Page 27 of What Dreams May Come
“Intime for what?”
“Before those men grabbed you and...hurt you.” A euphemism for what cruel men invariably forced on a desperate woman.
Should I tell Madame Culatello the truth? That Prince Escalus had taken this night’s opportunity to...to...
Madame Culatello’s gaze sharpened. “Perhaps I’m asking the wrong question.Hedidn’t hurt you, did he? When I went to the palace andtold Prince Escalus the events that were unfolding, I’ve never seen him...he wasangry.Livid. With me, and with you. He didn’t even give me time to explain what had happened and why you were involved in recovering the ring. He simply told me to watch over your safety until he could arrive, called for his men and shoved me out the palace door.” Leaning forward, she clasped my hand. “He’s very possessive of you.”
“I’m not hurt,”I assured her.
She squeezed my fingers a little too hard. “I should have known that a man with formidable control needs it to constrain his formidable passions, and one should avoid roiling those passions lest they tumble you into a whole new world.”
“Nowyou tell me.”
She didn’t smile as I expected. Her attention wasn’t on my small attempt at humor; her thoughts were turned inward. In a troubled voice, she said, “Whatever passions he showed you in these last hours, still he put his ring on your finger.”
“So he did.”Formidable control for his formidable passions.Going forward in my dealings with Prince Escalus, I needed to remember Madame Culatello’s assessment and her wisdom in dealing withhuman pairings.
“Ultimately, all is well. Even if he’s displeased, you still hold your place as his betrothed.” Madame Culatello stoked the diamond with one finger—and that finger trembled.
I grasped her hand. “Cara amica,what’s wrong? Do you worry more about Count Prospero and what vengeance he’ll wreak on you? For you need not. Prince Escalus hasbanished him.”
Rather gloomily, she said, “I fear we haven’t seen the last of Count Prospero.”
I remembered Prospero’s wealth, his insidious power, the terror he so relished exploiting, and his fury at me for challenging and defeating him, and I comprehended her distress. “Perhaps not, but we must trust that Prince Escalus can compel him with the promise of imprisonment and death should he attempt to return.”
“Yes. Foremost in the prince’s intention is to keep Verona’s law for the sake of her people. After such a tumultuous night, I fear he’ll view me as a disruptor of order and cast me from the city and my ladies with me.” She lifted her chin...but it wobbled. “I can survive. I can start over. But I’ve extended my protection over those girls and I’d hoped...imagined I couldkeep them safe from the dreadful cruelties men can inflict. Now...” Another tear trickled down her cheek, and she swabbed at it with the rag.
“Oh. I comprehend... Oh.” Prince Escalus had displayed his wrath and Madame Culatello foresaw calamitous results for the home she had so carefully built and the shelter she so kindly offered to my sister, to Princess Isabella, and to me. I thought how Ishould proceed.
I glanced up at the sky. The sun’s first rays were touching the house. Night was over. I’d kept my vow to Prince Escalus. Now it was time to help atrusted friend.
And yes, gentle reader, you’re right. I banked too much on blind faith, but you’d do the same, I know. I said, “This night, so lately flown, Prince Escalus put the ring on my finger as a symbol of his...” Not possession. He’d firmly corrected me when I used that term. “As a symbol of our betrothal. The prince and I know, however, it’s important that the ring ceremony be public and seen by all our people, our aristocrats and our families. Indeed, after such a rough beginning, it’s imperative that every bit of our time be bound by ceremony and witnessed by all.”
She laughed, as I meant her to, but she comprehended very well the dangerous nature of gossip, how much had already spread because of the fashion in which the prince had captured me, and what more could happen should this night’s masquerade escapade become public knowledge. “Yes. Of course.” She tried to focus on my issue, which I knew was so muchless than hers.
“Also, he wishes to size the ring to fit my finger more easily, and I told him I’d return it today by a messenger I trusted.” I worked the ring off over my knuckle. “Would you take it to the prince?” I put it in her palm and closed her fingers over the glittering stone set in a carefully craftedswoop of gold.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
Madame Culatello stared at me, absorbing my message.
You have to admit, as befitting me, itwasn’t subtle.
She straightened her skinny shoulders. “Lady Rosaline, I would be honored.” She didn’t say “I won’t fail you” or any of the assurances she might have spoken. She understood my message, and the message I sent to the prince. La Gnocca would continue to operate in Verona under his protection, and mine. She knotted the ring into the lace around her neck and thrust it into her cleavage. “There’s no safer place in Verona,” she told me withfake solemnity.
“This evening I’ll send a cask of the Montagues’ best red wine to La Gnocca.” I absorbed the upwelling of gratitude I felt for the help of La Gnocca’s ladies. “You and all of your family should drink it withmy gratitude.”
Madame Culatello’s concerns visibly fell away. “That will indeed lighten the evening workload.”
At the sound of a knock on the door, I rose and tried not to shout,Who the hell?But I must have said it with my expression, she chuckled and rose also. “I leave you to your next visitor.” Taking my hand, she leaned over it and kissed my fingers in a courtly gesture. “You’ll make the prince a fine wife, and Verona a grand princess.”
Tommaso appeared. “Lady Rosaline, it’s a foreign fellow.” He lowered his voice. “Rather scruffy.”
“Show him in.” I smiled to see Madame Culatello and Guglielmo view each other as they passed, each clearly convinced the other was odd andinappropriate.
Tommaso bowed Madame Culatello out and pointed toward the wine goblets. I nodded and considered how lovely it was that this youth from the streets had so easily grown into his position.
To me, Guglielmo bowed in courtly grace and said, “I bring the promised sonnet.”
