LITMIR.BIZ

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wait to see her dancing in this,” Kimmee added.

      “Neither can I,” he murmured, and at the same time, an idea came to him. He frowned, wondering if he should trust thoughts spurred on by his overwhelming desire for all things Pellea. It was a crazy idea, but the more he mulled it over, the more he realized it could serve more than one purpose and fit into much of what he hoped to accomplish. So why not give it a try?

      He studied the pretty maid for a moment, trying to evaluate just how much he dared depend on her. Her eyes sparkled in a way that made him wonder how a fun-loving girl like this would keep such a secret. He knew he had better be prepared to deal with the fallout, should there be any. After all, he didn’t have much choice. Either he would tie her up and gag her and throw her into a closet, or he would appeal to her better nature.

      “Tell me, Kimmee, do you love your mistress?”

      “Oh, yes.” Kimmee smiled. “She’s my best friend. We’ve been mates since we were five years old.”

      He nodded, frowning thoughtfully. “Then you’ll keep a secret,” he said. “A secret that could get me killed if you reveal it.”

      Her eyes widened and she went very still. “Of course.”

      His own gaze was hard and assessing as he pinned her with it. “You swear on your honor?”

      She shook her head, looking completely earnest. “I swear on my honor. I swear on my life. I swear on my…”

      He held a hand up. “I get the idea, Kimmee. You really mean it. So I’m going to trust you.”

      She waited, wide-eyed.

      He looked into her face, his own deadly serious.

      “I want to go to the ball.”

      “Oh, sir!” She threw her hands up to her mouth. “Oh, my goodness! Where? How?”

      “That’s where you come in. Find me a costume and a nice, secure mask.” He cocked an eyebrow and smiled at her. “Can you do that?”

      “Impossible,” she cried. “Simply impossible.” But a smile was beginning to tease the corners of her mouth. “Well, maybe.” She thought a moment longer, then smiled impishly. “It would be fun, wouldn’t it?”

      He grinned at her.

      “Will you want a sword?” she asked, her enthusiasm growing by leaps and bounds.

      He grimaced. “I think not. It might be too tempting to use it on Leonardo.”

      “I know what you mean,” she said, nodding wisely.

      He got a real kick out of her. She was so ready to join in on his plans and at the same time, she seemed to be thoroughly loyal to the mistress she considered her best friend. It was a helpful combination to work with.

      He lifted his head, looking at the ball gown and thinking of how it would look with his favorite woman filling it out in all the right places. “All I want to do is go to the ball and dance with Pellea.”

      “How romantic,” Kimmee said, sighing. Then her gaze sharpened as she realized what he might be describing. “You mean…?”

      “Yes.” He nodded. “Secretly. I want to surprise Pellea.”

      Kimmee gave a bubbling laugh, obviously delighted with the concept. “I think Leonardo will be even more surprised.”

      He shook his head and gave her a warning look. “That is something I’ll have to guard against.”

      She sighed. “I understand. But it would be fun to see his face.”

      He frowned, wondering if he was letting her get a little too much into this.

      “See what you can do,” he said. “But don’t forget. If Leonardo finds out…” He drew his finger across his throat like a knife and made a cutting sound. “I’ll be dead and Pellea will be in big trouble.”

      She shook her head, eyes wide and sincere. “You can count on me, sir. And as for the costume…” She put her hand over her heart. “I’ll do my best.”

      Pellea returned a half hour later, bristling with determination.

      “I’ve brought you something to eat,” she said, handing him a neatly wrapped, grilled chicken leg and a small loaf of artisan bread. He was sitting at a small table near her fountain, looking for all the world like a Parisian playboy at a sidewalk café. “And I’ve brought you news.”

      “News, huh? Let me guess.” He put his hand to his forehead as though taking transmissions from space. “Leonardo has decided to join the national ballet and forget all about this crazy marriage stuff. Am I right?”

      She glared at him. “I’m warning you, don’t take the man lightly.”

      “Oh, I don’t. Believe me.” He began to unwrap the chicken leg. He hadn’t eaten for hours and he was more than ready to partake of what she’d brought him. “So what is the news?”

      “Leonardo talked to his father and we’ve decided to move the wedding up.” Her chin rose defiantly. “We’re getting married in two days.”

      He put down the chicken leg, hunger forgotten, and stared at her with eyes that had turned icy silver. “What’s the rush?” he asked with deceptive calm.

      The look in his gaze made her nervous. He seemed utterly peaceful, and yet there was a sense in the air that a keg of dynamite was about to blow.

      She turned away, pacing, thinking about how nice and simple life had been before she’d found him lurking in her garden that day. Her path had been relatively clear at the time. True, she had been fighting her father over his wish that she marry Leonardo. But that was relatively easy to deal with compared to what she had now.

      The irony was that her father would get his wish, and she’d done it to herself. She would marry Leonardo. She would be the first lady of the land and just about impervious to attack. Just as her father so obsessively craved, she would be as safe as she could possibly be.

      But even that wasn’t perfect safety. There were a thousand chinks in her armor and the path ahead was perilous. Everything she did, every decision she made, could have unforeseen repercussions. She had set a course and now the winds would take her to her destination. Was it the best destination for her or was it a mirage? Was she right or was she wrong? If only she knew.

      Looking out into the courtyard, Pellea shivered with a premonition of what might be to come.

      Monte watched her from under lowered brows, munching on a bite of chicken. Much as she was trying to hide it, he could see that she was in a special sort of agony and he couldn’t for the life of him understand why. What was her hurry to marry Leonardo? What made her so anxious to cement those ties?

      Motivations were often difficult to untangle and understand. What were hers? Did it really mean everything to her to have her father satisfied that she was safe, and to do it before it was too late? Evidence did suggest that he was fading fast. Was that what moved her? He couldn’t think what else it could be. But was that really enough to make her rush to Leonardo’s arms? Or was there something going on that he didn’t know about?

      “I suppose the powers that be are in favor of this wedding?” he mentioned casually.

      She nodded. “Believe me, everything around here is planned to the nth degree. Public-relations values hold sway over everything.”

      “I’ve noticed. That’s what makes me wonder. What’s the deal with this wedding coming on so suddenly? I would think the regime would try to milk all the publicity they could possibly get out of a long engagement.”

      “Interesting theory,” she said softly, pretending to be busy folding clothes away.

      “Why?” he asked bluntly. “Why so soon?”

      “You’d have to ask Leonardo

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