“The original construction of the castle is believed to date back to the turn of the first millennium,” he said conversationally as they headed closer to the castle, “but it dates back as an actual castle to 1448. It was the Medicis who transformed it into much of what stands today… I assume you know of the Medicis?” What kind of history teacher would she be if she didn’t know about one of the most powerful, influential and dangerous families to have ever lived?
Her short, sharp nod showed she knew of them. It also showed she was listening.
“Good, then you will be delighted to know the Coscarellisare Medici descendants.” He paused a moment for a reaction, but she impressively refused to give one. “My branch of the family, my ancestors, acquired it in 1670, after the Wars of Castro. It is assumed the main family sold it for an injection of cash, but that is just speculation.”
They stepped onto the lawn.
His unwilling guest stopped a moment, her gaze suddenly locked on the boxwood hedges to their left.
“Yes,” he confirmed without her having to ask. “It is a maze. Its creation was completed in 1734. You are welcome to try your luck in it with the assurance that no Minotaur’s hiding away waiting to kill you.”
“That would certainly be odd, seeing as we’re in Italy and not Crete.”
He grinned, delighted that she was joining in the conversation. He’d enjoyed the sound of her voice during their drive from the airport. It was husky but with a touch of musicality to it. An unusual voice that perfectly suited such an unusual-looking woman.
“Odd but interesting.” Almost as interesting as his recalcitrant house guest. What a shame that he would be leaving her to his staff in the morning. He would have enjoyed getting to know her and discovering for himself if the awareness he’d sensed awakening really had been eradicated.
Noticing the man crossing the lawn towards them, he added, “Ah, there’s Bernard.”
Bernard was his French butler, a gem of a find who kept the castle in perfect running order and who prevented the renovations being undertaken throughout the castle from intruding in the East Wing living quarters.
Fluent in five languages, Bernard was prepared for the English guest and welcomed her with the friendly politeness that had gone a long way towards Dante employing him.
“A pleasure to meet you, Miss Thomas,” he said. “Refreshments before I show you to your room?”
“Actually, I’d like a phone – I need to call the police and inform them I’ve been kidnapped.”
Dante grinned, the grin widening when Callie caught his eye to throw her death stare at him. If he’d had this woman as a teacher, he would have sat at the front of the classroom rather than skulk in the back. He might even have paid attention.
For his part, Bernard didn’t bat an eyelash. “I’m afraid there are no telephones available for you, but I do have a variety of teas in stock unless you would prefer a coffee or something more refreshing?”
Folding her arms, Callie shook her head and laughed disbelievingly. “You do know that your boss has kidnapped me, right?”
The butler smiled. “I’m afraid I’m paid to follow instructions, not to ask questions.”
“But you do know that kidnapping is illegal, right?”
“Of course.”
“Then you must know that not helping me or helping me to help myself means you’re in on it? And when I get released – if I get released, coz for all I know, your boss might have plans in place to bury me in one of the fields – I’ll be sure to point the finger at you too.”
His smile was sympathetic but unyielding. “I can assure you that if Signor Coscarelli has plans to bury you in one of the vineyards, he has not shared those plans with me.”
Callie looked from the two bodyguards who’d walked behind them with Callie’s carry-on case from the helicopter to the butler and then to Dante himself, and was astounded at the sheer nonchalance. All four men were acting as if kidnap was a perfectly normal thing.
Rounding on Dante, she said, “How many other women have you hidden away here? What number am I?”
He brought his handsome face down to hers, dark eyes glittering. “You are number one, my little spitfire. I don’t usually find it necessary to kidnap women to bend them to my will.”
“It’s amazing what a butt tonne of money can do to induce compliance. Still, at least it means you’re not reliant on your personality – you wouldn’t get anywhere with women then.”
Straightening back to his impossibly tall height, amusement flared. “You think you know me?”
“I don’twantto know you,” she spat.
“The feeling is not in the least mutual.” She barely had time to take in what he’d just said before his eyes flashed with another gleam, and he added, “But seeing as you have no wish to know me, you will be delighted to learn that I am returning to Accardiano first thing in the morning. You will be able to enjoy all the amenities the castle has to offer all by yourself.”
And with that, he strode away, past the enormous maze that had captured her attention, whistling a tune that carried through the still air, his henchmen trailing in his wake.
