Tributary (River of Time 3.2 Novella) Read Online Free PDF Page A

four days she’d had her eyes shut. She was ready to be awake, moving, despite the murderous headache she suffered. She let her eyes flutter open.
    “Ahh, yes, there you are,” he said, triumph in his brown eyes.
    “Isn’t there a maidservant you could send in to watch over me, while the lady sleeps?” Alessandra asked. “Your presence in my makeshift bedchamber is hardly proper.”
    “Agreed,” he said easily, but only settled back in the chair and placed a casual boot on the opposite leg. “Be at ease—you’ve nothing to fear from me. I’ve been charged by Lord Forelli and our priest to see to your safety—until your father returns to fetch you. Lord Marcello pledged it, upon his life, that you would be well, and well you shall be. Think of me as your personal guard. Your protector.”
    “Or jailer,” she bit out. Even as she said it, she knew it wasn’t quite true.
    A tiny smile crossed his handsome face. “You wound me, Signorina. ‘Tisn’t quite like that…”
    She slowly sat up, her head throbbing, but she tried to hide it. “Why tarry? Let us rise and ride. You may escort me home. My father will be nothing short of pleasantly surprised.”
    “Alas, Lady Betarrini, Evangelia’s mother, would hear of no such thing. She’ll allow you to slowly resume your previous activities on the morrow, bit by bit. She says that those who have hit their head must move forward with utmost care. And if we neared the border, let alone crossed it—there’d be misery to pay from the Fiorentini. With or without one of their own in tow. Particularly, with me towing her.”
    Alessandra frowned. “I would tell them of your succor.”
    Rodolfo raised one brow in surprise. “Which would be most kind. Unfortunately, the Fiorentini might twist even good will into something more beneficial for them.” He shrugged. “Even now, your father has surely gone to the Grandi in Firenze. He shall return with a contingent of knights to ensure you are as well and whole as Lord Marcello pledged. And if you are not, you must know that the Fiorentini shall demand justice. In fact, they’ll almost hope you are not, so they can be justified in extracting it.”
    She remained quiet, thinking through his words. She didn’t want to believe it. But she’d learned enough to know that the ways of war and politics were more complex than she’d believed as a child.
    “Something tells me that a woman who hunts with as much determination and focus as you might try something ill-conceived.” He lowered his head, all trace of ease gone from his face, and in its place, only a man determined to see through his task as charged. “And signorina, you shall not be leaving this castle until my lord places your hand in your father’s.”
    She looked toward the ceiling. She really hadn’t decided what her next steps might be. But if Lady Betarrini went on sleeping, she might be able to rise, escape…
    Alessandra felt a heavy weariness slide over her again, claiming her as it did again and again, her lids begging to close, even after all those hours of sleep. But as she let them fall, the throb behind them kept her from settling into slumber.
    “Lord Greco,” she said, but stopped when she saw he’d risen and was already pouring another tincture bottle into a goblet.
    “The pain is plain in your eyes,” he said knowingly, a look of compassion in his own. “And Lady Betarrini is quite adept at fashioning medicines.” He lifted the cup to her. “This will bring you ease.”
    Alessandra paused, sniffing the swirling liquid, wondering if it was anything more than medicine. But Evangelia had been right—as was Lord Greco. Their master had sworn upon his life that Alessandra would be well in their keep. So why poison her now? Quickly, she drank it down, puzzling over the flowery taste.
    But in minutes, she slept, blissfully freed of the pounding ache in her skull.
     
    ***
     
    The rising sun was lifting the sky from periwinkle to pink through