Eric Flint - The Shadow of the Lion

He was gentle and surprisingly professional about it. "Just a scratch, I think. If you would just come over there to the light I could clean it and bandage it quickly."

"Thank you," she said, wishing he hadn't let go of her hand. "And I think we'd better tie up because we're drifting."

Two minutes later, the hand was neatly and professionally bandaged; the ragged scratch cleaned out. "There. Good as new within two days."

"And how do I find the doctor if it needs further attention?" She did her best to make the question sound casual.

"Oh. Well, I spend quite a lot of time over at Zianetti's near the Accademia."

So all this time hanging around Giaccomo's and even venturing into Barducci's had been vain endeavor! "Well… I'll find you there." If have to invent an injury. "What's your name?"

"Marco. Ah, Felluci." He bit his lip; then: "Well, I'd like to ask you to have a glass of wine with me, but I've got to wait for someone for Benito. Then we've got to go back to looking for Maria."

That explained it. He worked with Benito! What could be more natural than the scamp would send his friend off to see what she wanted. And what a friend to choose! But if this "Maria" was a girlfriend, then she?Kat Montescue?was going to do her best to make sure she stayed lost. "And this 'Benito,' did he tell you who you were to wait for?" she asked, managing to keep a straight face.

Marco shook his head. "Someone called 'Kat.' He's been avoiding her because she's trouble, but with Maria gone missing…"

It was Kat's turn to bite her lip. "Trouble," was she? Well, there was some justification to that that description. She'd partly orchestrated it herself, and, well, she did have dangerous associates. The story Benito brought back couldn't have enhanced a saint's reputation, she'd bet.

Then the humor of it all got through to her.

She has the most delicious laughter in the whole world, thought Marco. I could listen to it forever, even though I don't see what is so funny.

Finally she stopped laughing. "Sorry… I'm Kat." And she started laughing again.

Marco found himself drowning both in her laughter and his own embarrassment. And yet, as bad as that embarrassment was, it was all right: He'd finally got to meet her. He'd kill Benito! Either Benito had known and had been keeping his brother from another entanglement?for which he couldn't really be blamed, after the last time.

No. Benito must not have worked out that Marco's "dream girl" and Benito's "trouble" were one and the same. But at least he'd found her. Now if he could keep from putting his foot in his mouth while he talked to her. Maybe he could even find out where she lived. She was everything Angelina was not. While he'd worshipped the ground Angelina walked on, and dreamed one day of kissing her hand… this girl made him want to fold her in his arms and… well, better stop these thoughts dead right there…

"I'm sorry. I'm sure they didn't mean it," he said humbly.

Kat smiled broadly. "I'm sure they did!" she said. "And they were right too, but I promise, not to you."

Marco had put two and two together. "Um. The girl you sent the message to Benito with. You haven't seen her, have you? We're looking for her."

Ah. So that was Maria. "Yes," said Kat, thinking back to the driving rain of last night. After her experience in the church she'd given up taking shelter. "But not today."

"She went missing yesterday," said Marco. "Caesare is worried sick."

"Who is this 'Caesare'?" asked Kat carefully.

He smiled again, and it did odd things to her insides. "Oh, sorry. Caesare Aldanto. Her… her boyfriend."

Relief was like the sun coming out. "She's not your girlfriend, then?"

He looked surprised. "Maria? She's crazy about Caesare. She wouldn't even look twice at me." He looked slightly sheepish. "Um, I… I'm not involved with anyone right now."

"Well, I'm not either." There. What an opening. "Although I have had several suitors." That seemed important to say too.

"I'm not surprised," he said warmly. "But about Maria. When did you last see her? We… we've had word she's a prisoner somewhere."

Kat cocked her head, put a finger to her jaw. "It was long after Vespers, but before midnight. Maybe a hundred yards from the Casa Dandelo. I… wanted to ask her about Benito. But it was raining too hard."

"I'd better go and tell Caesare. Why did you want to see Benito? I can give him a message."

"Oh… I, um, just wanted him to get hold of a friend of his for me," said Kat airily. "It's all right now. How about I take you to where I saw her?"

"You haven't got other work to do?" asked Marco. "I want to talk to you, but if you've got work…"

Her heart warmed. He was an ordinary working man, after all. And a considerate one. She wished the Montescue could somehow sponsor him to do what he should be doing: medical studies. Already he was worth six of any Case Vecchie scion-doctors she'd ever met. But unless her father came home laden with half the jewels of the Indies, there was no way. Casa Montescue limped on from day to day as it was. Extra expenses just couldn't be borne. Only yesterday her grandfather had said to her that he didn't know how they'd have managed without her. "No. Nothing this evening. I'd be happy to help."

They rowed along and Kat found that conversation was as easy as breathing. It was obviously his interest, so she led him to talk about medicine. The more he talked, the more Kat decided that her first look had led her unerringly. He wasn't?unlike most of the elderly rou?s at the occasional functions the Casa Montescue still attended?at all inclined towards over-the-line flattery and flirtation. Instead he talked with passion about medicine. About what could be done.

"By the way?how do you know that this Maria is definitely alive?" she asked, as they neared the Casa Dandelo.

Marco pursed his lips. "Well, you wouldn't know him but we went to see Luciano Mariana?"

"But I do know him! He was my tutor! But?he went away, years ago. I was afraid he was dead."

Marco pauses. "Um. Well. They say he's just got back from Jerusalem. I know him well, too, from?from earlier. I owe him my life in part. Anyway, he's?ah?good at divining. And he says she's alive, a prisoner and surrounded by water. We've got half the town looking for her."

Kat pointed to the mess of heavily barred old buildings, isolated on their own islet across the Rio della Crea. "Casa Dandelo. That's where she'll be. Nobody knows what happens there."

Marco pulled a wry face. "You don't have any contacts?"

She shook her head emphatically. "I'd sooner sell black lotos," she said with distaste.

"Yes. It's a disgrace to the Republic," said Marco grimly.

She got the feeling that if he were the Doge for a day, the Casa Dandelo would be among the first festering sores to go. "Come on, let's go find Benito and this Caesare."

They actually found an irritated-looking Caesare and a still-eager Benito within two hundred yards.

"Ciao, Kat. I see Marco's got you working too," said Benito cheerfully. "Listen, old Beppi saw her at the corner of the Canale di Cannaregio. She was definitely heading for this part of town."

Caesare shook his head. "After which she could have been taken anywhere."

Marco smiled. "Except that Kat saw her too. Right near the Casa Dandelo. That's where we reckon she must be."

Caesare nodded. "I suppose it's possible. We can't get in there. Well, I'll get the Capuletti. One of them is Capi di Contrada for the Dandelo shipments. Relax. They won't be able to take her out. She's a citizen of the Republic. Now I think we ought to go back, maybe stop at Giaccomo's in case there is a message or a ransom demand."

"Let's just go on down to the Casa Dandelo. Please," pleaded Benito. "See if any of Marco's patients are about. Or you could go back?I'll go on. Case the joint."