Lair of the Lion Read Online Free PDF

would have been about your age. We lost her in an accident." There was a tightness to her voice, and although the older woman was behind the chair where Isabella had seated herself, she knew the housekeeper had made the sign of the cross.
    At least they all weren't devil-worshipers in this valley. Isabella sighed with relief. "I'm so sorry for your loss, signora. I can only imagine how terrible it would be to lose a child, but mia madre died of the fever when I was but six, and mio padre was carried home from a hunting accident. I only have mio fratello now. And I do not wish to lose him, too."
    She didn't add that both she and Lucca believed her father's hunting accident, which subsequently caused his death, had been no accident but a serious bid by their neighbor, Don Rivellio, to begin the takeover of their lands.
    "You met mio sposo, Betto, last night on your arrival. He stabled your horse for you. The animal was very tired. He is a good man, and should you need anything, he will aid you."
    Sarina lowered her voice, almost as if she thought the walls had ears. As if she were a conspirator.
    Isabella wrapped her hands around the hot cup of tea. She inhaled deeply but found no trace of any herb she could identify as medicinal. "He seemed very nice, and he was kind to me." She looked up at Sarina. "Did Don DeMarco enter my room last night while I slept?"
    Sarina stiffened, her hands stilling as she was placing the dishes closer to Isabella's chair.
    "Why do you ask such a thing?"
    "I had strange dreams, that you were here in my room and he came in."
    "Are you certain? What did he look like?" Sarina turned to tidy the bed, keeping her back to the younger woman.
    Isabella thought the housekeeper's hands were trembling. She took a cautious sip of tea.
    It was sweet and hot and tasted perfect. "I couldn't see his face. But he seemed… large. Is he a big man?"
    Sarina fluffed the quilt, then smoothed it carefully. "He is tall and enormously strong.
    But he moves…" She trailed off.

    "In silence," Isabella supplied thoughtfully, almost to herself. "He was here last night, in this room, wasn't he?"
    "He wished to make certain you had suffered no injury on your journey." Sarina prompted her to eat, pushing the plate toward her. "Our cook becomes very upset when we don't eat what she provides. Already we sent back your meal last night. She has prepared this especially for you. Please try it."
    Isabella hadn't eaten a real meal in so long, she was almost afraid to take a bite. Her stomach protested at first, but then the strange, honeyed cake simply melted in her mouth, and she found she was quite hungry. "It is good," she praised in answer to Sarina's expectant expression. "What was that terrible scream I heard? That was no dream but someone mortally wounded." She was reluctant to tell even Sarina about Francesca's visit, uncertain whether it would make trouble for the young woman. She liked Francesca and needed at least one ally in the castello. Sarina was sweet, and very good to her, but her loyalty was definitely to Don DeMarco. Everything Isabella said, everything she did, would be dutifully reported. Isabella accepted that as Sarina's duty. Her father had been don over his people. She knew what loyalty the title commanded.
    "These things happen. Someone was incautious." Sarina shrugged her thin shoulders almost carelessly, but as she turned away, Isabella saw that her face was pale and her lips were trembling. "I must go. I will return for you when it is time." She was already halfway to the door, clearly not wanting to continue the conversation. Before Isabella could protest, the door was firmly closed, and she heard the key turn in the lock.
    Isabella spent a good portion of the morning napping. She was still tired and drained from the exhausting journey, and every muscle in her body seemed to ache. She had studied every inch of the room and the stained glass and again searched for hidden passageways, then finally threw