Read Online The Sin of Cynara by Violet Winspear - Free Book Online Page A

and stood there with her arms clasped around her own body. Had she known all this about the Falcones would she have come here like this, imposing on them - in a way? She gazed at the small, still figure of Teri, his redskin on the bed beside him, and she felt the familiar ache of love for him. There had never been any other soul as close to her as the boy was; she couldn't say that she and Cynara had been all that close even though they had been twins. There had been none of that soul communication that people spoke about in connection with sisters born in the same hour, and there had never been all that much alikeness in their ways. Cynara had shown a preference for the male sex at the very start of her teens, but for Carol that awareness had not awoken until the entry of Vincenzo into her life. He had kindled love in her heart, and then had crushed it out so completely that Carol couldn't imagine herself being starry-eyed over a man ever again.
      In fact she now felt frightened by the dark sides there were to the emotion called love.
      Her fingers crept to her own cheek, smooth and softly hollowed, and she recalled the feel of the baróne's scars when he had forced her hand to his face and made her touch him.
      A woman had done that to him . . . how then could he ever harbour gentle feelings towards any other woman? The searing pain of the acid would have penetrated to his heart and burned out of it all the kinder aspects of love and desire. He might even feel tempted to be cruel to anyone who tried to get close to him, for how could he ever trust again, ever truly believe that his face was lovable?
      He had said it, hadn't he? That he reserved his cruelty for women?
      At that moment Teri stirred awake and lay looking at her with his great dark eyes.
      'What's the matter, Gaily?' He struggled into a sitting position and sleepily blinked his long lashes. 'You have ever such a funny look on your face.'
      'It's my natural look, Buster.' She sat down on the bed and drew him close to her heart. 'Well, caro, it looks as if we're going to live in this island palace. Do you like the idea?'
      He nodded against her and clasped his arms about her neck. 'Is that tall man with the terrible face really my uncle, Gaily?'
      'Yes, and you mustn't think of his face as being terrible. He was in an — accident and he can't help his scars. He's being very kind to us by letting us stay here and you must always be a good boy to him and never, never mention his face. Do you understand?'
      'I'm not afraid of him, Cally,' Teri insisted. 'He's nice on one side, isn't he? I'll look at that side and then I won't get shivery in my tummy.'
      She smiled and kissed his ruffled hair. 'That's my Buster! Now how about having a wash before I put you to bed?'
      'Can I sleep in here with you, Cally?' His arms clung closer and she felt him glance over to the archway that led into that other large room with the bed that was a lot too big for one small boy. A smaller bed would have to be found for him, and some brighter furnishings, otherwise he would never be persuaded to sleep on his own. The baróne, she suspected, had some firm ideas about the upbringing of boys and he'd hardly be pleased if she made a baby of his nephew.
      'For tonight, caro,' she said. 'Tomorrow we'll make your own room look much nicer and then you won't mind sleeping there like a big boy, now will you?'
      'No,' he said hesitantly. 'It's a very big house, isn't it? You should see the stables all full up with horses. Flavia showed me the big black horse that her papa rides, and he tossed his head ever so high and had steam coming out of his nose.'
      Um, she thought, he sounds like his master !
      'Come along, honey bunch,' she lifted Teri off the bed, 'let's go and clean your face and hands.'
      The bathroom was also large, with a deep green-tiled bath tub that fascinated the boy because it was let into the floor and had steps leading down into it, like a mini