Starling (35 page)

“Courtesans are closer to men than their
wives; they see and hear the secrets
kept from the rest of the world.”

ass dreamed first of blood and humors and then later
of Luca, waking with his name on her lips. She had to
find her way back to him. Together they were much
stronger than apart. She hoped he had found a temporary refuge and that he wasn’t too worried about her. Surely, he had

seen the boats patrolling San Domenico and found a place to hide.
Cass would have heard by now if he had been captured and imprisoned again. That sort of gossip traveled quickly.

But would he be angry that she hadn’t even tried to return to the
villa? That she hadn’t done more to try to find him?
She sighed as she slipped out of bed. There was nothing she
could
do. Without knowing where Luca was staying, she couldn’t send him
a letter. The best she could do was send a message to Narissa and
hope he might receive it eventually.
Cass went downstairs, fetched a pot of ink and a scrap of parchment, and quickly composed a short message.
Stuck on the Rialto.
Staying with friends. I am fine. I will return when I am able.
Without signing the note, Cass folded the parchment and sealed