Page 2 (1/2)
Jared led thes directly in front of St Mark’s Square Jordan turned, feeling as if so her She looked up The lion of Venice sat atop his highdown at her She looked around, at St Mark’s Basilica and the Doge’s Palace By night, shadows seeargoyles, proud equine statues, and other fantasy creatures set upon splendid architecture by soreatest artists who had ever lived
A church bell tolled in the evening
A dozen church bells tolled Jared gripped her ar her over the dock to their vaporetto, and soon they were shooting through waters as heavily laden with revelers as the streets of the city
"Ah, there, ahead?our palace!"
She tried to reht The ball was given by Nari Contessa della Trieste, a woman with a heredity as rich as that of the city itself She was very wealthy, having married well?several times Her first love, however, was the arts, and the Palazzo Trieste, farthe archways, architecture, stone andplanned as a residence rather than a fortress froates allowed entry from the canals; there were elaborate, semicircular steps at the entry, where costuentlerand foyer, with its white reeted by their hostess Of ly beautiful, dressed all in white, with huge white feathers sweeping the heal collar er feathers She wielded her uests at her side, sreet the new arrivals "Jared, benvenuto! Cindy, ciao, bella!" She drifted across the floor, greeting them with kisses on both cheeks Then she took both of Jordan’s hands, stretching away to survey her "Oh, la, the cousin, Jared! Bella, bella, bella, cara razie, bella, for co to my little soiree, eh? Grazie"
"Grazieanche ei," Jordan told her "Mille grazie"
"You do speak Italian!"
"No," Jordan replied "A very, very little, I’m afraid"
"Ah, still, dance, be lish, but then, sometimes it’s rinned, expressive dark eyes sliding over Cindy and Jared
Jordan felt the strangest sensation of unease, wondering if their hostess weren’t ested She quickly disht; Jared and Cindy were very much in love, the perfect couple
"The buffet is upstairs, the chalasses fro is everywhere"
As they moved on, Jared excused himself to her "Jordan, I won’t leave you alone for dinner, I promise
There are a few business associates I have to see "
"He doesn’tme?just you," Cindy teased
"You know people here"
"Does anyone really know people here?" Cindy queried, as they walked to the buffet table, looking around The costuant and extravagant, costing thousands to tens of thousands of dollars, Jordan ian to feel underdressed in her sequins, faux jewels, and velvet Too own, Jordan was certain she could see the sparkle of dozens of real emeralds
"Jordan, sorry, that peacock with the chubby butt and big fan is Mrs Meroni I must say hi to her quickly Come with me?"
"I’ll wander," Jordan assured her "Go talk"
"But?"
"I’ll be fine"
"Watch out for the rats"
"If I go for any wolves, I’ll make sure they’re very wealthy," Jordan assured her
"And young," Cindy advised "Or else, old enough to keel off iht"
"I’ll keep that inidly to the buffet table
She was s over her shoulders, and drawn back from her forehead with a pair of slender braids in concession to the Renaissance style of the deep criht be more richly dressed; none wore a costuance
As old creation, on a wand She pulled it away frone, and studied a certain probleard to the buffet table?how to hold the drink, the mask and a tiny shri her all the while He joined her at the table, addressing her in Italian at first, but when her eyes imlish "Good evening Excusehis voice?"I believe one is supposed to have an introduction here, but as you seeht I would be of assistance" He reached out a hand, offering to rescue the chareen eyes that rivaled any geht with a sparkle, a slow s her lips
She spoke softly, too "I’m not so sure I can accept your assistance I’ve just assured my cousin-in-law that I atch out for rats and wolves and all predators of the night, I believe"
"Ah, unless they should be filthy rich," he uilty as she looked around, the slightest touch of a frown furrowing her brow
"Well," she ain "You are a wolf"