The Carnelian Legacy by Cheryl Koevoet Page B

trouble remembering to breathe whenever he was around.
    As she climbed back into bed, it occurred to her that Darian was like a bar of chocolate she knew she shouldn’t have. And the only way for her to avoid giving in to temptation was to keep the chocolate as far away as possible.

CHAPTER 10
    CONFESSIONS
    THE NEXT MORNING , MARISA awoke from a well-rested sleep just as Helinda was making a fire in her fireplace. The middle-aged, heavy-set woman seemed cheery as she chatted, but Marisa couldn’t understand a word of what she was saying. She grabbed the earpiece off the nightstand and shoved it in her ear.
    “…really would be quite something, don’t you agree?”
    Marisa just nodded and smiled sweetly. The woman quickly disappeared, leaving her alone to dress. Obviously the hunting and sports activities would be taking place outdoors, so she needed to bundle up unless she wanted to freeze.
    As she scoured the closet for something warm, Marisa finally grabbed a chocolate brown dress and slipped on a camel riding coat with fur edging and a matching hat. She didn’t know how to braid her hair into an elaborate hairstyle like the other women in the castle, so she just twisted it into one long braid down her back.
    Marisa was starving. After her quarrel with Darian the night before, she’d been too upset to eat anything from the tray. As she headed down the steps toward the dining room, the heavenly scent of fresh-baked bread and cooked eggs wafted up the stairwell.
    As she entered the dining salon, Marisa saw that everyone had already been seated and was eating. Savino noticed her immediately and quickly rose from the table.
    “Ah, how marvelous it is to see your pretty face again this morning! Are you feeling better after a full night’s sleep?”
    Marisa just smiled and nodded. He pushed her chair in for her, and signaled the server to bring her a plate filled with bread, cheese, and eggs.
    As soon as the food had been set down in front of her, Savino returned to his seat at the head of the table with Darian on his right. To Savino’s left and on Marisa’s right, the same middle-aged man she saw in the courtyard the night before was quietly sipping his tea. Arrie sat at the opposite end from Savino, enjoying the hearty breakfast.
    Directly across from Marisa and sitting next to Darian was the most beautiful young woman she had ever seen. Dressed in a pale-blue beaded dress that matched the color of her eyes, the woman had long, golden hair swept up onto her head with soft wisps that hung loose.
    Her crystal earrings sparkled in the morning sun, and her refined, dimpled smile bore a strong resemblance to their host’s. Appearing to be about twenty years old, the blonde beauty had that stuffy, unmistakable air of aristocracy about her.
    Savino rose from his chair. “Ladies and gentlemen, may I present to you the Lady Marisa, cousin of Lord Arrigo of Terracina and our special guest this week.” Everyone nodded and smiled politely at Marisa.
    “Lady Marisa, I would like you to meet Lord Gaspar, my chief advisor.” The man sitting to her right bowed his head slightly and pursed his lips in what she guessed was meant to be a polite smile.
    “And the young woman seated next to Prince Darian is my lovely twin sister, the Lady Matilda da Rocha.” The blonde woman bowed her head and smiled sweetly.
    As Marisa admired her impeccable beauty, she wondered where this delicate young creature figured into the complex scheme of intrigue.
    “Matilda arrived home late last night from a trip to visit family in Vermanlys,” Savino explained. “Unfortunately, she was not present in time to greet you upon your arrival yesterday afternoon, but she shall join our party during the rest of your stay here in Abbadon.”
    Marisa took a bite of bread and casually glanced over at Darian as he whispered something to Matilda. The young woman smiled back at him and nodded in agreement as if they had just shared some private joke.
    As she