Luciano – how she warmed just at the thought of him! – had told her that in his world eighteen was a very significant birthday and she had already planned to make his so for him, but it was not the case in Talia. She didn’t really think that anyone would try to assassinate the Duchessa of Bellezza at her eighteenth birthday celebrations. I am sure the Regent and his wife would know in a moment that I was not Your Grace.’Īrianna decided not to press the point. ‘That was different, milady,’ said Barbara at last. It still bothered her sometimes that she had never known the man’s name or family.īoth the mistress and the maid were absorbed in their thoughts remembering that dreadful day. After all, it was she, Arianna, who had stabbed Barbara’s assailant, with her Merlino-dagger, before he could finish his attack. She was only too aware that the last impersonation of her had led to a wound that would scar her maid for life, and could have killed her.
And on the final occasion it had saved her life. Silvia had used doubles for some state appearances for years. Arianna had once sworn never to use a double but the longer she continued as ruler of Bellezza, the better she understood her mother who had been Duchessa before her. It was true that Barbara had impersonated her mistress once before and, on that occasion, had only narrowly escaped being murdered. That was when the maid had started to feel really afraid. ‘But what if you were here to take my place at the celebration? You’ve done it before.’ And running off to Padavia to meet the Cavaliere when there is a state celebration for you here might be one of them.’
‘Forgive me but there are things an ordinary serving-woman like myself might be permitted to do that are not.
#City of secrets mary hoffman how to#
‘Milady,’ said Barbara cautiously, wondering how to dissuade her mistress without appearing disloyal. And she’d be lucky if it was just her job she lost. But this new scheme of the Duchessa’s might mean Barbara lost her job long before her wedding day. She was engaged, just like her mistress, only to a young footman called Marco, and the Duchessa had promised her an expensive dress and jewels to wear at her wedding. Still, the maid also thought the Duchessa’s plan was desperately romantic and Barbara loved anything that smacked of romance. Proud as Barbara was to be taken into the Duchessa’s confidence, she knew she ought to tell Senator Rossi, the Regent, what his daughter was planning. Her mistress, the Duchessa, was asking her to do something very dangerous indeed. Her maid Barbara was in an agony of indecision. ‘You understand, surely? You wouldn’t want to be separated from your Marco on such a day, would you?’ ‘I can’t be apart from Luciano on my birthday,’ Arianna told Barbara. ‘There are no secrets except the secrets that keep themselves.’ ‘A secret may be sometimes best kept by keeping the secret of its being a secret.’ Series: Stravaganza City of Secrets Mary HoffmanĬhapter 16 When is it Right to Kill a Man_įor Anni, who started the fan forum, and Lavita and Duchessa, the Vultures who kept it going
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