In the Tudor Court Collection. Amanda McCabe

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      Lorenzo’s eyes went over the woman standing at Michael’s side. She was wrapped in his cloak, and from the slippers on her feet and a glimpse of the harem pants she wore beneath it, he understood why.

      ‘Donna Maria,’ he said, speaking kindly, for he understood that she must be bewildered and perhaps frightened by all that had happened to her since she was taken from her father’s ship. ‘Welcome to my house. I trust that Michael has told you—you are to be restored to your father on payment of a ransom?’

      ‘Please…’ Maria looked at him with tear-drenched eyes. ‘Do not tell my father where I have been…’ Tears fell from her eyes and trickled down her cheeks. ‘He would disown me—send me to the nuns.’

      Lorenzo glanced at his captain. ‘Perhaps you should tell me the whole?’

      ‘Stay here, Donna Maria,’ Michael said and moved a little aside with him. ‘She has been kept in Rachid’s harem. I am not sure whether she was sent to his bed, but she has been with his women.’

      ‘And she believes that her father would disown her if he knew?’

      ‘It is what she says.’ Michael frowned. ‘I brought her to you as you bid me—and now I ask leave to return to Venice for a while. I have had news of my father. He is unwell and asks for me.’

      ‘Yes, of course you must go to him,’ Lorenzo said at once. ‘I hope you will return to me here as soon as you can?’

      ‘You have my loyalty as always,’ Michael said. ‘But for the moment there is little here that cannot be done by others.’

      ‘Go then with my blessing,’ Lorenzo said and frowned. ‘But the girl—how did she seem to you? Has she been mistreated? You understand my meaning—has she been subjected to rape?’

      ‘I am not certain what to think,’ Michael told him. ‘It is true that she has been kept in the harem, but I do not think she was ill treated there. She asked me several times to let her return to her friends.’

      Lorenzo nodded. ‘I shall keep her with us for a while, and then we shall decide what to do about her father.’

      ‘If you will excuse me, I would leave at once.’

      ‘Of course. May your god go with you, my friend.’

      ‘And with you. Give Kathryn my good wishes.’

      Lorenzo inclined his head. His eyes moved to the Spanish girl. She was very beautiful, her hair black and thick, her eyes dark and her mouth soft and sensuous. Something in the way she looked at him made him vaguely uncomfortable, a knowing, calculating expression that he disliked and thought immodest in an unmarried girl.

      ‘I am sorry for what has happened to you, Donna Maria,’ he said. ‘I shall ask my wife to take care of you. I am not sure what to do about you—though in the end you must be returned to your father. However, it may be that you would prefer to stay with us for a time?’

      ‘Yes, please.’ She came quickly towards him, catching at his hand, her eyes pleading. ‘I do not want to go home.’

      ‘Lorenzo…’ Kathryn came into the hall at that moment, in time to see the girl clutching at his hand. She stopped, frowning and uncertain. Who was this girl? ‘Has Michael left already?’

      ‘He brought Donna Maria Dominicus to us,’ Lorenzo said. ‘We have managed to ransom her from Rachid, and she will stay with us until we can restore her to her family. Will you look after her, Kathryn?’

      ‘Yes, certainly,’ Kathryn said, feeling remorse for her suspicions and pity for the girl, who she knew must have suffered dreadfully. ‘How did you manage this, Lorenzo?’

      ‘I shall tell you later,’ he said. ‘Donna Maria needs clothes. You may have something that she can wear until we can have something made for her.’

      ‘I think we are much of a size,’ Kathryn said readily. ‘If you will come with me, Donna Maria, I shall take you to the room that will be yours. I think you must want to bathe and rest, for you have had a terrible time.’

      ‘You are so kind.’ The girl’s tears fell readily. ‘I have been so very unhappy…’

      ‘You are safe now,’ Kathryn said, her heart touched by the girl’s plight. ‘Come, we shall go upstairs where we can talk and you may ask me for anything you need.’

      Maria glanced at Lorenzo, but, finding no softness in his face, she clung to the hand Kathryn offered, her head bent as she allowed herself to be led away.

      Lorenzo watched them leave. His instinct told him that the Spanish girl was not as upset as she seemed. There was something about her that he could not like, but, having ransomed her, he was honour bound to look after her until she could be restored to her family.