Read Online The Silver Devil by Teresa Denys - Free Book Online Page A

but his eyes were watchful. "All that is at
an end. I am sent by the duke to deliver you and to bid you welcome to his
court."
    "I
have tried His Grace's welcome." My hands clenched in spite of myself.
"Farewell would please me better, sir."
    One
eyebrow arched coolly. "Would you be gone before you know the reason you
were brought here? On my honor, the duke intends you all love and friendship.
He bids you to his banquet."
    "And
it was for that he imprisoned me? You mock me, sir. I never knew a duke invite
a tavern wench to share his supper."
    "You
do not know this duke, then." The murmur was mocking.
    "I
know enough." I glanced bitterly down at my filthy shift, half-hidden by
the gray coverlet; at the thinness of my hands, grown paler since I had done so
little work. He followed my gaze, and I noticed that the malicious intelligence
of his heavy-lidded eyes contradicted the weakness of mouth and chin. His lips
curled in a faint, ironic smile.
    "Come,
we are laggard. It wants two hours to supper, and by that time you must be made
ready. The duke has given orders for your dressing. We must not linger."
    I
did not move. "What does he mean to do with me?"
    "Should
I speak it before the priest?" His eyes glinted, and laughter shook his
voice. "On my life, he means to use you well! And use you thoroughly, or I
do not know him." He met my bewildered gaze and sobered a little.
"You are here awaiting his pleasure, lady."
    I
whispered no, and the room spun before my eyes. Someone steadied me, and I
could hear the man addressing Father Vincenzo above my head.
    "
'Slight, you have been secret with her! I did not dream she had not guessed it.
Innocent indeed!"
    The
priest paid him no heed. "Can you stand, daughter?"
    I
drew a deep breath and nodded, and the man came forward with a quick, tripping
step like a trotting pony, eyeing me up and down. "Father, she is a
prodigy if she does not dissemble. You should be glad, lady, that you are
honored with the duke's notice and should not stand like a lightning-struck
tree."
    "Am
I to be overjoyed that such a tyrant would lie with me? It is more like to
drive me to despair!" My hands were trembling, and I thrust them behind
me. "You have pretty notions of women!"
    "Well,
well!" His eyes widened. "Have I affronted virtue?"
    His
tone turned the word to a sneer, and I retorted, "No more than you meant
to, sir."
    "Perhaps
a little more." He was stroking his beard, his expression thoughtful.
"My pretty notions have not so far encountered such wrathful modesty. It
may be I shall alter them a little."
    I
did not heed him. "Why does the duke want me when he has never seen
me?"
    "He
saw you once, it seems, and that once was enough." The man was looking at
me strangely as I fought to control my rising tears.
    "Sir,
I..."
    "Lady,
for correctness, you should address me as 'my lord.' Piero Ottavio della
Quercia, first gentleman to the Duke of Cabria, at your service."
    The
sarcasm made me so angry that I forgot my fear for a moment. "I beg your
lordship's pardon. Can you tell me why your master should want me more than
another?"
    Piero
surveyed me slowly, insolently. "Oh, lady, you cannot be so modest!"
    "I
do not want your compliments!" My voice almost broke.
    He
shrugged. "His Grace is not the man to subdue the dictates of his
flesh—and, moreover, he is the duke. He will have what he will have."
    "But
there must be women who would account it an honor to do what he would force me
to. Why will he not take one of them?"
    "Because
he soon tires of those who are too willing." There was an oddly brittle
note in Piero's voice. "He is surfeited with brood mares and must mount
the unicorn."
    "He
cannot command my honor!"
    Piero
smiled. "Do not be too sure."
    "That...
that white-haired lecher!" I was almost past speech.
    "Would
you call it white?" he enquired musingly. "It would be more politic
to call it gold. He would mislike the imputation of old age if he heard it. Do
you not think him handsome,