gloss, for a start.”
“But you seemed fine with it earlier.” He had, in fact, been
charm itself as he teased Carisa about it. Watching him with his young sister
had been a revelation. She had not realized he could be so warm and caring, so
unselfconsciously affectionate.
He tipped his head in assent without taking his eyes from
the road. “I preferred not to upset her by forbidding something she may never
try again. But makeup of any kind has no place on her dressing table or in her
life.”
“Carisa isn’t a child. She should be able to enjoy some of
the small pleasures that come with being female.”
“Those small pleasures, as you call them, may well give her
ideas that it would dangerous for her to act upon. She is innocence itself, and
could be too easily led into something so monstrous it sickens me to think of
it.”
“Are you suggesting I would deliberately push her into it?”
“I’m saying the world is full of men who would love to tap
into the De Frenza bank account. Their methods of persuading Carisa she can’t
live without them could be deceptive and confusing for her. Or they could be
both sordid and painful.”
“Painful.”
“Forcing themselves on her--pressing the issue with
something more than normal persuasion — is not impossible.”
“As you think Jonathan persuaded Carita, I suppose!”
He flicked a fast glance in her direction, his eyes black
with anger. “I didn’t say that.”
“But you were thinking it, or at least you did think it
before you met him.”
“I was aware of the possibility. Ignoring it is something I
can’t afford if I am to protect my sisters.”
“A noble concept, but stifling, don’t you think? And just a
little far-fetched, given how protected Carisa is at all times. If you really
want what’s best for her, you might look closer to home.”
“What do you mean?”
“You might tell your grandmother, your aunt and even Yolanda
not to stuff her with sweets. The habit is far more dangerous than anything I
might encourage her to do.”
What Carisa ate was none of her business and Amanda knew it,
but it seemed someone should point out the problem. Besides, Nico should not be
so free with his criticism if he wasn’t willing to hear a few home truths.
“Sweets?” he demanded with a scowl.
“Don’t tell me you’ve never noticed that everyone uses them
to distract her whenever they think she may be upset, or as a bribe when
there’s something they want to her do. She’s overweight because food is
constantly being pushed at her. Well, and because she has little to do, as far
as I can tell, other than sleep and eat.”
“Food is one of the few pleasures available to Carisa. Why
should she not enjoy it?”
“She should, of course, but not constantly. She eats because
food is always there and everyone expects it, and because she’s bored.”
“Bored.”
“Reading and playing games like a two-year-old isn’t enough.
She needs something more in her life.”
“There is little more she can manage with safety.”
The certainty in his voice was annoying beyond words. “Why?
Because you say so? Just as you’ve decided she is to be told nothing about the
accident?”
“You would not dare—” he began in dangerous softness.
She cut across his words in her irritation. “Of course I
would never tell her, but she understands most of what is going on around her
very well. How long can it be before she begins to wonder why no one speaks of
Carita or why her sister doesn’t come home?”
“Telling her at this point would only upset her. You don’t
want to see that, I assure you.”
“What do you mean?”
“She can easily become emotional to the point of hysteria.
Once that happens, only medication can help her.”
She stared at him with a frown between her brows. “There
must be something else.”
He ignored the idea as if she hadn’t spoken. “Afterward, she
broods about things, so needs more medication for depression.
“But you seemed fine with it earlier.” He had, in fact, been
charm itself as he teased Carisa about it. Watching him with his young sister
had been a revelation. She had not realized he could be so warm and caring, so
unselfconsciously affectionate.
He tipped his head in assent without taking his eyes from
the road. “I preferred not to upset her by forbidding something she may never
try again. But makeup of any kind has no place on her dressing table or in her
life.”
“Carisa isn’t a child. She should be able to enjoy some of
the small pleasures that come with being female.”
“Those small pleasures, as you call them, may well give her
ideas that it would dangerous for her to act upon. She is innocence itself, and
could be too easily led into something so monstrous it sickens me to think of
it.”
“Are you suggesting I would deliberately push her into it?”
“I’m saying the world is full of men who would love to tap
into the De Frenza bank account. Their methods of persuading Carisa she can’t
live without them could be deceptive and confusing for her. Or they could be
both sordid and painful.”
“Painful.”
“Forcing themselves on her--pressing the issue with
something more than normal persuasion — is not impossible.”
“As you think Jonathan persuaded Carita, I suppose!”
He flicked a fast glance in her direction, his eyes black
with anger. “I didn’t say that.”
“But you were thinking it, or at least you did think it
before you met him.”
“I was aware of the possibility. Ignoring it is something I
can’t afford if I am to protect my sisters.”
“A noble concept, but stifling, don’t you think? And just a
little far-fetched, given how protected Carisa is at all times. If you really
want what’s best for her, you might look closer to home.”
“What do you mean?”
“You might tell your grandmother, your aunt and even Yolanda
not to stuff her with sweets. The habit is far more dangerous than anything I
might encourage her to do.”
What Carisa ate was none of her business and Amanda knew it,
but it seemed someone should point out the problem. Besides, Nico should not be
so free with his criticism if he wasn’t willing to hear a few home truths.
“Sweets?” he demanded with a scowl.
“Don’t tell me you’ve never noticed that everyone uses them
to distract her whenever they think she may be upset, or as a bribe when
there’s something they want to her do. She’s overweight because food is
constantly being pushed at her. Well, and because she has little to do, as far
as I can tell, other than sleep and eat.”
“Food is one of the few pleasures available to Carisa. Why
should she not enjoy it?”
“She should, of course, but not constantly. She eats because
food is always there and everyone expects it, and because she’s bored.”
“Bored.”
“Reading and playing games like a two-year-old isn’t enough.
She needs something more in her life.”
“There is little more she can manage with safety.”
The certainty in his voice was annoying beyond words. “Why?
Because you say so? Just as you’ve decided she is to be told nothing about the
accident?”
“You would not dare—” he began in dangerous softness.
She cut across his words in her irritation. “Of course I
would never tell her, but she understands most of what is going on around her
very well. How long can it be before she begins to wonder why no one speaks of
Carita or why her sister doesn’t come home?”
“Telling her at this point would only upset her. You don’t
want to see that, I assure you.”
“What do you mean?”
“She can easily become emotional to the point of hysteria.
Once that happens, only medication can help her.”
She stared at him with a frown between her brows. “There
must be something else.”
He ignored the idea as if she hadn’t spoken. “Afterward, she
broods about things, so needs more medication for depression.
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