Starling (8 page)

turned from Florence and started employing Piero’s techniques or
Belladonna herself had come to town. And if Belladonna were
here . . .
Cass and Luca couldn’t go all the way to Florence in search of the
Book of the Eternal Rose if there was a chance it might somehow be
in Venice.
Narissa took Cass’s silence for fear. “I wouldn’t panic, Signorina.
Just a bunch of daft old biddies and excitable young women, if you
ask me. But you’ll be in no danger from vampires, neither here nor in
Florence, with Signor da Peraga by your side. Everyone knows the
undead prefer single targets.” She patted Cass’s hand. “I’ll let the two
of you rest now.” Narissa headed for the door to the storage area, but
stopped short halfway across the room. “Signorina Cass,” she said.
“Was it you who opened this container?”
Cass had found the cloth she needed in the smaller box and had
never gone back to the open crate. “Yes, why?”
Narissa held up a handful of something that shimmered in the
candlelight. As Cass watched, a waterfall of gold and silver ducats
rained from Narissa’s palm back into the crate. Cass raised a hand to
her mouth. Peering down into the crate, she realized it was full of not
just coins, but also pieces of jewelry. She held up a glimmering emerald ring with wonder. She couldn’t imagine her sensible aunt owning
something so decadent and impractical.
Dropping the emerald, she pawed through the crate. A set of ruby
hair combs. A sapphire pendant. A gorgeous carved coral bracelet
with pearl accents. This one crate alone contained enough treasure
to fix all the crumbling steps and tiles around the villa and buy new
furniture. Why had Agnese insisted upon living so modestly if she
had wealth like this at her disposal? Could these crates belong to her
deceased husband, or another member of the family? Could it be
Agnese didn’t even know she was storing such riches down here with
the spiderwebs and stagnant water?
“How is this possible?” Cass whispered to Narissa.
Narissa cast her eyes around the cavernous room. “Do you suppose there’s more?”
Cass swallowed back a gasp. It was unthinkable that the entire
room could contain such treasure. There had to be at least fifteen
additional crates and boxes, as well as a line of worn leather trunks
along the far wall of the room. Narissa strode to the nearest trunk
and tried to heave open its heavy lid.
“Locked,” she said. “I’ll search your aunt’s quarters, see if I can
find a key.”
Cass nodded mutely, but inside she was still reeling.
“It appears someone else also heard you clanging around down
here.” Narissa was preparing to slip into the corridor.
Splendid,
Cass thought.
More visitors.
But then Slipper bounded through the doorway, and Cass’s heart
threatened to burst out of her chest with joy. She forgot all about
sleeping as she scooped up the squirmy gray-and-white cat and
started covering him with kisses.
“I’ll leave the three of you alone then,” Narissa said, her eyes
twinkling. She closed the door behind her, and Cass locked it from
the inside.
Slipper kicked his back feet against Cass’s bodice and she let him
down to the floor. For the first time since hearing of Agnese’s death,
she felt lighter. It wasn’t just the newfound treasure and seeing her cat.