Chapter 20: The Founders' Dinner

Adriana's POV

We ran.

I had not run down a corridor in twelve years, and I ran with the robe flying.

The second son reached the door of Dario's room first and put his shoulder to it.

It was empty.

The bed was made, and a book lay open on the desk.

"Her suite," Cesare said.

The door of the suite stood a hand's width open, with lamplight on the carpet.

Cesare pushed it wide.

Bianca sat at her vanity in her cream robe, brushing her hair.

Dario sat in the armchair beside the bed with his hands on his knees.

On the table between them was a silver tray with a teapot and two cups.

Neither cup had been touched.

Dario's eyes found mine, and he gave me the smallest shake of the head.

I didn't drink anything, it said.

I could have fallen down with relief.

"My goodness," Bianca said, and turned on the stool. "All of you. In the middle of the night."

"Dario," Cesare said. "Come here."

Dario got up and walked across the room, quite slowly, and stood against his brother's side.

"We were talking," Bianca said. "I was telling him how proud I am. Would anyone like tea?"

Her eyes moved over each of us, one at a time.

They rested on Ruggero, who had come in behind me, and stayed there.

She understood.

I watched her understand it, and I saw the warm look settle back into her face.

"Cesare," Ruggero said very low. "Not in the dark."

"She poisoned my father."

"And she'll say you dragged a widow from her bed at three in the morning."

"So?"

"The Table will hear it from her and not from you. You need the families in the room."