CHAPTER 21

CHAPTER 2 1

INTERLUDE

A fleeting hope

THE NEXT MORNING found me up before the sun had completely bled night from the sky. How I was able to function so early after my evening in the Contessa's room was testimony to my resolve at finding a way to get myself and Rosetta away from this cursed manor. I dressed quickly and stole out of my room and down the stairs, listening for anyone stirring in the household. I could smell the morning bread baking in the kitchen but saw no sign of the cook staff or the housekeeper, Lucia.

Having never noticed a gate to the outside from the courtyard, I decided to try my luck at the front of the house. After several wrong turns, I finally found my way back to the large greeting hall I had passed through on my first night here. I unlocked the heavy front doors and, after a cursory peek outside, slipped through and stole along the shadows under the portico. A line of hedges bordered the front of the manor, and I wedged myself behind them as I crept toward the end of the building.

I waited for several minutes to assure myself there was no one moving outside, then left my cover and sprinted down the driveway, which rounded the side of the house and ended in front of the stables. I scooted behind a large woodpile and looked around for signs of anyone who might be working in the stables. I knew about the coachman, but surely in a house this size he had help. When I didn't see anyone moving about, I ventured out along the back of the stables toward what looked like a fenced pasture.

Four horses were out in the yard, which meant someone had turned them out this morning, but I didn't see or hear anyone moving about. I crept up to the gate and slipped through, following the fence line around the pasture toward a stand of cypress trees where I would be hidden from view of anyone in the stables.

The fence was a wooden split rail design, rising to just above my waist, meaning it would not be difficult to clear, even for Rosetta in her weakened state. As far as I could see, there was open land on the other side of it. The trickiest part would be getting out of the house and into the pasture without being spotted by the coachman. After that, we should have a clear shot across the countryside until we reached the road into the city.

With a plan in mind, I stole back across the pasture and let myself into the gate without incident. I retraced my steps back to the house and slipped through the front door, making my way upstairs to the third floor. Hopefully Rosetta had followed my advice and stayed in her room .

I knocked on her door and waited for a moment before opening it and poking my head inside.

"Rosetta?"

She was sitting up in bed, looking a little stronger than she had yesterday, though she was still quite pale. I ducked inside and closed the door.

"Can you walk?"

"Julianus? Did Lucia see you?" she asked, her voice panicked.

"No, why?"

"She was just here to check on me."

"She must've left in the opposite direction." I crossed the room and sat down on the edge of the bed, taking her hand in mine. "I found a way out, but we have to go now."

"What do you mean? The staff is up, the coachman–"

"I was able to come and go without any of them seeing me. Do they eat early?"

"Yes, but…"

"That's our opportunity." No wonder I hadn't seen anyone. They were probably all in the dining room, which meant they would be finished with their meal soon. "Come on, Rosetta. We can get out, but we have to leave now."

She pushed herself up off the bed. "Are you sure?"

I looked around and spotted her shift hanging from a hook on the wall. Retrieving it, I helped her stand and start to get dressed. "If we can get to the pasture beyond the stables, we can climb over the fence and be free."

"But Giovanni–"

"He's eating, yes?"

She sighed and nodded. "I suppose so."

"For now. Let's go."

She finished dressing and pulled on her shoes, then followed me to the door. When we got to the hallway, I started to go down the back way but she grabbed my hand and pulled me in the opposite direction.

"The staff uses that staircase. This way will take us to the front of the house."

I was a little more on edge this time, knowing the staff could be finished with their meal and be moving about the house. "When does Lucia eat?" I whispered to her.

"She was on her way to the kitchen when she came to see me. She said she would have someone bring me a tray."

We descended the same stairs I had taken the night I was brought here, arriving in the greeting hall. We waited at the bottom, looking around to assure ourselves no one was coming, then moved swiftly across the room toward the front door. Once there, Rosetta grabbed my hand, pulling me back.

"If we go out that way, we'll be seen."

"It's okay. I just went through it earlier."

I could tell she was nervous about using the entrance, and wondered if she had even been through it since coming here. I squeezed her hand assuredly and reached for the knob then stopped.

Was that footsteps approaching?

We both listened for a moment, then when no one appeared, I opened the door and pulled her out, easing it shut behind us.

"Come on," I urged, guiding her through the portico and down the same hidden path I had taken before. When we got to the end of the house, I stopped and looked down at her.

"Does Giovanni have any help in the stables? "

"I believe there are two boys at any given time, but they don't last long. The Contessa…"

I could see the answer in her expression. "She uses them."

She nodded. "When she's done with them, Giovanni just grabs more."

One more reason to get out of here. "This is going to be the tricky part. Can you run?"

She glanced past me toward the driveway, her eyes widening in panic. "Out there?"

"There's no other way. We have to make it to the stables."

"I don't know, Julianus. I…"

"You can do it. I'll be right beside you."

She swallowed and nodded. "Okay."

I looked around to ensure myself there was no one lurking about, then grabbing hold of her hand, inched out away from the house and started running. I didn't go as fast as I did the last time, knowing Rosetta still wasn't at full strength, but she stayed with me, her breathing labored, her eyes wide and fearful.

When we got to the woodpile, I pulled her around and leaned her up against it so she could catch her breath. "See? That wasn't so bad. Are you all right?"

She nodded, still panting. The activity had brought some color to her cheeks, but she was still more pale than I liked and I could tell she was struggling just to stay upright.

"I promise you when we get out of here, we'll take a rest. Just a little farther."

"I'm okay."

When her breathing leveled out, I took her hand again and led her around the back of the stables toward the pasture. It was about a dozen steps in the open to get to the gate, then a quick trek to the cypress stand. I pointed it out to her while pressing my ear to the wall to listen for any sounds of activity inside. I didn't know how long Giovanni and his stable boys would be up at the main house or if they had already come back, but it sounded silent inside.

"You ready?" I asked her.

"Yes," she nodded, her hand squeezing mine.

"Let's go."

I led her away from the back of the stables toward the gate, holding my breath the whole way until we were inside the pasture. We skirted along the fence toward the cover of the cypress trees. One of the horses nearby whinnied as we passed, but no one was around to notice.

When I was sure we were hidden from view of the stables, I stopped and motioned for her to climb up on the fence. "I'll help you."

"It's okay. I can do it."

She placed one foot on the lower rail and lifted herself up, swinging her leg over until she was straddling the fence. She leaned forward, trying to bring her other leg over, but her dress got caught on the wood and she started to panic.

"Hold on," I said as I moved to help her. I found the splinter that had grabbed the fabric and pulled it loose, setting her free and allowing her to clear the fence. She fell onto the other side, but smiled up at me to assure me she was all right. I followed her over and grabbed her hand to pull her to her feet.

"See? That wasn't so bad." I couldn't believe it; we were free. "Let's get out of here and find the road."

We walked for several minutes, putting some distance between us and the Contessa's property, until I felt we were safe enough to allow Rosetta to take a break. I found a row of stones and indicated for her to take a seat .

It took several minutes for her to catch her breath, during which I watched her closely to ensure she was all right. If I could carry her the rest of the way into town, I would have just so she didn't have to walk. I knew she was still weak from her ordeal with Christopher, and just thinking about that made me want to go back and revisit my initial vow to kill him.

It was starting to get warm, the sun now well up in the sky, and I wished we had brought something to drink, especially for Rosetta's sake.

"Sit down, Julianus," she urged, patting the stone beside her. "I'm sure there's no one following us."

I smiled and lowered myself next to her. "Are you, now? You were the one who was worried."

"Yes, and you were right. I still can't believe we're out of there."

"And once we reach my father's house, we'll be able to get far enough away we'll never have to worry about her again."

"I can't…" She hesitated, her eyes clouding with tears. "I can't ever thank you enough."

"Hey, you don't have to thank me." I couldn't stand to see her cry, even if it was tears of relief. I reached out and swiped a finger across her cheek to dry them. When our eyes met, something passed between us and I felt my heart stir. "Rosetta?"

"Yes, Julianus?" she breathed.

"I…" I suddenly wanted to kiss her so badly nothing else mattered. I leaned closer, our foreheads touching, my lips brushing hers and I felt that stirring ignite into a flame. The kiss that started out innocent became something more, something hungry and powerful, and before I knew it we were in each other's arms, my mouth seeking to devour hers. I held back, not wanting to force myself upon her, but when she moaned against my mouth, I knew she was feeling it too. I pressed closer, my ar ms wrapping around her, my tongue slipping out to encircle hers, so overcome by the taste of her that I couldn't get enough. All the weeks of dancing around our attraction finally came to a head, and I felt like a starving man finally being allowed to eat.

It was the snap of a branch that pulled me back to reality.

"Well, isn't this sweet?"

I broke away from Rosetta and looked around. Franco and Giovanni were standing behind us, the burly coachman armed with a stiff riding crop. He grinned when he saw my reaction.

"Imagine our surprise when Tomasso told us he spotted you two running away from the house."

Tomasso. I should have strangled him at the table that day. I stood up, ready to fight them if need be, and stepped in front of Rosetta.

"Let us go. We have no beef with you."

"Now you see, that's not the way this works. You belong to my mistress, and she doesn't like losing property."

I balled up my fists, ready to take them both on, but Rosetta stood behind me and placed her hand on my arm, the defeat in her voice nearly breaking my heart when she said, "It's over, Julianus."

I glanced down at her. "No. I promised to take you away from here."

"I'd listen to the maid, if I were you," Giovanni warned. "You're coming back with us. It's up to you if you do so willingly, but know this, if you fight me, Franco will take it out on your girlfriend. He's got a sweet spot for the ladies, and he's had his eye on this one for a while now."

I glanced at the gatekeeper, who was openly leering at Rosetta. "Me and you could have some fun, girlie. "

Could I take them both before Franco touched Rosetta? I was unarmed and outnumbered, but I still had the element of surprise, since they wouldn't be expecting me to fight them. On the one hand, I couldn't risk losing and having them take my resistance out on Rosetta, but I knew both our fates were already decided if we went back.

No, I had to try. I couldn't let them take us back and throw us in the cellar. I'd rather die fighting than starve to death in a cage. I glanced between the two men and, deciding Giovanni was the bigger threat, took a deep breath and rushed him.

I didn't even see him move. He raised the riding crop and brought the base down across my forehead, knocking me off my feet. Rosetta screamed and lunged toward me, but Franco grabbed her and held her back as Giovanni raised the crop again and delivered another crushing blow across the side of my head. I wanted to fight, to tell Franco to get his filthy hands off Rosetta, but everything got blurry, the world fading to black. I tried to shake it off, to stay conscious, but all my efforts were in vain.