Authors: Fiona Paul
Starling (140 page)
shoulders slumped a little as he looked down at the grass.
He was taking her hesitation as a rejection. Cass tried to tell him
yes, but what came out of her mouth was a mixture of a squeak and a
whisper. She nodded her head rapidly, doing her best to fight back
her tears.
“I understand if you still aren’t ready.” Luca was talking to a patch
of dead marigolds. He hadn’t even seen her nod.
Cass cleared her throat and tried again. “Yes,” she said. This time
she was slightly audible. She sniffed, dabbing at her eyes with her
gloved hand. “I want to marry you. I’d like that very much.”
He looked up, and Cass saw a million things reflected in his
eyes—bronze sculptures, fields of wheat, wooden ships, glittering
gold palazzos. The whole world. It was out there waiting for her, and
she wanted to experience it with Luca.
“You’d like that very much,” he repeated, as if he wasn’t quite sure
he’d heard her right. Or perhaps he just couldn’t reconcile her answer with the tears streaming down her cheeks.
Cass giggled. It came out as part laugh, part sob. “I love you,” she
said. “When you first returned to Venice, you were a stranger. But
now I can’t imagine being without you. I’m sorry I had to drive you
away to recognize that what I want most in the world is to hold you
close.”
Bending down, Luca leaned his forehead against hers. Cass let
her eyelids fall closed. His hair whispered across her skin as he
kissed away her tears. His mouth touched each eyelid and then found
her lips. He pressed one of her hands to his chest and reached out
with his other to trace the curve of her cheek. His kiss was warm and
sweet, with the promise of wonderful things to come.
“What we are interested in is the
crucial point where the end of one life
leads to the beginning of the next.”
hey decided to get married in Venice before returning
to France, where Luca would complete his studies.
Cass was disappointed Madalena would be unable to
attend because of the short notice, but it was safer for
her and her baby if she didn’t do any traveling until the child was
born. Besides, Matteo Querini still had not arrived to take control of
the estate. Cass was hoping to have a simple wedding ceremony there
at the villa—she couldn’t believe that soon she would no longer be
able to call it her home—as long as he didn’t show up and demand
that she leave.
Narissa had been so delighted to hear of the wedding that she’d
immediately set to work planning “a proper celebration,” as she’d
called it. “One that would make Signora Querini proud.” Cass wasn’t
convinced. Agnese had been all about appearances. She would’ve
expected Cass to have an elaborate ceremony at a church on the Rialto, and then a lavish feast afterward, similar to Madalena’s wedding.
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loved had turned out to be darker and more corrupt than she had
ever imagined. Innocent people were dead. Guilty people were
awaiting their turns at the gallows. The last thing she wanted to do
was extend her time in Venice so that she could have a big festive
celebration. She wasn’t even sure who to invite. Her parents were
dead. Luca’s father was dead, and his mother was too infirm to travel.
Siena, Agnese—both gone. Cass really had only Feliciana to invite.
And Maximus, she supposed. Perhaps a few of the girls from Palazzo
Dolce if they were inclined to attend.
Cass left Narissa prattling in the portego, discussing guest lists
and dinner possibilities with Bortolo while the butler dozed intermittently. She headed back to her room and was relieved to see all of
her belongings nestled securely in their proper places.
She ought to start packing things away in preparation for their
transport to Luca’s home in France, but she was reluctant to let go of
the comfort that came with familiarity.
“Hiding away in here?” Feliciana’s voice was light. “You’d think
Narissa was planning her own wedding.”
Cass smiled. “I definitely unleashed a monster when I offered to
let her plan things.”
The sparkle faded from Feliciana’s eyes. “I just wanted to thank
you again. You’ve been a better friend than I deserve.”
“As someone wise told me not so long ago, you deserve so much
more than you think.”
“I’m seeking new employment. I’ll be out of your way soon.” Feliciana bit her lip. “I appreciate you not telling Narissa and the others
that I—”
“I meant what I said,” Cass said simply. “You are always welcome
