City of Secrets by Mary Hoffman Read Free Book Online Page B

to spell it and he still felt very tired from his disturbed night.

    Arianna couldn’t believe her ears. ‘You’re not angry?’ she said.
    â€˜On the contrary,’ said Rodolfo. ‘I don’t know when I was last angrier. But it is obvious that your need to be with Luciano is going to override every other consideration. So if you have to make these trips to Padavia, we must be sure that they are done as safely as possible.’
    Silvia was as surprised as Arianna; she hadn’t expected Rodolfo to be so understanding.
    â€˜First,’ continued Rodolfo, ‘we must establish that Barbara here willingly impersonated you and would be prepared to do so again.’
    He turned to the maid, who was very looking uncomfortable.
    â€˜Did my daughter explain the dangers to you?’ he asked.
    â€˜There wasn’t much need of that,’ said Silvia. ‘The last time she impersonated Arianna, she nearly died.’
    Arianna suddenly felt guilt-stricken. ‘It was Barbara who thought of the danger to me. She insisted that I take her young man Marco with me.’
    Rodolfo strode to the door and summoned the footman who was on duty outside it.
    â€˜Are you Marco?’ the women heard him ask. ‘No? Then go and fetch him here immediately.’
    â€˜Please don’t punish him,’ said Barbara. ‘He only did it because I asked him.’
    â€˜Punish him?’ said Rodolfo, surprised. ‘I intend to reward him, and you, for taking such good care of my daughter between you. If these deceptions are to continue, she will need a well-armed bodyguard to accompany her.’
    Marco was shown into the room, still brushing the crumbs of his hasty late breakfast from his livery. He looked as nervous as his fiancée. A glance at the people in the room told him that their escapade had been discovered. He moved closer to Barbara.
    â€˜It’s all right, Marco,’ said Arianna. ‘No one is angry with you for accompanying me to Padavia.’
    â€˜Indeed,’ said Silvia. ‘We are grateful to you for your protection of the Duchessa.’
    â€˜Did you go armed?’ asked the Regent.
    â€˜Just a knife, my lord,’ admitted Marco. ‘But I am useful with my fists too.’
    â€˜I am sure you know what happened in the Church of the Annunciation in Giglia,’ said Rodolfo. ‘When Barbara last wore a dress designed for the Duchessa.’
    Marco said nothing but his hands clenched at his sides.
    â€˜The sort of people who would attack a woman for political reasons would not be deterred by fists and an ordinary knife,’ said Rodolfo. ‘The Duchessa herself had to kill an attacker in the church with her own Merlino-blade.’
    â€˜I know, my lord,’ said Marco. ‘I have heard Her Grace was very brave.’
    There was a pause while all of them thought about that terrible day. Barbara was quite white and her hand went involuntarily to the wound in her breast.
    â€˜If Barbara is willing,’ said Rodolfo, ‘the Duchessa would like to travel in disguise to Padavia every few weeks.’ He looked at Arianna and she gave him a little nod. ‘I should like you to go with her, properly armed with your own Merlino-blade and a sword, both of which I shall furnish you with. But in the meantime, whenever your other duties allow, you must have lessons in how to use them. Is Guido Parola still in Bellezza?’ he suddenly asked his wife.
    â€˜Yes,’ said Silvia. ‘He is not going to university in Fortezza until the New Year. He had some business with his brother to settle first here in the city.’
    â€˜Then send for him, if you will, my dear,’ said Rodolfo. ‘Impress upon him the need for secrecy and put young Marco in his hands for lessons in the use of weapons. In some ways it might be better to send one of the palace guards to Padavia with the Duchessa, but I would like to keep this secret known to