There Be Dragons by Heather Graham Read Free Book Online Page B

a fate, for Duke Fiorelli, Lucia, and Adriana were seated at the head table next to Pietro d’Artois and Geovana, who were laughing and happy and quite pleased. Serafina, Daphne’s main tutor in the arts of dance and music, was at the table as well, sweet, and lovely, and though usually entirely serene, she looked slightly ill.
    Marina, late, hurrying to her seat, saw that Daphne looked wan and pale, and not at all happy. She was seated next to the messenger standing in for Michelo Fiorelli, who had apparently not made it back yet from his battles at the borders.

    As Marina approached the table, the men stood. Carlo took her hand, looking for all the world like the courteous, handsome young lord, and she was greeted with affection by all. She offered Carlo an apology for her tardiness, and he gave her a smile and an assurance. “Soon, dear Marina, I assure you, you will learn manners, and never have to apologize again.”
    She didn’t have a chance to reply. The great Duke Fiorelli rose, and the company fell silent. He announced first the engagement of Daphne to his son, Michelo, and then the engagement of Carlo Baristo and Marina, the daughter of the late, lamented Nico and Elisia. There was cheering around the hall, and then people were up, standing, kissing one another, and it seemed the whole hall rejoiced.
    Marina saw Daphne’s face, and she was startled to see her stepsister looked stricken. After a word with her father-in-law-to-be, she suddenly fled the hall. Puzzled, Marina watched her go. And when Carlo told her they would dance, Daphne’s exit gave her courage. “Forgive me! There seems to be an ague about! Daphne has retired … I fear the same symptoms!”
    Carlo hated illness. He doubted her, she knew.
    He also hated to be around anyone ill.
    She took advantage of his hesitance and fled.
    That night, even as she went to bed, she heard the beat of horse’s hooves below, and looked out the window. She felt a great and terrible sorrow, for there was her cousin, Armand, still tilting with scarecrows, more feverishly now, as any chance of his winning Daphne was waning.
    The weddings had been set for a fortnight’s time.
    Christmas Day.

    She woke just as the sun crept over the gorgeous heights and cliffs and bluffs of their region. And before anyone could stop her, she dressed, raced to the stables, saddled Arabella, and took off for the hills, prayingall the while that the falcon was faring well.
    Indeed, she seemed much better. She appeared to have walked to the water, and was graciously dipping her beak for a long cool drink. All in all, she was making a remarkable recovery.
    “You look wonderful,” Marina said softly, checking the bandaged site on the falcon’s wing. There was no hint of renewed bleeding. “It’s quite amazing. You’ll be good as new quite soon.”
    “I do hope!” the falcon said, and stared at her with head angled in a birdlike way. “So, how was your evening, Marina?”
    “Remarkable, as well,” Marina said. Her lips twitched into a smile. “Well, disastrous, of course, as our marriages were announced. But, Thomasina! Before that, it was priceless! Carlo fell into a water trough. Of course, he says that I pushed him, but it was all his fault, I swear it. And, oh, when he went in, I laughed so hard. And his men laughed … until he gave us all the evil eye! Ah, but still … those moments were worth his wrath! Isn’t that truly astounding, after our conversation yesterday?”
    The falcon stared at her for a moment. She could have sworn that the animal was frowning. “Astounding? Let me see, dear, what part about my having the power to grant three wishes did you just not get? And, of course, I’m quite glad you enjoyed the spectacle of the man in the water, but since his dousing doesn’t really change life for you any … it’s my opinion that you think long and hard about your second wish!”
    Marina returned Thomasina’s stare. It was so difficult to believe in magic,