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1 " ... I [glanced] at his soldiers with a curling lip. I had learned this gesture from watching Stefano. Apparently it was just as annoying on my face.... "
― Barbara Michaels , Wings of the Falcon
2 " Stefano greeted Miss Perkins in English, and with perfect courtesy. Then he turned a satirical eye upon me."My dear Miss Perkins, are you sure you and Andrea found the right Miss Fairbourn? This infant doesn't look old enough to be out of the schoolroom. What on earth am I to call her? I don't know her well enough to use a pet name, and the more formal mode of address---""Francesca will do nicely," I interrupted. I had felt sorry for him when I saw his infirmity, but his sarcastic manner of speaking about me, as if I were the infant he had called me, irritated me very much. His thin smile broadened. "I see you have a mind of your own---and a tongue to go with it. "
3 " Do you think they are---er---fond of one another?" I asked, conscious of a strange little pang."What gossips women are," Stefano said irritably. "Of course they are fond of one another. They have been friends since infancy.""That isn't what I meant.""I know." Stefano opened his eyes and stared at me. "Are you jealous, Cousin? I suppose that like all the females who pass through Andrea's life you fancy yourself in love with him.""If I were, I certainly would not confess it to you," I replied angrily."Very wise of you," said Stefano, and closed his eyes again. "
4 " As for Stefano...I had not expected we would see him that evening, since he had favored us with his presence for tea, but there he was, with that black stick balanced in his fingers, looking me over with a cool stare. Well schooled as his face was, I thought I detected an even more fiery emotion than usual in his blazing blue eyes, and I made him a mocking little bow. "
5 " Aren't you going to invite me in?""No.""You aren't very polite.""That is a virtue I am seldom accused of possessing. Don't sulk, Cousin, it spoils the shape of that charming mouth. "
6 " If I was not in danger, why are you so pale?" I inquired."Exhaustion," Stefano replied coldly. "The exertion of moving the stone was strenuous, for a cripple.""I can't imagine how you did it," I murmured, letting my eyes linger on the breadth of shoulder, displayed by his wetly clinging shirt. Unperturbed by my regard, Stefano smiled. "Because my leg is injured does not mean all my muscles are atrophied. "
7 " Stefano put an end to this tirade, which was developing rather nicely, I thought, by picking me up off the bench and lifting me till my eyes were on a level with his. My feet dangled helplessly, a good ten inches off the ground. "Just like a man," I said, somewhat breathlessly, because his hands were squeezing my ribs. "When you are losing an argument, you resort to physical violence!""Oh no," Stefano said. "The physical violence is only a preliminary. This is how I counter arguments such as yours."He kissed me. "
8 " I am perfectly fit. That damned woman only jarred me." Stefano rolled his eyes up so that he was glaring straight into my face. "I forget myself. Forgive my language, ladies---and leave me! Francesca, if you aren't out of this room in thirty seconds...""Where is she supposed to go?" Miss Perkins demanded. "You are most unfair to her, Count. If she hasn't earned your trust by now....You aren't deceiving me, you know," she added cryptically.A wave of color flooded into Stefano's pale cheeks. I did not understand its meaning, but I was fascinated by this new display of emotion from a man I had considered without feelings. "
