The Scarletti Curse Read Online Free PDF Page A

less than thievery in the middle of the night!"
    Nicoletta was uncomfortably aware of the unblinking eyes of the various
carvings and sculptures all around them—silent, taunting faces gloating at
their misfortune.
    Maria Pia moaned and pushed herself to a sitting position. Nicoletta kept
her attention on the little girl. It was obvious that Sophie was as terrified
of the old man as she was of the shadowy specters that haunted her room at
night. Nicoletta instantly began whispering soothing words to the child,
knowing it best to leave the old man to Maria Pia, who wouldn't kick his ankle
as he so richly deserved. Nicoletta had been frightened by the odd murmurings
and shadows and the crashing chandelier, but this flesh-and-blood rude old man
was now making her angry. It would not be wise to say or do anything to call a
closer inspection upon herself; she dared not say what she thought. Nicoletta
did her best to resume her role as a slow, frightened servant girl. The last
thing she wanted was for the don to notice her. She didn't want the villagers
to suffer punishment on her behalf. They might be able to go into the
surrounding towns and make a modest living, but she doubted it. They had lived
in the hills all their lives, depending on the tolerance and good will of the
don.
    Maria Pia answered the old man respectfully but on the steadier ground her
role as the healer provided her. Unlike Nicoletta, she had much practice
through the years in dealing with the
aristocratici
and their tyrannical
ways, and obviously she had encountered this horrid old man before.
"Signore Scarletti, we have suffered a terrible accident. We were nearly
killed!" she said indignantly.
    "Stupid woman, I can see what has been going on here!" the elder
Scarletti snapped, clearly angrier than ever that anyone should contradict him,
and a lowly woman from the village, at that.
    A darker shadow fell across them all, blocking the light from the candles in
the hall, bringing instant silence to the exchange between the healer and the
old man. Even Sophie stopped crying to hiccup sorrowfully. Simultaneously they
turned their heads to see the don standing in the doorway. "Nonno, what
have you done? I left this chamber but a short time ago to return to my own
room, as the healer had things well in hand."
    The elderly man erupted into a barrage of Latin and Italian and another
dialect, but Nicoletta had the distinct feelings that the don's grandfather
wasn't praying. With his gnarled hands waving his cane around wildly, and his
face nearly turning purple, he seemed to be threatening everyone in sight. Once
he leaned over and spat on the floor near the door, his fierce gaze fixed
spitefully on the little girl.
    At his tirade Sophie clung all the harder to Nicoletta, not daring to look
up at the old man. He accused the child of everything from being bad luck to
being a witch. Nicoletta glanced quickly at Maria Pia. The older woman was
devoutly crossing herself and piously kissing the crucifix that hung around her
neck.
    The don looked completely exasperated, so much so that Nicoletta almost felt
sorry for him. He was still feeling the ill effects of the poisoning; she could
see it in his eyes and the slight way he hunched his body to bring relief to
the painful knots twisting in his abdomen. He waved his grandfather out of the
room, his voice quiet yet stern as he followed him into the corridor.
    The two men spoke briefly before the don returned to the women, eyeing the
disaster in the room. "What happened here?" he asked quietly.
    Sophie peeked out at him from the safety of Nicoletta's arms.
"They
did it." She pointed at the silent, watching creatures on the ceiling.
    Don Scarletti's gaze settled on the little girl. "Do not start that
silliness again, Sophie." His voice was mild but delivered a reprimand.
    The child flinched burying her face once more against Nicoletta's neck.
Nicoletta's dark eyes, a hint of fire in their depths, jumped to the don's
face. Maria