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She shrugged, and preceded Lynn and Anna Maria into the shop

Jared liked to take public transportation in Venice, slipping onto the vaporettos with crowds of tourists and natives, studying the islands of Venice as the boat caet around the city, and loved the architecture of it

Today, however, he took a private launch Arriving at the palazzo, he was greeted by the contessa’s aide, a tall, skeletal woaunt face Her disapproval of hih she was always cold and silent

He was led to the contessa’s palatial bedchae asexquisitely Renaissance about her decor, froreat draped and canopied bed to the scenes on the lush Persian rugs A sitting area flanked the fireplace; the oyles on either side, as if the pair guarded the flaht to hell

The contessa, dressed in an elegant white silk robe, was seated in a crimson daybed before the fire A tea service was before her; she had been reading thepaper She was one of those wo and sleek; her ageless face showed no signs of slept-in makeup, crinkles at the eyes, or the least of shadows beneath theer as he entered

"Contessa " he began softly

"I have done everything for you," she countered A s And you could not keep that silly girl with you at my party?"

"I don’t kno she wandered?"

"That is not acceptable"

The contessa had not asked him to sit Jared stood aardly for a raceful form was arrayed on the day-bed Her eyeshis head It occurred to hi like a sycophant, but here, with the contessa, it was to be expected She had that kind of power, and she didn’t expect hu your pardon Truly, I beg your pardon"

She thrust the local paper toward hiotten wind of the trouble; the details were sketchy, the story was slanted in favor of the contessa, and written with a touch of huh the contessa was mentioned by name, Jordan was cited as the naive American tourist

"I am so sorry," he said

"You will see that she ceases this nonsense," the contessa said

"I’ve spoken with her firhter "You’ve spoken to her firhter rose shrilly The sound of it caused a shiver deep in his heart "Caro mio, you’ve spoken firmly? Well, we shall see If I am forced to take matters into my own hands "

"I can control Jordan"

"See that you do"

"You toldher!"

"But I expected you to control her!"

He remained on his knee, his head down

"You co, because ofleft of his pride twitched in his throat He sed

"You’re in disgrace"

"I’llI’ll leave you now"

She touched his hair, her ainst hi

"No," she said after a moment "YouI will let you havetea with me You would like that, wouldn’t you?" He looked up at last Her eyes were on his