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Authors: Jana Petken
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are locked away for the rest of their miserable lives. I will be watching you, but for now … get out of my sight.”
David stood alone for a moment, until his racing pulse had returned to normal. He was still alive … but for how long?
Chapter Eight
Garcia found Luis staring at his dead son, who was lying in a crib. He coughed awkwardly and approached. His eyes then settled on the tiny body covered from head to foot in white linen, with only its face visible. The infant would have to be buried soon, Garcia thought. Best to take it out of sight, and let it be out of mind.
“Tell me you have it,” Luis said without turning.
“I do, Your Grace. Here is your son.”
With the dead baby forgotten for the moment, Luis turned sharply and gazed upon the infant, who, as though knowing all eyes were upon him, began shrieking loudly. Luis smiled. “The sound of a strong, healthy baby is the sweetest of music to my ears.” Taking the baby from Garcia, he cradled it in his arms and whispered soothing words whilst stroking its face. “You have looked him over?”
Garcia nodded.
“He’s a fine boy,” Luis said.
His eyes watered with happiness. “In the morning, announcements will be made. I want written notices on the church’s walls. Father Bernardo must celebrate the baby’s arrival with a Mass. Bells shall toll, heralding the news of a new heir.”
His worries were over. His father by law, the inquisitor, was going to shower him with gifts and favours. The Peráto line was secure. He could now forget about his mad wife. She could rot in her chambers until she drew her last breath, for all he cared. “Praise be to God. This is a miracle.”
Putting the tip of his finger into the infant’s mouth, he laughed when he felt soft gums sucking it. “You’re strong, my son. But you must be eager to taste your mother’s milk.” Still smiling, he handed the baby back to Garcia. “Take him to my wife’s ladies. It’s time to see if the duchess has milk or if her scrawny body can’t even produce that. Come straight back. We have other business to attend to.”
Luis looked once more at his dead son. He kissed its forehead and then covered its face. After tonight, he’d erase all memory of the dead infant. It would not be baptised, or receive burial rights. He didn’t know where its un-Christian soul would go, but he was thankful that he wouldn’t see it in heaven. He sighed with relief. It had been a difficult and heartbreaking night, but it had ended splendidly.
“So did everything go exactly to plan? I want to know the details,” Luis said to Garcia after he’d returned.
Garcia shrugged and spread his arms. “It went as well as we had hoped. All was taken care of, just as you asked. Sanz assured me that no one saw or heard him entering or leaving the infant’s home. The mother and father are dead, as is their other child.”
“Good.”
Looking uncomfortable, Garcia continued. “Your Grace, there is something you should know …”
“What?”
“Sanz disobeyed your orders. He removed the other child’s body from the house and buried it on the hill. It was a girl.”
“He did what?”
“He thought that two missing children would appear more palatable than one. I’m not fond of the man, but his assumptions have merit.”
Luis slumped angrily in a chair. He had specifically ordered that there be no loose ends. “Is the girl dead beyond doubt? Can you give me that assurance?”
“Yes, Your Grace, without a doubt. The militiaman told me that he buried her deep in the ground.”
“And you believed him?” Luis asked angrily.
“I had no choice but to trust him.”
Looking pensive, Luis said, “We will speak of his disobedience later. Did you give him the coin?”
Garcia shifted his feet nervously. “I urged him to take the purse, but he refused. He’s insolent for one so common. He also appeared weighed down by guilt. I worry he might want to confess what he did, and
David stood alone for a moment, until his racing pulse had returned to normal. He was still alive … but for how long?
Chapter Eight
Garcia found Luis staring at his dead son, who was lying in a crib. He coughed awkwardly and approached. His eyes then settled on the tiny body covered from head to foot in white linen, with only its face visible. The infant would have to be buried soon, Garcia thought. Best to take it out of sight, and let it be out of mind.
“Tell me you have it,” Luis said without turning.
“I do, Your Grace. Here is your son.”
With the dead baby forgotten for the moment, Luis turned sharply and gazed upon the infant, who, as though knowing all eyes were upon him, began shrieking loudly. Luis smiled. “The sound of a strong, healthy baby is the sweetest of music to my ears.” Taking the baby from Garcia, he cradled it in his arms and whispered soothing words whilst stroking its face. “You have looked him over?”
Garcia nodded.
“He’s a fine boy,” Luis said.
His eyes watered with happiness. “In the morning, announcements will be made. I want written notices on the church’s walls. Father Bernardo must celebrate the baby’s arrival with a Mass. Bells shall toll, heralding the news of a new heir.”
His worries were over. His father by law, the inquisitor, was going to shower him with gifts and favours. The Peráto line was secure. He could now forget about his mad wife. She could rot in her chambers until she drew her last breath, for all he cared. “Praise be to God. This is a miracle.”
Putting the tip of his finger into the infant’s mouth, he laughed when he felt soft gums sucking it. “You’re strong, my son. But you must be eager to taste your mother’s milk.” Still smiling, he handed the baby back to Garcia. “Take him to my wife’s ladies. It’s time to see if the duchess has milk or if her scrawny body can’t even produce that. Come straight back. We have other business to attend to.”
Luis looked once more at his dead son. He kissed its forehead and then covered its face. After tonight, he’d erase all memory of the dead infant. It would not be baptised, or receive burial rights. He didn’t know where its un-Christian soul would go, but he was thankful that he wouldn’t see it in heaven. He sighed with relief. It had been a difficult and heartbreaking night, but it had ended splendidly.
“So did everything go exactly to plan? I want to know the details,” Luis said to Garcia after he’d returned.
Garcia shrugged and spread his arms. “It went as well as we had hoped. All was taken care of, just as you asked. Sanz assured me that no one saw or heard him entering or leaving the infant’s home. The mother and father are dead, as is their other child.”
“Good.”
Looking uncomfortable, Garcia continued. “Your Grace, there is something you should know …”
“What?”
“Sanz disobeyed your orders. He removed the other child’s body from the house and buried it on the hill. It was a girl.”
“He did what?”
“He thought that two missing children would appear more palatable than one. I’m not fond of the man, but his assumptions have merit.”
Luis slumped angrily in a chair. He had specifically ordered that there be no loose ends. “Is the girl dead beyond doubt? Can you give me that assurance?”
“Yes, Your Grace, without a doubt. The militiaman told me that he buried her deep in the ground.”
“And you believed him?” Luis asked angrily.
“I had no choice but to trust him.”
Looking pensive, Luis said, “We will speak of his disobedience later. Did you give him the coin?”
Garcia shifted his feet nervously. “I urged him to take the purse, but he refused. He’s insolent for one so common. He also appeared weighed down by guilt. I worry he might want to confess what he did, and
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