God being blind; she couldn’t see a damn thing either. “Is it true you have a brothel and a gambling den here?”
“All true, dear Silvana—do you mind if we drop the titles? We don’t use them in here.”
“I’d be relieved to, Sebastian.”
Sebastian led them to a corner table. He sat beneath a painting of a woman reclining naked upon silks, and Rafael and Silvana took their places opposite. “I’ve no idea where Matheus and the others are,” said Sebastian as he waved to catch the attention of some unseen figure. “But they’ll turn up.”
“I’m not entirely disappointed to be relieved of their company,” said Rafael. “We can use this opportunity to chat, the three of us, about the future.”
“Ah, yes, the future—” Sebastian paused as a barmaid emerged from the shadows. “Wine, girl, for the three of us. The very best. And potatoes roasted in their skins.”
“With pleasure, my master.” The woman vanished into the murk.
“The joys of tavern ownership.” Sebastian placed his hands behind his head and reclined. “Yes, the future. You’ve had a day to admire my little Irena. What do you think, Rafael? A suitable lady for your manor?”
“She seems born to aristocracy. I have no complaints and many praises.”
Sebastian smiled, but no light reached his eyes. “Tell me. Did you like the art in my lobby?”
Rafael gave a broad grin in return. “Of course! It is a sumptuous collection, and I should know, having traveled so extensively in the last two years.”
As Rafael spoke, Silvana watched Sebastian’s expression. Something was wrong. The fat, jocular man who had beamed so foolishly behind his great beard had disappeared, and something more calculating, even predatory, had taken his place.
She put her hand on Rafael’s arm, cutting short his ramblings. “Most of your artwork is fake,” she said. “Cheap quartz, gilt and tin.”
Rafael sucked in a breath and gave Silvana an uncomprehending look.
“Yes,” said Sebastian. “Very good. Your sister is a little sharper than you are, Rafael, I’m afraid.”
“Sharper?” Rafael groaned. “I see. It was a test.”
“Indeed. A trap for excessive flatterers.” Sebastian’s mustache lifted as he gave them something too mocking to be a smile. “Did you honestly take me for a simple fool, considering my work and reputation?”
“Don’t fear. I took you for a complex fool, at the very least.”
Sebastian laughed. “At least you respond well to pressure. That’s a good sign.” He steepled his fingers—always the mark of an unscrupulous man. “Your acting has amused me without end all day, so there are no hard feelings. Besides, Ira adores your flattery, and anything that makes my daughters happy makes me happy. Let me make it very clear—I love those three girls. They’re worth more to me than this tavern, my manor or my vineyard.”
His eyes shifted between Rafael and Silvana, and his smile faded. “I consider my life, my accomplishments, to be as a vine. Beautiful, prosperous and far-reaching, but worth nothing without its fruit. My daughters are that fruit, and you won’t pluck them lightly. Ira is already taken with you, and you have a title and wealth. You’re off to a good start, but you’ve a way to go yet before I’ll entrust her to you.”
Rafael’s face remained composed, but Silvana knew her brother. He was nervous, his anxiety evident in his posture and the hesitance in his eyes. “How many suitors have failed before me?” he said.
“Seventeen. All had their merits, but my Ira will have only the best.” Sebastian’s stern look evaporated, and merriment glowed on his face. “But let’s be optimistic. If you comport yourself well, and Delfina and I decide that you’re the man you claim to be, we’ll allow you our eldest’s hand and fulfill our financial obligation. In return, you’ll treat Ira like a little queen and ensure that she enjoys the motherhood she’s always longed
“All true, dear Silvana—do you mind if we drop the titles? We don’t use them in here.”
“I’d be relieved to, Sebastian.”
Sebastian led them to a corner table. He sat beneath a painting of a woman reclining naked upon silks, and Rafael and Silvana took their places opposite. “I’ve no idea where Matheus and the others are,” said Sebastian as he waved to catch the attention of some unseen figure. “But they’ll turn up.”
“I’m not entirely disappointed to be relieved of their company,” said Rafael. “We can use this opportunity to chat, the three of us, about the future.”
“Ah, yes, the future—” Sebastian paused as a barmaid emerged from the shadows. “Wine, girl, for the three of us. The very best. And potatoes roasted in their skins.”
“With pleasure, my master.” The woman vanished into the murk.
“The joys of tavern ownership.” Sebastian placed his hands behind his head and reclined. “Yes, the future. You’ve had a day to admire my little Irena. What do you think, Rafael? A suitable lady for your manor?”
“She seems born to aristocracy. I have no complaints and many praises.”
Sebastian smiled, but no light reached his eyes. “Tell me. Did you like the art in my lobby?”
Rafael gave a broad grin in return. “Of course! It is a sumptuous collection, and I should know, having traveled so extensively in the last two years.”
As Rafael spoke, Silvana watched Sebastian’s expression. Something was wrong. The fat, jocular man who had beamed so foolishly behind his great beard had disappeared, and something more calculating, even predatory, had taken his place.
She put her hand on Rafael’s arm, cutting short his ramblings. “Most of your artwork is fake,” she said. “Cheap quartz, gilt and tin.”
Rafael sucked in a breath and gave Silvana an uncomprehending look.
“Yes,” said Sebastian. “Very good. Your sister is a little sharper than you are, Rafael, I’m afraid.”
“Sharper?” Rafael groaned. “I see. It was a test.”
“Indeed. A trap for excessive flatterers.” Sebastian’s mustache lifted as he gave them something too mocking to be a smile. “Did you honestly take me for a simple fool, considering my work and reputation?”
“Don’t fear. I took you for a complex fool, at the very least.”
Sebastian laughed. “At least you respond well to pressure. That’s a good sign.” He steepled his fingers—always the mark of an unscrupulous man. “Your acting has amused me without end all day, so there are no hard feelings. Besides, Ira adores your flattery, and anything that makes my daughters happy makes me happy. Let me make it very clear—I love those three girls. They’re worth more to me than this tavern, my manor or my vineyard.”
His eyes shifted between Rafael and Silvana, and his smile faded. “I consider my life, my accomplishments, to be as a vine. Beautiful, prosperous and far-reaching, but worth nothing without its fruit. My daughters are that fruit, and you won’t pluck them lightly. Ira is already taken with you, and you have a title and wealth. You’re off to a good start, but you’ve a way to go yet before I’ll entrust her to you.”
Rafael’s face remained composed, but Silvana knew her brother. He was nervous, his anxiety evident in his posture and the hesitance in his eyes. “How many suitors have failed before me?” he said.
“Seventeen. All had their merits, but my Ira will have only the best.” Sebastian’s stern look evaporated, and merriment glowed on his face. “But let’s be optimistic. If you comport yourself well, and Delfina and I decide that you’re the man you claim to be, we’ll allow you our eldest’s hand and fulfill our financial obligation. In return, you’ll treat Ira like a little queen and ensure that she enjoys the motherhood she’s always longed
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