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him aside and remind him of it now。 But we were in her drawing room and there were many other visitors； with all the usual music and talk going on。
〃e into my bedroom；〃 she said to both of us。 Her lovely oval face was beaming。 〃I am so very glad to see you。 Why didn't you e before now？ Of course everyone in Venice knew that Amadeo was recovered； and that Lord Harlech had gone back to England； but you should have written to me if you couldn't e。〃
I showered her with my apologies。 It was my thoughtlessness。 And indeed I should have written a letter。 What had blinded me on such a score was my love for Amadeo。 I had cared for nothing else。
〃Oh； I forgive you； Marius；〃 she declared。 〃I would forgive you anything； and look at Amadeo。 It's as if he were never sick at all。〃
Gratefully I accepted her embrace； but I could see how Amadeo suffered when she kissed him； when she clasped his hand。 He could not endure the gulf which separated them； but he must endure it； and so I did not move to leave。
〃How goes it with you； my beautiful nurse；〃 I said to her； 〃you who kept Amadeo by a thread until I could e to him。 You and your kinsmen？ Are you a happy lot？ 〃
She gave a soft gentle laugh。 〃Oh； yes； my kinsmen； some of them have met with the most unfortunate end。 Indeed； it is my understanding that the Grand Council of Venice believes they were murdered by those from whom they exacted heavy payments。 My kinsmen should have never e to Venice with their evil designs。 But I am blameless as everyone knows。 Members of the Grand Council of Venice have told me as much。 And you would not think it but I am now richer on account of all this。〃
Of course I saw it in a moment。 Those who had owed money to her miserable kinsmen had； after their murders； given her costly gifts。 She was richer than she had ever been。
〃I am a happier woman；〃 she said softly； looking at me。 〃Indeed； I am someone altogether different； for I know a freedom now that was inconceivable before。〃
Hungrily her eyes moved over me and over Amadeo。 I felt a desire emanating from her。 I felt it as she looked at both of us； that she wanted a new familiarity； and then she came to me； and putting her arms around me； she kissed me。
Quickly； I held her back and away from me； but this only impelled her to embrace Amadeo； and she kissed him on his cheeks and on his mouth。
She gestured towards the bed。
〃All of Venice wonders about my magician and his apprentice；〃 she said warmly。 〃And they e to me； only to me。〃
With my eyes； I let her know my love for her； that I would trespass now if she didn't strictly forbid it； and moving past her； I seated myself on her bed。
Never had I taken such a liberty with her； but I knew her thoughts。 We dazzled her。 She idolized us。
And how lovely she was in her luminous silk and jewels。
She came and took her place beside me； nestled close； and unafraid of whatever she saw when she looked into my eyes。
Amadeo was astonished and soon sat beside her on her right。 Though he'd fed well； I could sense his blood hunger； and that he fought bravely to keep it down。
〃Let me kiss you； my exquisite one；〃 I said。 And I did so； counting upon the dim light and my sweet words to bedazzle her； and then of course she saw what she wanted to see…not some dreadful thing quite beyond her prehension； but a mysterious man who had rendered her an invaluable service and left her wealthy and free。
〃You will be safe always； Bianca；〃 I said to her。 〃As long as I am here。〃 Twice and once more I kissed her。 〃Help me open my house again； Bianca； with even more splendid food and entertainments。 Help me prepare a greater feast perhaps than Venice has ever seen。 We'll have wondrous theatricals and dancing。 Help me fill my many rooms。〃
〃Yes； Marius； I shall do it；〃 she answered drowsily； her head leaning against me。 〃I shall be so happy。〃
〃I shall give you all the money you require for it。 And Vincenzo will carry out your instructions。 Only tell me when you would have this take place。〃
I looked into her eyes as I spoke and then I kissed her； and though I did not dare to give her the smallest taste of my blood； I breathed my cold breath into her； and I pierced her mind with my desire。
Meantime； with my right hand I reached beneath her skirts and found her sweet naked secrets and easily moved them with my fingers； which inflamed her with immediate and undisguised desire。
Amadeo was confused。
〃Kiss her；〃 I whispered。 〃Kiss her again。〃
He obeyed me； and soon had her ravished with his kisses。
And as my fingers tightened and caressed her； as his kisses grew more fervent； she grew bloodred with her cresting passion and fell softly against Amadeo's arm。
I withdrew； kissing her forehead as though she were chaste again。
〃Rest now；〃 I said； 〃and remember you are safe from those evil kinsmen； and that I am in your debt forever because you kept Amadeo alive until I could e。〃
〃Did I； Marius？〃 she asked me。 〃Wasn't it his strange dreams？〃 She turned to Amadeo。 〃Again and again you spoke of wondrous places； of those who told you that you must return to us。〃
〃Those were but memories caught in a web with fear；〃 said Amadeo softly。 〃For long before I was born again in Venice； I knew a harsh and pitiless life。 It was you who brought me back from some thick margin of consciousness which lies just this side of death；〃
She gazed at him； wondering；
How he was suffering that he could not tell her what he was。
But having accepted these words from him； she allowed us to； in the manner of mon attendants； help her with her disheveled dress and hair。
〃We'll leave you now；〃 I said； 〃and of the feast we'll make our plans at once。 Allow me to send Vincenzo to you。〃
〃Yes； and on that night I promise you；〃 she said； 〃your house will be more splendid than even the Doge's palace； you will see。〃
〃My princess；〃 I said as I kissed her。
Back to her guests she went； and off we hurried down the stairs。
In the gondola； Amadeo began his entreaties。
〃Marius； I can't bear it； this separation from her； that we can't tell her。〃
〃Amadeo； say nothing more to me of this！〃 I cautioned。
When we reached the bedchamber and locked the door； he gave way to terrible tears。
〃Master； I could tell her nothing of what had happened to me！ And to Bianca I would always tell all。 Oh； not the secrets of you and me or the Blood Kisses； no； but of other things。 How often I sat with her； and talked with her。 Master； I went to her so often by day and you didn't know it。 She was my friend。 Master； this is unendurable。 Master； she was my sister。〃 He sobbed like a small boy。
〃I cautioned you on this； did I not？〃 I said furiously。 〃And now you weep like a child？〃
In a rage； I slapped him。
And in shock he fell back away from me； but his tears flowed all the more
〃Master； why can we not make her one of us！ Why can we not share the Blood with her？〃
I took him roughly by the shoulders。 He didn't fear my hands。 He didn't care。
〃Amadeo； listen to me。 We cannot give way to this desire。 I have lived a thousand years and more without mak