. If I ordered you a meal, you did not eat it. You certainly did not appreciate my exertions on your behalf.”
”You did not believe I read books, let alone that I read Cicero in Latin. It's all part of your arrogance. Besides, I exerted myself for you as well, a fact you hardly noticed. If I had not brought you breakfast that first morning when you could not go out in the sunlight, you would have starved until evening.”
”He is certainly arrogant. I shall give you that.”
They both jerked toward the languid observation. Kate colored. How could she have forgotten herself so far as to argue with Urbano in front of his mother? And to point out his faults. No good would come from such poor manners. She bit her lip. At least it displayed how little Urbano cared for her, and how little she cared for that fact. ”My apologies, Contessa, I-”
”No need.” The contessa waved a hand. There was some expression in her eyes Kate couldn't quite describe. Amus.e.m.e.nt? ”I know my Gian well. Arrogant, yes.” She sighed. ”It comes from having women throw themselves at him. And the fact that he is intelligent. Normally he also knows his own mind, which is rare in a man. It makes him a good leader. Though of late I think he questions himself, and all the while he misses the obvious.”
”I had not noticed him questioning himself.” Still, Kate thought of the pain she had seen cross his eyes at unexpected moments.
That might be what the contessa was talking about. It was one of the things that drew her to him, in spite of his beauty. She found herself staring at the lamp glowing on the table, its shade casting an amber warmth around the room.
”I leave you two to your dissection of my character.” Urbano stalked from the room.
”Oh, dear.” Kate put her hand to her cheek. The fine web of her scar against her palm brought her own arrogance cras.h.i.+ng down around her. Why had she worried? The contessa would never believe any designs Kate had on her son could possibly succeed. No wonder she was amused. No man so beautiful would ever be ensnared by a woman who looked like her.
She took a breath and steadied herself. Very well. That simply made her job easier.
She lifted her chin.
Before she could think what to say, the servant returned with a tea service. She gathered her thoughts as he set it out. They did the usual ”Cream? Sugar?” exchange until the door shut.
Best just a.s.sault the citadel. ”Has your son told you of our... bargain, Contessa?”
”He says you want twenty thousand for the stone.”
Kate swallowed. ”Yes. Do you object?””Why should I? It is his money. I only loan him the amount.”
Kate blinked. No resistance? ”How long will it take to get it?”
”I could give you a draft upon my bank immediately.”
”I'll wait for cash, thank you. My bank is Drummonds. They have a branch in Zurich.”
”A letter then to Drummonds from my banker. You don't want to be carrying so much cash the way you carry that emerald in your reticule.”
Kate flushed. Of course she would know that. A woman like the contessa would a.s.sume that only the most dire need could make a woman carry a reticule that didn't match her dress. Kate looked up at her. The old puzzle revolved in her mind. Maybe this woman had the answer. ”Why does he not just take it from me?”
”Can't you guess, my dear?” The contessa sipped her tea.
”Frankly, no. Anyone I've ever known would have taken it long ago. He tried to throttle it out of me once. And now he's willing to pay twenty thousand for it. I hardly credit that.”
”How interesting. What did you do when he tried to throttle it out of you?”
”I said throttling me was not the way to get me to tell him since I couldn't breathe. And I lied to him and said I didn't have it by me.”
The contessa blinked several times. ”Did his eyes seem almost... red at the time?”
”Yes, as a matter of fact. I didn't understand then that red eyes were part of his condition. I thought he was wearing lenses, as I do sometimes to make myself seem exotic.”
The contessa seemed taken much aback. ”So he explained his... condition?”
”I'm sorry. I shouldn't have mentioned it. I know you must share it since you have a similar scent and the electric... vibrancy I feel in him. I... I was rude enough to ask him about it. I, who know how hurtful questions can be. And I'm even more embarra.s.sed to say that I had some... wild ideas about what he was.” She shook her head. ”Unusual, because I'm really not romantical in the least. Anyway, he explained about the infection in your blood.”
”Are those his marks on your neck there?”
Kate touched the ribband she had wound around her neck. ”No, no. He left no marks at all. These are Elyta's. She nearly did strangle me before your son showed up so suddenly.”
”Here, let me.” The contessa leaned forward and untied the ribband, looked at both sides of her neck, and then retied it gently.
”They look to be fading.”
”I hope so. I am tired of this ribband.”
”So, you lied to him when he had red eyes.” She tapped her chin. ”And the stone, what did you think of it?”
”Beautiful, of course. One wouldn't think that a cabochon cut could sparkle so. But...” She cleared her throat. ”It seems to have some very unfortunate effects on anyone but its owner.”
”That would be you?””Well, at the time I looked at it, yes.”
”I see.” The contessa was looking at her very strangely. ”So you and Gian agreed on twenty thousand for it.”
”What I don't understand is what he wants in return.”
”In return for what?” The contessa looked confused.
”In return for not stealing it. He must want something.”