“I know,” Jamie replied. “The intrusion has to stop.” He glared at the count.
“You think I play at these things?” the count demanded. “If I wanted something inside, my people wouldn’t be so careless with the lock. If I wanted to frighten, I would leave a clearer message. No. This is the work of amateurs.”
Jamie felt a smile dance around his lips. The count hadn’t attacked Nora. He sat back and relaxed. The two of them were alone in the count’s private office. Castellimonte had been irritated when Jamie demanded an audience, and more so when Jamie insisted that the Ferret leave the room. His report of intruders had driven those concerns away.
“If not you, then who?” Jamie asked.
The count ran a hand through his silver hair in an uncharacteristic gesture. The man wasn’t lying. “I don’t know. I can’t be sure.”
“But you suspect.”
The count shrugged. “These are troubled times.”
“In Rome? Or in Piedmont?” Jamie asked.
“Both. Naples. Milan. None of them want Napoleon, but the people beg for the return of his law code. Others want power at any price,” Castellimonte said.
“What does Savoy want?” Jamie asked.
“Stability and safety for our people,” Castellimonte replied without hesitation.
“What of safety for Isabella Beaumont? What do your political problems have to do with her?” Jamie asked.
The old man looked closely at Jamie. He appeared to come to a decision.
“There are factions in my country,” he began. “The dissatisfied and the greedy think they share goals, the fools. They look for weakness. They look for levers. A child makes a compelling hostage.”
“Why Isabella?” Jamie asked.
“A child related to the royal family makes an even better hostage. I had hoped it was not so, but someone broke in yesterday. Now I fear.”
“She isn’t close enough to the throne to matter,” Jamie said, but he thought he knew the answer. He wanted the old man to say it.
“There are persons that care about her who are close enough. She could be used to force cooperation,” the count said.
“Such as her great-uncle?” Jamie asked.
The old man’s face showed little.
Jamie went on, “You will set up a guard on the house.” It wasn’t a question.
“Of course,” the count replied.
“Make it discreet,” Jamie requested. “No need to frighten Nora or Isabella.”
“Isabella is safer at Santo Spirito. She should stay there,” the count said.
“Mrs. Haley will not stand for that,” Jamie told him.
“Your fiancée’s courage is foolish. It will bring her to grief.”
True, but unchangeable. Jamie chose not to reply.
The old man took a deep shuddering breath. “Marry the woman. Do it quickly. They will be safer with you close by.”
“My marriage or lack of it is not your concern,” Jamie retorted.
“You care for this woman. I have seen it. Marry her,” the old man pressed.
