make a selection."
"Perhaps he is like a fisherman without a hook." Maria Pia began
to relax. "Perhaps we can manage to outthink him after all."
"He has a hook," Nicoletta admitted at last. She glanced at Maria
Pia, then averted her eyes, ashamed she had not confessed immediately.
"There is the blood of the
villaggio
running in his veins. He is
also different. I know that he is."
Maria Pia gasped and crossed herself, rushing to the shrine of the great
Madonna to light several candles. After she had prayed avidly, she swung around.
"How is he different'?" She dared Nicoletta to keep any more
information from her.
"I cannot explain to you even how
I
am different. Only I know
things I should not, I feel illness when I touch people, and a warmth rises in
me to heal them. I know how to mix herbs into medicines, and I know which
mixture will help when I touch the ailing one, but I cannot explain how. It is
similar with him. He has not my same ways, but he is'different' all the
same."
"It is whispered he is in league with…" Maria Pia could not bring
herself even to whisper the name of the devil. She went for the holy water and
sprinkled it at the doors and windows, then shook a healthy dose of it onto
Nicoletta. "His home is dedicated to pagan, heathen deities. There is evil
lurking in that palazzo."
Nicoletta shivered. She agreed with Maria Pia about the evil; she had sensed
it, also. Who could not? But she did not necessarily agree that the don was in
league with the devil. The memory of him standing with his arms wide,
vulnerable to the stiletto, and, later, lowering his head with his hands over
his eyes, tore at her heart. "Because he has the 'gift' does not mean he
is worshipping false gods. It is rare for men to carry it but not unknown,
Maria Pia. You yourself told me that when I was but a babe."
"You cannot defy the law, Nicoletta," Maria Pia repeated.
"I would not think of defying the laws of our village." Nicoletta
made the mistake of smiling, her dark eyes suddenly alight with mischief.
Maria Pia hissed at her, slapping her hand. "Take care,
piccola.
You are more than my old heart can stand. The don is owed our loyalty and
fidelity. We live a good life on his land, our bellies are full, and we are
protected from all invaders. Even the good and Holy Church, may the saints be
praised, leaves us alone because of him, leaving off their witch hunts and
onerous requests for tithing so heavily."
"The law states that all
eligible
women must come forward.
Perhaps I can make myself look younger. Too young for marriage. Perhaps your
memory and that of Mirella has faded a bit as to the exact year of my birth. I
am certain I am a year too young to be included. If it isn't me he is looking
for, there is no harm in the charade. And if it is, it was a harmless
mistake." She shrugged. "Many of the girls would willingly take the
chance of becoming the bride of so powerful a man. Mayhap he will find one of
them to his liking."
Maria Pia regarded her steadily with one eyebrow raised high. She looked
pointedly at the generous breasts and rounded hips Nicoletta had been endowed
with at an early age. "I do not think he will swallow such a tale,
Nicoletta."
Nicoletta made a face. "I will bind myself a bit with cloth. And I will
stay out of the way. We can spread the word that people think me half-witted
and that I am a year too young for marriage in any case, should anyone be
asked."
"Nicoletta!" Maria Pia was shocked at her and showed it. "The
villagers will remain silent on your behalf, but no one must tell an untruth.
The good Madonna cannot protect us from such a folly. What a thought!"
Nicoletta remained unrepentant. "And you must talk to Cristano, Maria
Pia. He is becoming a nuisance. Many of the girls would love to catch his eye,
but he looks only at me."
Maria Pia clucked her tongue. "Cristano will grow to be a fine man. You
are lucky he is looking your way. It is not good to know you are so beautiful,
Nicoletta. Beauty
"Perhaps he is like a fisherman without a hook." Maria Pia began
to relax. "Perhaps we can manage to outthink him after all."
"He has a hook," Nicoletta admitted at last. She glanced at Maria
Pia, then averted her eyes, ashamed she had not confessed immediately.
"There is the blood of the
villaggio
running in his veins. He is
also different. I know that he is."
Maria Pia gasped and crossed herself, rushing to the shrine of the great
Madonna to light several candles. After she had prayed avidly, she swung around.
"How is he different'?" She dared Nicoletta to keep any more
information from her.
"I cannot explain to you even how
I
am different. Only I know
things I should not, I feel illness when I touch people, and a warmth rises in
me to heal them. I know how to mix herbs into medicines, and I know which
mixture will help when I touch the ailing one, but I cannot explain how. It is
similar with him. He has not my same ways, but he is'different' all the
same."
"It is whispered he is in league with…" Maria Pia could not bring
herself even to whisper the name of the devil. She went for the holy water and
sprinkled it at the doors and windows, then shook a healthy dose of it onto
Nicoletta. "His home is dedicated to pagan, heathen deities. There is evil
lurking in that palazzo."
Nicoletta shivered. She agreed with Maria Pia about the evil; she had sensed
it, also. Who could not? But she did not necessarily agree that the don was in
league with the devil. The memory of him standing with his arms wide,
vulnerable to the stiletto, and, later, lowering his head with his hands over
his eyes, tore at her heart. "Because he has the 'gift' does not mean he
is worshipping false gods. It is rare for men to carry it but not unknown,
Maria Pia. You yourself told me that when I was but a babe."
"You cannot defy the law, Nicoletta," Maria Pia repeated.
"I would not think of defying the laws of our village." Nicoletta
made the mistake of smiling, her dark eyes suddenly alight with mischief.
Maria Pia hissed at her, slapping her hand. "Take care,
piccola.
You are more than my old heart can stand. The don is owed our loyalty and
fidelity. We live a good life on his land, our bellies are full, and we are
protected from all invaders. Even the good and Holy Church, may the saints be
praised, leaves us alone because of him, leaving off their witch hunts and
onerous requests for tithing so heavily."
"The law states that all
eligible
women must come forward.
Perhaps I can make myself look younger. Too young for marriage. Perhaps your
memory and that of Mirella has faded a bit as to the exact year of my birth. I
am certain I am a year too young to be included. If it isn't me he is looking
for, there is no harm in the charade. And if it is, it was a harmless
mistake." She shrugged. "Many of the girls would willingly take the
chance of becoming the bride of so powerful a man. Mayhap he will find one of
them to his liking."
Maria Pia regarded her steadily with one eyebrow raised high. She looked
pointedly at the generous breasts and rounded hips Nicoletta had been endowed
with at an early age. "I do not think he will swallow such a tale,
Nicoletta."
Nicoletta made a face. "I will bind myself a bit with cloth. And I will
stay out of the way. We can spread the word that people think me half-witted
and that I am a year too young for marriage in any case, should anyone be
asked."
"Nicoletta!" Maria Pia was shocked at her and showed it. "The
villagers will remain silent on your behalf, but no one must tell an untruth.
The good Madonna cannot protect us from such a folly. What a thought!"
Nicoletta remained unrepentant. "And you must talk to Cristano, Maria
Pia. He is becoming a nuisance. Many of the girls would love to catch his eye,
but he looks only at me."
Maria Pia clucked her tongue. "Cristano will grow to be a fine man. You
are lucky he is looking your way. It is not good to know you are so beautiful,
Nicoletta. Beauty
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