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Then he made a sudden realization, and he was afraid

His employer onderful But she wasn’t to be crossed

In thethe barrels he would sink to the bottom of the Adriatic Sea, he was suddenly very aware of a cold breeze

He du around, counting, piecing together, counting again

Ice filled hio

CHAPTER 2

Nothing

Still standing in front of the restaurant, Jordan turned around slowly once again, puzzling over the strange sounds of whispering and the ied shadows that had teased her senses Scanning the street around her, she hoped for aand brassy Tiff had perhaps followed her route, and atching her, ready to approach her again

But as she looked around, there was no one in the busy street who appeared to be the least interested in her Groups of people laughed and joked together She heard bits of different languages?English, Italian, German, French?but she didn’t feel even the faintest hint of a cold breeze touching her nape or hissing in her ear

Then, suddenly, she heard her name called

"Jordan! Jordan!" She spun in the opposite direction as her name was repeated in a loud and friendly su at the Venetian shop where she had acquired her costu her from the door of the shop Jordan hadn’t realized that she had walked quite so far, that she was right across from the Arte della Anna Maria, named for the impressive Venetian wo and talented young entrepreneurs

"Lynn!" she called back, starting over, then ducking back as the saain, Napoleon stopped, bowing low to her "Oh, wait, wait! Please, wait!" soally, then swept his arain Jordan hurried by, and he ance

"Jordan!" Lynn said, greeting her typically with a kiss on both cheeks Her eyes were ht

"Where is your costume? In true style, you know, you should dress even to wander through the streets"

"I’," Jordan said lightly Lynn was about Jordan’s age with close cropped dark hair and s such poor Italian, had found a bond with the Airl the moo Lynn’s hter her native language as a child; as an adult, Lynn ads Italian A see in Florence had convinced her that she wanted to spend a few years, at the least, living in Italy Anna Maria’s co-op had been the perfect place for her to sell her creations?wooden marionettes dressed in detailed and exquisite costumes

"Ah," Lynn murmured, eyes clouded with concern as she watched Jordan

Jordan grimaced "So you heard?"

"Some of our custoarettes from the pocket of her jacket, shook one out, lit up, inhaled deeply, and exhaled a long pluarette in hours" She grimaced "We still smoke everywhere, here in Italy, not like the States But you can’t light up in the shop, not with so s, costumes, fabric, paint, and art! We could burn a hole in a costu casually, but she studied Jordan all the while "You’re okay now?"

"I’m fine But the contessa’s concept of fun is macabre It was very real," Jordan said She realized she sounded defensive

"Yes, well, the contessa would have entertainhtened suddenly "Well, you needn’t fear when you attend our ball" She grinned, seeing the confusion in Jordan’s eyes "Tonight, the artist’s ball?naturally, ht is Anna Maria’s Venetian Waltz We have a palazzo as well, you know Rented for the occasion, not owned by any of us, unfortunately But on’t scare you half to death We entertain with music, tarot card readers, jestersa pleasure palace, but no monsters"

"Well, I assu, but are you sure you want hed "Of course Yes, Jared has had tickets for months Surely he told you that the Friday ball is ours"

"I just knew there was a round of parties," Jordan said "I’hted, that one of them is yours

I’m afraid that Jared only explained the contessa’s party, and it seems the contessa is very important to his business"

"Ah, so Jared felt that hers was the most ied philosophically "The contessais nobility She is rich Her party is definitely for the truly elite?invitation only It’s a big deal to be invited Come to think of it, none of us at the shop are ever invited to her events We must be poor peasants in her eyes"

"I wish I’d been a peasant in her eyes Everywhere I’ve been today, people stare at ht in the police" Lynn’s smile deepened "Well, I’m afraid the story has traveled, but you know, there are people who don’t like her as well Quite frankly, she’s a snot She breezes down the street as if she’s got a stick up her ass"

"Lynn!"