“I haven’t quite figured out Marita yet,” Tasha admitted. “I think about her a lot and wonder why she isn’t happy. If I had the children and a devoted husband, I wouldn’t need anything else.”
“Not even money?” His eyebrow shot up.
“I’ve always had money, it’s just been a part of my life. I don’t know how not to have it, but it’s never made me happy,” Tasha conceded.
“So your greatest wish is not to have more money?” There was a certain soft note to his voice. A mesmerizing, pure tone.
Tasha tilted her head toward him, her eyes suddenly dreamy. “My greatest wish is to have a child. I want a baby to hold in my arms. Just to love. I would have made a good mother. I would have liked the chance.”
“I have missed much by my ignorance, Tasha. You are a special woman.”
Tasha flashed a tentative smile. “Just for that, I suppose I could call a truce between us.”
“I would very much appreciate that.”
“
Grazie
, for saying I am important to Antonietta.” She looked around the room. “How in the world did you manage to get in here without any of us seeing you? I think that’s one of the reasons everyone is a little afraid of you. No one ever sees you come and go.”
He grinned at her. “Like the proverbial ghost.”
Tasha took a deep breath. “Do you really think Paul was trying to kill Antonietta? Do you think he’s capable of murdering her and
Nonno
because of a gambling debt?” Her questions came out in a little rush.
Byron hesitated, weighing his words carefully. “People do things they would not ordinarily do when they are very afraid. It is possible someone has threatened his life and he is desperate. I would hope not, but you know him better than anyone. What do you think?”
“I think I wish we were discussing Marita, not my brother. That one is so hungry for money and social position. She can’t even see what she has, she’s so greedy for more.”
It was a typical Tasha comment, one Byron would have expected of her, but he felt he knew her a little better, and she simply said things for effect, not necessarily because she thought they were so. It was either a habit or a protection. Byron couldn’t decide which, and it didn’t matter.
Tasha sighed. “Paul used to have the sweetest heart. I hardly recognize him anymore. He takes advantage of everyone.” She looked down at her hands. “If you had known him before, you could never have considered that he would try to harm Antonietta.”
“Yet you are considering the possibility that Paul might choose to harm her now. Tell me this: If something happened to your grandfather, who inherits?”
“The bulk of his fortune would go to Antonietta. For all I know, it could already be in her name, but the rest of us would receive several million each.”
“Several million each? That much? All of you?”
“Yes, of course. I don’t know exactly what
Nonno
’s worth, but it’s massive. He’s quite wealthy. All of us will receive enough for a lifetime, even an excessive one.”
“So everyone would benefit financially if Don Giovanni died? And if something were to happen to Antonietta? Is there a will?”
“Of course. A Scarletti doesn’t turn around without a will.” Tasha looked uncomfortable. “I don’t really know who would inherit, but it is possible most of it would come to me.”
“I see.”
Two bright spots of color stained Tasha’s cheeks. Her enormous eyes flashed fire at him. “How dare you! What are you implying? Are you accusing me now?”
He raised his hand to calm her volatile nature. “I was merely gathering facts. I have no idea who would want to harm your cousin, but I doubt very much if you would do such a thing for money.” Jealousy maybe. But not money. Byron thought it prudent to keep his thoughts to himself.
“What is going on out here?” Antonietta swept out of her private bath, fragrant and alluring.
Bryon’s breath caught in his lungs. Everything about Antonietta glowed from the inside out. He took her hand, brought her fingertips to his mouth. “Tasha and I are getting to know one another. We have, for your sake, decided to call a truce.”
Tasha went right past Byron and gathered her cousin to her. “I was worried about you, Toni.”
“I was worried about me, too,” Antonietta admitted. “I honestly felt if Byron was gone, I couldn’t continue.” She hugged Tasha back, feeling the trembling in her cousin’s body.
“You are far too sensitive, Antonietta. I should have taken precautions,” Byron said. “Another Scarletti gift.” The first blood exchange had bound them dangerously close. If one had nearly made her mad with grief, what repercussions would the second exchange bring? He frowned, suddenly worried.
“Byron is obviously alive and well,” Tasha pointed out. “You can’t make yourself sick with grief like this again, Toni. And poor
Nonno
is beside himself. You must go to him, or he’ll never go to bed.”
“I will, Tasha. Until I knew Byron was safe and out of danger, I couldn’t bear to look upon anyone. And I need to check on Margurite, too. Is she happier now that she is home? Is she better tonight, Tasha? In less pain?”
“She’s very restless. Marita has been harping on her that Scarlettis do not cry, that we don’t make a fuss, that she should take the time confined as she is to study and fill her mind with great things. What do you suppose is wrong with that woman?” Tasha was clearly exasperated. “I’ve spent several hours reading to Margurite and playing games, but Marita won’t even allow television. She wants Margurite to read. Franco can’t even dissuade her, and he tried, I heard them argue. If you would look at her again and see if you can speed her healing, it would be wonderful.”
Byron was intrigued with the way they took the Scarletti gifts for granted. It was a natural part of their lives, just as his gifts were. They were comfortable with the use of them.
“Byron has some ability in the area of healing. He’s the one who attended my shoulder, even when he was in such danger,” Antonietta said. “Maybe between the two of us, we can speed her recovery. As for Marita, she seems to be obsessed with Margurite becoming a great scholar and is forgetting to allow her to be a child. She was never like this before.”
“That’s true,” Tasha agreed. She sighed. “Honestly, Antonietta, everything seems to be falling apart all of a sudden. Tonight, I asked Helena to have a tray brought for
Nonno
, and he seemed reluctant to eat the food. He was muttering to himself, and I swear, he said I was trying to poison him. He denied it when I confronted him, but I swear that’s what he said, and he didn’t touch the food. The crazy part is, Paul did the exact same thing. I took the tray up to his room myself, and he threw it against the wall and said I was trying to poison him.” She waved her arms. “I don’t know how you put up with them all. Two minutes later, he was acting like I dropped the tray.”
“Why would you take the food personally to your grandfather and cousin?” Byron demanded. “You have never done such a thing in your life.”
Tasha glared at him. “I was trying to take Antonietta’s place.
Nonno
was so upset, and he hadn’t eaten all day, so I insisted on a food tray for him.”
“Where is the food? Was it taken to the kitchen?” Byron nearly growled the question. Antonietta turned her head sharply toward him in inquiry.
Tasha shrugged. “How would I know? I certainly didn’t clean either mess myself, I had Helena handle it. I doubt if they kept the food. It must have gone in the garbage can.” She lifted her eyebrow. “Surely you’re not hungry. And if you are, please don’t eat from the trash. We do have decent food elsewhere.”
“Your truces do not last long, do they Tasha?”
“Not when you behave like a moron.” She looked down her nose at him. “I often do good deeds around the palazzo. Why wouldn’t I?”