The Wind Dancer (25 page)

"Psyche," she answered without thinking.

He looked at her blankly and then chuckled. "You never cease to amaze me. What an
interesting comparison."

They had reached the trattoria, and he pulled out a chair for her to sit and snapped his
fingers for service. "The vinois excellent here, much better than in Florence. Mandara is
growing famous for its vineyard." He dropped into the chair opposite her. "Now let us
speak on a subject that brings us mutual delight. Which books do you most wish to
acquire?"

The flames of the smoking torches affixed to the stone walls on either side of the tall
front doors of Mandara cast an eerie orange-red light on Lion's dark hair. He strode out of
the pools of light, hurrying across the courtyard to Lorenzo.

"Cristo, you took long enough." Lion motioned for the lackey to take the reins of
Lorenzo's horse as he dismounted. "She's settled?"

"As much as she'll let herself be settled. Did you talk to Marco?"

"Yes, Damari is definitely with Borgia. He rode for Cesena directly from Pisa."

"Which means you can't touch him yet without pulling Cesare down on Mandara. You'll
have to be patient."

"I don't feel like being patient. I may not be able to touch Damari, but I can drag down
Caprino. I leave for Florence tomorrow at dawn."

"Then do you go to Sanchia tonight?"

"No." Lion turned abruptly and started up the stone steps. "Not tonight."

"Ah, I understand. You wish to spend the evening in the arms of your sweet wife."

"Lorenzo, someday I'll--" Lion stopped. "You have what you wanted, but I'll not give
you total victory."

Lorenzo followed him into the great hall. "But the victory will be yours. That will be the
beauty of it." He started up the wide oak stairs. "But I admit I'm weary of all this destiny
shaping. Even God rested on the seventh day. Do what you wish tonight. I intend to
spend the hours before sleep wandering with Dante in his inferno. He doesn't truly
understand the nature of hell, but it comforts me to know that someone believes there's a
Hades other than the one we make for ourselves. It strikes a certain balance in the
universe."

"Sleep well, Lorenzo."

Lorenzo looked down at him from the landing and a rare smile lit his face. "Thank you,
my friend, and may your own sleep bring you counsel. It's all so simple, if you would but
see it." He continued up the stairs to the chamber he had made his own for the thirteen
years he had been with Lion.

It was more than two hours later when the door of Lorenzo's bed chamber was thrown
open and Caterina Andreas marched into the room. She wore a splendid midnight blue
velvet gown with a low round neckline bordered in sapphires set in filigree silver. Combs
ornamented with sapphires held her dark hair smoothly in its bun on her nape and she
looked very much the grand lady of the castle. Which had probably been her intention,
Lorenzo thought in amusement as he closed his book and leaned back in his chair.

"It was your doing, wasn't it?" She slammed the door behind her. "Lion has never
brought a woman to Mandara before. I won't have it. Do you hear me? I won't have it,
Lorenzo."

"Good evening, my lady. I trust you had a pleasant evening? I was sorry to miss the
joyous homecoming repast." Lorenzo pushed his chair away from the desk. "Sanchia and
I had to make do with bread and cheese at the trattoria. Sanchia was content, but then
she's not accustomed to anything else." He gazed at her in reproach. "Do you not feel
guilty in depriving the poor child of a better life here at the castle?"

"I do not. Let her make a better life away from Mandara. Lion spends little enough time
here as it is. I won't have him distracted from his duty."

"Duty? Ah, the impregnation of the lovely Bianca. You'd think, considering Lion's
appetite for that sport, he would have a dozen offspring by now, wouldn't you?"

"Stop playing, Lorenzo. I
will
have a grandson and Mandara will have an heir. This
foolishness has gone on too long."

"My exact words to Lion. It's gone on far too long." He shook his head. "And you know
he won't touch Bianca. He regards her as a little sister now."

"That could change." Caterina drew two steps closer, glaring at him. "She's very
beautiful."

"She's dull."

"She's gentle and obedient."

"She's a child."

"She's almost as old as Lion, far older than that red-haired urchin you persuaded Lion to
bring here."

"In years, perhaps, but Sanchia's upbringing has given her a maturity Bianca will never
have. You know that as well as I do." He met her gaze. "And I did not persuade Lion to
bring Sanchia here. You should know your son well enough to realize words would not
sway him. Circumstances conspired to bring Sanchia here."

"With your help?"

"I certainly offered every encouragement. Sanchia may be the answer to Lion's quandary.
She has courage and intelligence and I think they suit very--"

"Sweet Mary, you're surely not telling me he could love her?" Caterina gazed at him in
astonishment. "Good God, have you lost your senses? Passion, perhaps, but he's no fool
to mistake lust for those mawkish emotions mouthed by troubadours."

"No, he's no fool." Lorenzo smiled. "And we both know love is a word for fools and
children. Still, it could do no harm for him to have a woman who could offer him a mind
as well as a body to enjoy."

"Let him have her then," Caterina said. "But not here. I must have an heir for Mandara."

"You could marry again. You're young enough to bear another child."

She suddenly averted her face. "I like my life well enough as it is without bringing in a
man to call lord, and perhaps, covet what is Lion's."

"Lion does not want Mandara. He guards it because duty is his nature, but he cares only
for that precious shipyard of his in Pisa."

"That's only a whim. He'll tire of it and return to Mandara."

"No, you're wrong. He's found something there he was lacking and from now on he'll
return to Mandara only when he must. Mandara is what you want, not what Lion wants.
He has no wish to continue your dynasty."

"I desire no dynasty. I want only to keep what I've built here." Her dark eyes blazed at
him. "Who do you think protected and nurtured Mandara while my husband and Lion
were away fighting their battles? Carlo took Lion from me when he was little more than a
baby, and Marco was always absorbed in his painting and music. I have no--" She broke
off and then continued with steely determination, "Mandara is my child. It must go on."

"Then you must look elsewhere for the means."

"You will not help me?"

"Are you asking me for help?"

She lifted her chin proudly. "No."

"That is good. I'd hate to refuse such a grand and noble lady. By the way, that gown is
truly superb. Was it meant to overwhelm me with your consequence?"

"Yes."

"You've succeeded. I stand abased and chastened."

"You lie." She gazed at him silently for a minute. "Well, aren't you going to ask me to
take it off and come to bed?"

"No."

"Do you want me in your bed?"

"Oh, yes." A brilliant smile warmed the coldness of his face as his gaze moved over her
caressingly. "Yes, my dear Caterina, it's my most earnest desire."

"Why do you never come to me?" Caterina rubbed her cheek against Lorenzo's naked
shoulder with catlike contentment. "Why must I always come to your chamber and ask to
be taken to your bed?"

Lorenzo gently stroked her silky hair. "You're a great lady. I would not have your name
bandied about by your servants." His index finger moved to lazily trace the straight line
of her brow. "And then, too, my self-love is very fragile. What if I should ask and you
refuse? I should be devastated."

"I should have known I'd get no satisfaction from that twisted tongue of yours." She
raised herself to gaze down at him with a smile. "It's just as well you give me such
satisfaction with another part of your anatomy or I would not bother sinking my pride to
come to you."

"Such bawdiness." He lifted his head and kissed her lips. "Should the lady of the castle
conduct herself so?"

She stiffened and then rolled away from him. "I'm not a bawd. Just because I come to you
like this does not mean that I fornicate with all who ask me."

"I did not say it did," Lorenzo murmured. "I jest. You are overly sensitive tonight."

"Yes." She was silent a moment, gazing into the darkness. "It was the house."

"I thought it might be."

"It was the house Carlo kept for his mistresses. I wasn't supposed to know about it." Her
voice harshened. "How could I help but know about it? There were always those ready to
taunt me with the knowledge of Carlo's latest woman." She paused before continuing
fiercely, "There was never affection between us, but I was his wife and he should have
spared my pride."

And she had such great pride, Lorenzo thought, as great as the splendid spirit that
matched her equally splendid body. "You had no affection for him?"

She shook her head. "There was lust at first. But after the children were born and he had
his heirs, he no longer came to my bed. He easily grew tired of a woman and wanted
variety."

"A most foolish man."

"I didn't care. I was never so stupid as to think he would be faithful to me. Men are not
constant by nature."

"How wise of you to realize and accept our faults." He could feel the rigidity of her
muscles against him and sensed the painful tumult the memories had resurrected within
her. "Would you turn over? There's a lovely hollow between your shoulder blades that
intrigues me."

She turned over on her side with a chuckle. "My shoulder blades?"

"You have magnificent shoulders." He pressed his lips to her right shoulder. "And I could
write an ode to your shoulder blades." He brushed his lips against her left shoulder. "And
a sonnet to this cunning hollow between them." His lips nuzzled the hollow
affectionately. He could feel the tautness ebbing from her stiff muscles and deliberately
kept his tone careless. "Go on, you were telling me of this idiot, Carlo. Though why we're
bothering to discuss the boring fellow I don't know. I'm almost sorry I helped Lion
dispose of his murderers. He obviously deserved that knife between his ribs." His lips
moved down the hollow of her spine. "I suppose you were equally foolish and remained
faithful to him?"

She frowned. "Why do you say that? Why should I have remained faithful to him when
he was not so to me?"

"You shouldn't, but you probably were. You're the rare creature who finds it impossible
to break a vow."

She was silent a moment and then said truculently, "I would have taken a lover, if it had
pleased me. I just happened to find no one who roused my lust."

"Until after your husband died and there was no vow to break?"

She suddenly began to laugh helplessly and turned to face him again. "Yes, you villain,
but don't gammon yourself that you're the only man who has come to my bed since Carlo
died."

His expression was suddenly grave. "You were only generous enough to take me to your
bed three years ago and your husband has been dead for many years. I'm glad if you had
lovers who could please you in the time before. I hope they brought you joy." His long
fingers gently caressed the line of her jaw. "You deserve joy, Caterina."

She went still, gazing at him uncertainly. "Lorenzo?"

For an instant the gravity remained on his face and then he smiled. "And so do I." His
hand moved from her face to her throat, his fingertips teasing skillfully. "And I've just
thought of yet another way we can both enjoy what we deserve."

She shivered in anticipation. "Indeed?"

His caressing fingers trailed down her shoulders. "I was just pondering your charge that
my twisted tongue gave you no satisfaction." His fingertips grazed the very tips of her
breast. "I think we must definitely remedy that, Caterina."

"It's time for you to go," Lorenzo said softly. "It's almost morning and the servants will
soon be stirring."

"What of it?" Caterina gazed sleepily up at him. "I don't care what people say about me."

"I do. Go now."

She made a face as she slowly sat up, got out of bed and began to dress. "You know I'm
still angered by your interference?"

"I know."

"And that I will have my way in this?"

"I know you will try."

Caterina quickly pushed her hair back and fastened it with the sapphire combs. "Why can
you not admit that I'm right? Bianca and Lion will deal very well together. They'll have
mutual interests, children, and companionship. Nothing else is important in a marriage.
It's far more than most marriages offer." She smoothed the velvet skirt of her gown. "We
both know you're being stubborn only to annoy me."

"Am I?"

Caterina moved across the room and opened the door. "Do not cross me, Lorenzo." She
glanced back over her shoulder. "Why are you smiling?"

"Because it gives me pleasure to look at such a beautiful lady. Are you going to visit me
again tomorrow night?"

Her gaze narrowed on his face. "Do you ask me to come?"

"No."

"Then I will not come." She glared at him belligerently. "Well?"

He was silent.

"I maycome," she said. "If I decide it suits me."

She slammed the door behind her.

Lorenzo immediately closed his eyes tightly, striving to retain that last vision of her.
Strong, fiery Caterina. Less fierce and more vulnerable than she would ever admit.

But he must not think of Caterina.

He was always careful not to think of Caterina when she was not with him, for then the
loneliness always within him became unbearably intense. He opened his eyes and gazed
thoughtfully at the flame of the candle in the copper stand on the table. He could not
sleep now, but he had no desire to immerse himself in Dante's journey into the inferno
either.