Read Online The Silver Devil by Teresa Denys - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Teresa Denys
Ads: Link
lady?"
I
remembered the coarse, cruel drunkard's face, the gold-powdered hair, and shook
my head. Piero raised his eyebrows.
"Then
you must study to find him so, for he dotes on admiration. There are few about
the court who deny his beauty— you must be hard to please."
"I
am not his sycophant!"
"Well,
you may change your mind." Piero's gaze seemed to travel beyond me as he
spoke. "He is a kind of witch, and he will win you."
In
spite of myself, I was silenced by the ache in his voice that sounded almost
like sorrow. Then, without meaning to, I burst out, "My lord, let me go!
You could tell the duke I escaped you—he would not care greatly—"
He
laughed softly. "He would care enough to have my life for it! His Grace is
not gainsaid by man or woman."
I
turned away so that he should not see my tears, and his shapeless fingers
caught my wrists and gripped them.
"Why,
lady, you are distracted!" The words were mock soothing, but Piero's eyes
were bright with some unnamed excitement. "You would be no better by
reserving your virginity but in the name of maid—but once you part with it, you
purchase wealth and honor beyond your dreams!"
The
blood scorched my cheeks. "I am not for your market. Save your wit, my
lord."
He
flushed in his turn, but angrily. "Well, be a fool if you will! I only
advise you to sell while you can; if the duke should force his passage, you
will get nothing by it, unless you breed by him."
A
cry of revulsion tore my throat, and I tried to twist away, but he held both my
hands fast. His color had risen; he was in the grip of some excitement that
made him tremble, and his words came rapid and fevered.
"Why
should you not? You do not look barren, and I will take my oath the duke has
strength enough to bring you to it."
"Let
me go!" I could find no other words.
"Where?
Back to the gutter, to your home? Who there will believe in your chastity?
Better stay—a duke's whore is better than a common harlot or a beggar. Better
stay."
There
was a silence as I fought for words to deny him but could find none. What could
I do if I were set free? Antonio would never have me in his house unless, like
the other whores, I paid him rent. My chastity was gone in the eyes of honest
folk already. Piero's hand touched my shoulder in what I thought for an instant
was a caress.
"So."
It was an almost inarticulate sound of triumph. "I will leave the lady to
your mercies, Father; call me when you have done."
He
was gone in a whirl of silk and perfume, leaving Father Vincenzo standing
before me like a mute.
I
said with difficulty, "What did he mean?"
For
a moment I thought he would not answer. Then he said reluctantly, "I am
not only your physician but the duke's. I am bidden to ensure that no woman he
lies with has any disease that could harm him. It is no more than a task I must
do; you need not fear me."
I
flinched away from him. "Father, I give you my word..."
"I
dare not take it. Many are sick who do not know it themselves, and the duke's
health is the health of the whole state. Be still and trust me, and it will
soon be over; but if you will not, I must have you held."
The
resistance drained from me on a long shuddering sigh. "I will not fight
you. What must I do?"
He
did his work deftly and in silence while I stayed dumb with shame and
humiliation. As he had promised, it was over quickly, but when he had done, I
could not look at him.
"There
is nothing to cure." He sounded ashamed. "I am sorry I had to do this
thing, but I am sworn to obey the duke. I shall tell him."
"I
hope he rewards you well," I answered bitterly.
"Lady,
pardon me for my office. Remember that the prisoner forgives the hangman."
The
note of pain in his voice was so sharp that I nodded speechlessly and heard his
quick breath of relief. Then, with a swish of robes, he strode across the room
to call Piero.
"What,
are you done already?" The courtier spoke from the doorway, his voice
edged with sarcasm. "You have made short
I
remembered the coarse, cruel drunkard's face, the gold-powdered hair, and shook
my head. Piero raised his eyebrows.
"Then
you must study to find him so, for he dotes on admiration. There are few about
the court who deny his beauty— you must be hard to please."
"I
am not his sycophant!"
"Well,
you may change your mind." Piero's gaze seemed to travel beyond me as he
spoke. "He is a kind of witch, and he will win you."
In
spite of myself, I was silenced by the ache in his voice that sounded almost
like sorrow. Then, without meaning to, I burst out, "My lord, let me go!
You could tell the duke I escaped you—he would not care greatly—"
He
laughed softly. "He would care enough to have my life for it! His Grace is
not gainsaid by man or woman."
I
turned away so that he should not see my tears, and his shapeless fingers
caught my wrists and gripped them.
"Why,
lady, you are distracted!" The words were mock soothing, but Piero's eyes
were bright with some unnamed excitement. "You would be no better by
reserving your virginity but in the name of maid—but once you part with it, you
purchase wealth and honor beyond your dreams!"
The
blood scorched my cheeks. "I am not for your market. Save your wit, my
lord."
He
flushed in his turn, but angrily. "Well, be a fool if you will! I only
advise you to sell while you can; if the duke should force his passage, you
will get nothing by it, unless you breed by him."
A
cry of revulsion tore my throat, and I tried to twist away, but he held both my
hands fast. His color had risen; he was in the grip of some excitement that
made him tremble, and his words came rapid and fevered.
"Why
should you not? You do not look barren, and I will take my oath the duke has
strength enough to bring you to it."
"Let
me go!" I could find no other words.
"Where?
Back to the gutter, to your home? Who there will believe in your chastity?
Better stay—a duke's whore is better than a common harlot or a beggar. Better
stay."
There
was a silence as I fought for words to deny him but could find none. What could
I do if I were set free? Antonio would never have me in his house unless, like
the other whores, I paid him rent. My chastity was gone in the eyes of honest
folk already. Piero's hand touched my shoulder in what I thought for an instant
was a caress.
"So."
It was an almost inarticulate sound of triumph. "I will leave the lady to
your mercies, Father; call me when you have done."
He
was gone in a whirl of silk and perfume, leaving Father Vincenzo standing
before me like a mute.
I
said with difficulty, "What did he mean?"
For
a moment I thought he would not answer. Then he said reluctantly, "I am
not only your physician but the duke's. I am bidden to ensure that no woman he
lies with has any disease that could harm him. It is no more than a task I must
do; you need not fear me."
I
flinched away from him. "Father, I give you my word..."
"I
dare not take it. Many are sick who do not know it themselves, and the duke's
health is the health of the whole state. Be still and trust me, and it will
soon be over; but if you will not, I must have you held."
The
resistance drained from me on a long shuddering sigh. "I will not fight
you. What must I do?"
He
did his work deftly and in silence while I stayed dumb with shame and
humiliation. As he had promised, it was over quickly, but when he had done, I
could not look at him.
"There
is nothing to cure." He sounded ashamed. "I am sorry I had to do this
thing, but I am sworn to obey the duke. I shall tell him."
"I
hope he rewards you well," I answered bitterly.
"Lady,
pardon me for my office. Remember that the prisoner forgives the hangman."
The
note of pain in his voice was so sharp that I nodded speechlessly and heard his
quick breath of relief. Then, with a swish of robes, he strode across the room
to call Piero.
"What,
are you done already?" The courtier spoke from the doorway, his voice
edged with sarcasm. "You have made short
Similar Books
