when it was thought that a new and much larger campaign would begin. Lorenzo had mentioned a man called Don John of Austria who would lead the enlarged fleet in the fight against the Turks, a man respected by all the factions of the League.
‘There was too much argument and indecision last time,’ Lorenzo told her once when they lay thigh to thigh in their bed, his hand idly tracing the silken arch of her back. ‘If we are to strike a blow that will break the power of Selim, we must bind together and put our differences aside. I have no love of the Spanish, Kathryn, but I will fight with them if it defeats our common enemy. The Turks have become too predatory, too greedy, and we must stop them before it is too late.’
He had made love to her with such sweetness that night that she felt her inner self reach out to him and it seemed that they were one, their hearts, minds and bodies joined so sweetly that they could never more be separate beings. And yet still he had not told her he loved her.
Kathryn saw them walking together in the gardens that morning, her husband and the Spanish girl. It had happened before, but this time Lorenzo was laughing at something Maria had said to him, and she looked up at him as they walked, her smile inviting.
Maria was wearing the new gown of green silk that Kathryn had commissioned for her. She looked very beautiful and for a moment Kathryn was jealous. She felt the pain of it strike her. Lorenzo was not in love with her, his wife, and a man might desire many women. Was he becoming interested in the Spanish girl? Would she lose him to her rival? For she sensed that Maria was trying to arouse his interest in her.
Elizabeta had warned her against trusting Maria, and later that day there had been the incident of the spilled drink. Kathryn had never thought it an accident, because she had seen the look of triumph in Maria’s eyes before she lowered them, pretending to be distressed. And what was it Isabella had said—something about Maria having had a lover who had promised to marry her?
It was not true as far as Kathryn knew, which meant the Spanish girl had lied. And now she was doing her best to capture Lorenzo’s attention…
But this was mere foolishness, an irritation of the nerves. She would not let jealousy poison her thoughts, against her husband or the other girl!
Kathryn lifted her head and went outside to meet them. Immediately, Maria let go of Lorenzo’s arm and moved away from him, pretending to be interested in one of the shrubs in the garden.
‘Kathryn, my love,’ Lorenzo said. ‘Maria was telling me how happy she is here with us—and how kind you have been to her. I think we should give a dinner for our friends to celebrate the coming of Christ’s birthday. It will be expected of us and it will be our farewell to Maria—I have written to Don Pablo and he asks that Maria may be taken to him in Granada.’
‘You are sending me home?’ Maria whirled round, looking at him. Her dark eyes blazed with anger. ‘But you promised—Kathryn promised that I should stay with you.’
‘For a while, until you had recovered your spirits,’ he told her. ‘I think you will find that your father is only too pleased to have you home, Maria. There is no need to be afraid that he will send you to a nunnery.’
‘Kathryn…’ Maria looked at her, eyes wild with such a mixture of emotions that it was hard to tell which was uppermost—fear or anger. ‘Do not let him do this to me, I beg you.’
‘My husband does what is right for you, Maria,’ Kathryn said, hardening her heart against the girl. Elizabeta was right. Maria was sly and deceitful and it would be best for all of them if she returned to her father. ‘I am sorry if you are distressed, but I am sure that it must be best for you. Perhaps your father will arrange a marriage for you—’
‘No! I will not be sent back to him,’ Maria cried and her eyes blazed with anger. ‘You will be sorry for this—both of you!’
She ran from the courtyard, leaving Kathryn and Lorenzo alone.
‘Do not judge me unkind,’ Lorenzo said, misjudging Kathryn’s silence. ‘She is no true friend to you, Kathryn. Another man might have found her tempting, but she wasted her wiles on me. She might cajole many a man for she is comely enough, but I have never trusted her. Nor do I desire her.’
‘She has been through so much,’ Kathryn said, ashamed now that she had been jealous even for a moment. ‘Who knows what such an ordeal may do to anyone? How can we know what she has suffered?’
‘Be careful of her, Kathryn,’ Lorenzo said. ‘I warn you because I must leave you for two days. When I come back we shall arrange our special dinner—but until then do not trust Maria. If my business were not important I would not leave you, but I think she cannot harm you if you give her no chance. You have Veronique and your friends to keep you company while I am gone.’
‘I shall miss you,’ Kathryn said, ‘but do not worry for my sake, Lorenzo. Maria may be capable of small acts of spite, but I do not think she would seek to harm me. Why should she? I have been kind to her.’
‘For some people that means nothing,’ Lorenzo said. ‘Indeed, she may despise you for your weakness. It is a pity that I did not send her to her father immediately. However, the arrangements are made for two weeks hence. We shall have our party and then she shall go.’
‘It must be as you say,’ Kathryn agreed. ‘But I shall still be kind to her while she is with us, for she has suffered much.’
He nodded, drawing her to him, gazing down into her face. ‘I would expect nothing else from you, Kathryn, but be careful. I would not have harm come to you while I am away.’
She smiled, lifting her face for his kiss. ‘Do not worry, Lorenzo. I promise you I shall be careful. Besides, what harm could she do in such a short time?’
‘What is the matter, Veronique?’ Kathryn asked as her companion came to her in the little salon where she had chosen to sit and read her book later that morning. ‘You look upset.’
‘A letter has just been brought to me,’ Veronique said. ‘My sister has been taken ill and wishes to see me. It will be a day’s journey for me and I would be away at least three days.’
‘You are anxious about her, are you not?’
‘Yes—but I do not like to leave you, Kathryn. I know that Signor Santorini will be away for two days…’ Veronique was clearly uncertain and anxious, worried by the letter she had received.
‘You must go,’ Kathryn said. ‘Do not fear that I shall be lonely. I have Maria for company—and Elizabeta has promised that she will come this afternoon.’
‘Are you sure that you do not mind?’
‘You must go,’ Kathryn insisted with a smile. ‘Tell me, have you money for your journey?’
‘Yes—Signor Santorini has been more than generous. I shall return as soon as I am able, Kathryn.’ Veronique was upset, clearly torn between her sister and her duty to Kathryn.
‘Take a few days to stay with your sister,’ Kathryn said and kissed her cheek. ‘Go now, and do not feel guilty. I shall be perfectly all right.’
She smiled as the older woman hurried away. She liked the kindly Frenchwoman, but she would not be lonely. Maria and Elizabeta would keep her company until Lorenzo returned. Besides, she had many new books to read and she enjoyed walking in her
