Dominic's Nemesis (4 page)

“I don’t know, Ethan. I cannot read
minds.”

“What are they doing? Does the other one seem
hostile?”

“They are stationary. I doubt if the one with
him is hostile. The essence is weak, fleeting almost.” Dominic
walked around the back of the couch. “Stay here and wait for me. If
I do not reappear in ten minutes, assume something is wrong.” With
that, Dominic
’
s corporal
body shimmered from a solid form to a flicking hologram and finally
to a two-dimensional likeness of Dominic before he winkled out of
existence completely.

Dom reappeared in a crouched position at the
edge of the clearing in the grove. Cautious not to expose his
unorthodox mode of travel to anyone who might happen along, Dominic
stood, glancing about to ensure there were no prying eyes. Once he
was standing he spotted Cael. His brother emerged from the pond,
sopping wet, with the unknown person in his arms. Dominic
approached to help him exit the water.

“Ethan was worried. What happened?”

Cael panted as they placed the limp woman on
the ground. Her head lulled to the side. Yards of clinging,
algae-covered hair obscured her features. “Isn
’
t it obvious what happened?”

“It
’
s obvious you pulled her out of the pond. It is not
obvious who she is or what she is doing here. Or how you happened
upon her in the first place. This pond is at the south boarder of
the property.”

“
Later,
Dom.
” Cael bent over her ruined bodice to listen for a
heartbeat. “Weak, but still beating.

“She is not breathing right.” Dom voiced,
watching the frail chest sputter like an engine running low of
coal. Each breath sounded as if it might very well be her last.

“I am surprised she
’
s breathing at all. I had a devil of a
time fishing her out.” Cael sat up, worry etched on his face.
“It
’
s a long walk back
to the house.”

“Ethan
’
s waiting. I will take the woman with me.” Dominic
stood, centered himself and took a long deep breath. “When I tell
you to, hand her to me.”

Cael registered surprise, but he did not
argue. He bent to lift the woman in his arms once more, and waited
for the word from Dominic. He watched as his brother
’
s continence shimmered and then
began to winkle out of sight.

“
Cael
.”

He stepped forward and released his burden
into his brother
’
s
transparent arms and stepped back.

Her head fell forward, burying her face in
Dominic
’
s disappearing
chest.

* * *

Dominic shimmered into the study to apprise
Ethan of the situation. “Cael is fine. Meet me in my suites.”
Satisfied he had imported all necessary information, he shimmered
out again.

Breathing heavily, Dominic deposited the
woman on the satin counterpane of his bed. Her weight was
negligible, but piggybacking with her through the astral realm
still took its toll. He began removing her soaking clothing. He
went to remove her shoes, only to realize she wasn
’
t wearing any. Odd. Next, he
rolled her on her side to tackle the dress. He had gotten her down
to her under-things when the door opened to admit Ethan. His
brother had wisely procured several blankets and towels—from one of
the servants, he assumed.

“What happened?” Ethan asked as Dominic
stepped out of his way and allowed him to take charge.

“You
’
ll have to ask Cael when he gets here. He fished
her out of the marsh in the south grove.”

Dominic hovered a few feet away, watching his
brother with a mixture of awe and pride. He loved to see Ethan
work. Ethan first stripped the woman of the last of her wet
clothing, rolling her too and fro to make the task easier for them
both. Her breathing did not improve, but grew more ragged and
sporadic. By the time Ethan cast the last garment aside, she was
twitching like a leaf in the wind. Ethan covered her nakedness with
the blankets and rolled her onto her stomach so that her face hung
off the edge of the bed.

“She swallowed something more substantial
than water.” He declared, as he pulled back the blanket to expose
clammy bluish skin. “It
’
s lodged in her throat.”

Dominic could see the delicate bones of her
shoulder blades arch upward as Ethan used his hands to knead the
area stiffly, thumping her on the back. A minute or so later, she
gave a great rattling gag and coughed up a wad of gray-green moss.
It landed with a soggy clunk on the floor. Delicate yet deep
breathing sounds resumed, even and unhampered.

“Ahh…much better.” Satisfied, Ethan pulled
the blanket back up and shifted her to the middle of the bed. “Now,
then, let
’
s get that
hair out of your way.”

Dominic handed him the last of the towels.
Ethan wiped and patted her face, removing the wet clumps of hair
masking her features, and wrung the length of them with the towel
to remove the excess water. Dominic staggered back a step when his
gaze fell on her face.

Her ethereal beauty hit him like a punch in
the stomach. Her skin was the tone and texture of fine
porcelain…no, marble. Her damp hair, now semi-free of mud and
algae, was the palest blonde he
’
s ever seen. Even her fly-a-way brows were ashen.
Her cheeks, he noted, grew pink, as if she were somehow aware of
his scrutiny. He wondered what color her eyes were. The thought
reminded him of his own atrocity and he reached up to make certain
his spectacles were in place.

“She is quite insensible.” Ethan, who had
been watching his reaction with some interest, turned back to his
patient as he spoke. “She could not have seen them even if you
hadn
’
t been wearing the
spectacles.”

“The woman will have to be removed to one of
the guest chambers immediately.” Dominic averted his gaze from the
patient, not sure why he felt so unsettled by her. He’d gazed upon
attractive women before. “I
’
ll not have her stumbling about my private
rooms.”

“I was rather curious why you brought her
here in the first place.”

Not having a good explanation, Dom did not
bother to make up a bad one. “Cael looked a bit winded. I think a
few hours delay would be a good idea.”

“I
’
ll suggest it to him. Though I doubt he will accept
my advice. The situation with Stephan needs to be handled straight
away.”

“Then demand a detailed explanation about the
woman, and make sure you delay him. I would do so myself, but he
wouldn
’
t believe that I
had any interest in her well-being.”

He felt his brother’s dubious expression
leveled at him. Damn. Dom wondered if his reaction to the woman was
that blaring. Cael, he could never fool, but he’d become skilled at
sidestepping Ethan.

The following morning found Dominic closeted
off in his study with his grandmother and his late
father
’
s mousey
solicitor.

“
Conte
Ambrosi
—”

Dom bristled. “Please. I am either Dominic or
Signori Ambrosi.”

“Forgive me, Signori, but the estates may, if
you wish, be placed in trust for your heirs, just as your
father—”

“There will be no heirs.”

“Yes, but are you
certain
—” The
solicitor persisted. “—absolutely certain that you wish to transfer
ownership and deeds to all your father
’
s lands, the family estates, the vineyards, and the
country province to your brother?”

The little toad of a man annoyed him. “Yes,
as soon as it can be arranged.” Dominic felt restless to have the
business finished. He had other issues on his mind, the sodden
beauty lodged in his bedchamber for one. “I have no idea of ever
returning to Italy. Gideon was apprised of my wishes regarding our
father
’
s estates. He has
agreed to assume all responsibilities. Since my father
’
s title was set forth in such a
way that it is inherited by all male heirs, there is no legal
reason why the estates wouldn
’
t be transferable as well. A portion of the profits
from the vineyard and properties will be diverted to me. You may
also allot a percentage of revenues into a trust of some kind for
any future nieces and nephews, if you like. The rest I leave at
Gideon
’
s
discretion.”

Dominic left the man hunched over a desktop
awash with papers, while he joined his grandmother by the
mantel.

“Nonna, you could have handled this yourself
and sent the final papers by messenger for my signature.” Although
Dominic preferred to avoid all matters Ambrosi, particularly ones
that involved him traveling to the family estates in Italy, he
admired his grandmothers
’
shrewdness. He oft times wished his father and
uncle had inherited the trait.

“Si
’
.” She agreed without hesitation. “But then I would
not have had the pleasure of seeing my favorite grandson.”

Nonna was not given to tender emotions.
“And?” He prompted.

“Always such an intuitive child, you were.”
She smiled as if he pleased her in some small way. The smile faded,
and she spoke next in a hushed tone. “A warning, Dominic. Fausto
was quite put out at having his title and lands revoked by the
Consulta Araldica. He
’
s
been up to some mischief of late. I cannot be certain this tirade
of his will not extend to you. You are, after all, your
father
’s son. Fausto’
s
envy of Lucca knows no bounds…even in death. Like Cain and Abel,
they are.”

Dominic agreed with her on the last point. “I
once heard Nonno say, ‘If Lucca died tomorrow, Fausto will
undoubtedly be livid because death would be just another deed his
brother accomplished that he could not
’
.”

“Aye.” Nonna Ambrosi looked even more
imposing than usual bedecked in the traditional mourner
’
s bombazine and black crape. Black
eyes, much like his father
’
s, narrowed on him with intent. “Dominic, it is
unwise to stay squirreled away in your English countryside. You are
needed at home. Gabriel is…ill again…and Gideon is beside himself.
It is your duty as both the eldest son and the firstborn
grandchild. The family is fragmented, vulnerable. Lillian saw to
that with her ceaseless philandering. All will never be right with
the Ambrosi legacy unless you take your rightful place at the head
of the family.”

“Gideon is Conte Ambrosi. Given the proper
encouragement the tenants will learn to respect him as such. Very
soon he will hold the legal and financial rights to the legacy. He
is more than capable of rebuilding therefore I suggest you champion
him
as your savior.”

“It is not his place. He merely assumes it in
your absence.”

“I will not return to Italy, Nonna.” Dominic
spoke with finality. “I did not return to bury the old Conte, and I
will not return to become the new one.”

“You could make up a bit for your
mother
’
s…peculiarities.”
Her taunt features reeked of distaste. “She spread her legs far and
wide, daring to put the Ambrosi name to her ill-gotten brats.”

Dominic
’
s eyes hardened behind the spectacles. He met his
grandmother
’
s accusation
without flinching. “She is not the first, nor the last, woman to
‘spread her legs
’
far
and wide…and they have nothing like her excuse to absolve
them.”

“Stubborn Ox.” She shrugged her age-bowed
shoulders, conceding a momentary defeat. Ever the gracious loser,
she put on a polite showing. “How are the…
others
? I hear
from Gideon that the youngest lad is finishing up at University
this year.”

“
Yes,
Stephan is quite academic.
” Dominic cut off any further
discussion with a curt ‘ahem
’
. “Forgive me, Nonna, but there is a matter which
demands my attention. I leave the finer points to you and the
Signori.”

Dominic bowed his respects and exited the
room.

* * *

Eden awakened little by little, becoming
aware of the rawness in her throat. She swallowed once to dislodge
it, only to have the ache worsen. A cough formed deep in her throat
and erupted from her chest, leaving a horrible throbbing sensation
in its wake. Breathing was agony. Each breath seemed to trigger the
start of a new coughing sensation, which worsened the throbbing in
her chest. Muffled voices reached her through the haze of coughing,
throbbing and breathing. She wondered to whom they belonged.

An intense wave of coughs seized her, jarring
her awake…and rolling her over onto her side. A moment later, she
felt cool hands on her cheek and arms restraining her with gentle
pressure. After the worse had passed, the hands helped ease her
into a sitting position with well-placed pillow-props.

“Thank you.” Eden almost did not recognize
the frail croak as her own voice. She blinked at the hovering
gentleman, before taking quick stock of her surroundings. The
nightshirt she wore was not her own, and from what she could tell
was made for an above-average sized male. The great circular bed
she occupied was not her own back in Boston nor was it the guest
room at Reginald and Millie
’
s. The room beyond seemed to blink back at her,
equally curious at its unknown occupant. A large pine wardrobe
loomed in one corner, while a paw-footed tub waited for an
introduction on the opposite side of the room. The bed dipped as
the dark-haired gentleman sat. She was glad not to have to crane
her neck.