Fruit of the Golden Vine Read Free Page B

tea and scrunched her nose. “God above, this is bitter.”
    “Oh!” Irena covered her mouth. “You blasphemed.”
    “Don’t worry. I do it so often that God doesn’t pay attention anymore.” Silvana winked at Adelina, whose heart underwent yet another small tremor. “You can speak candidly, you know. I can tell you want to know more about my brother.”
    “I do.” The confession flew from Irena’s lips like a gasp. “Please. What sort of man is he? Is he tender? Romantic?”
    “Romantic?” Silvana gave a lopsided shrug. “Is there such a thing as a romantic man?”
    “What do you mean? Of course there is. One of my suitors, whom Father decided against, wrote me the most remarkable love poetry.”
    “Yes, but he was only doing it to win you over as his property. True romance lasts a lifetime, Irena.” Silvana frowned at her chair’s armrest, which had been sculpted into the form of a leering, lopsided lion. “This is the ugliest chair I’ve ever seen.”
    “Please.” Irena spoke as if in pain. “Be a little clearer about what you mean. Surely you believe in love.”
    “Of course I do. Love is the one truth even fools can be certain of.”
    “But how can there be love if men cannot be romantic?”
    Silvana stroked the rim of her teacup, and she glanced at Adelina. “I’m afraid the answer might shock you. Let’s return to talking about my brother. He’s not a violent man, and he isn’t especially selfish. He enjoys a joke, wine too much and too often, and he’s affectionate toward animals.”
    Irena smiled, and the doubt cleared from her eyes. “Oh! That sounds good. And is he a valiant warrior? He has the physique of a champion.”
    “He’s strong, but swordplay rewards speed and finesse above strength. I’m far better with a blade than he is.” The frankness of the boast made Adelina blush. “But that’s not to his discredit.”
    “How can that be?” If Irena’s eyes had opened any wider, her eyeballs would have dropped onto the lunch tray. “A woman can’t outfight a man. I don’t even know how a woman learns to fight with a sword in the first place.”
    Silvana sucked jam from her fingertip. “We’re getting off the subject of my dear brother Rafael, aren’t we?”
    “I couldn’t care less about your dear brother Rafael,” said Adelina. “I want to know all about you.”
    “Ada!” Irena’s lips drooped. “Please. I really, really want to talk about Rafael.”
    Even Adelina had to admit she was being a little unfair. After all, Irena might have to marry the man. “Fine.” Adelina nestled into the cushions and pulled her knees to her chest. “But while we have a moment’s privacy, let me just say this. If your brother is planning on courting Ira, he needs to understand that my father isn’t a person to be toyed with.”
    Silvana rested her head against her palm. “What do you mean?”
    Adelina lowered her voice and glanced into the corners. The servants had a habit of dusting unseen. “He’s a criminal. Maybe even a murderer—”
    Irena hissed a sharp breath. “Ada, you don’t know that.”
    “Well, people whisper as much. Don’t deny it. Our father isn’t just some quaint vintner and tavern owner. The Golden Vine is a gambling den, a brothel, a guild of rogues and mercenaries, and Father is the spider who weaves all its corrupt threads together.”
    The color slipped from Irena’s face. “Ada…really, that’s fanciful language.”
    Surprisingly, Silvana’s face had not changed expression. “You have a vivid way of speech.” She crumbled a biscuit in her hand. “Your father mentioned that you like to read, isn’t that right?”
    Adelina frowned at the evasive remark. “Yes, I read. It’s the only way to escape this monotony. But don’t change the topic.”
    Silvana smiled. “We’re aware of your father’s reputation, Ada. We’ll behave ourselves appropriately, don’t worry.”
    These strangers couldn’t possibly understand the fate that