“Why would he? The Pope is done with you. It’s that haughty bitch Caterina Gonzaga he’s mounting now, and a stable of others besides. You don’t matter.”

Giulia brushed my barbs aside. “I angered him. When I saw Perotto die, I—” Her steps speeded, outracing the memory. “I just wanted Rodrigo away from Laura. I wanted all of them away from her, especially with all that talk about sending her somewhere far away—” A deep breath. “So I said Laura was Orsino’s daughter. I threw it in the Pope’s face and taunted him with it, as soon as we were alone.”

Apparently it wasn’t quite gone, my old habit of fearing for her safety. Maybe it never would be. “How could you be so reckless?” I demanded, and my heart kicked in my chest.

“I had no choice, Leonello! He wouldn’t listen any other way, not to anything I said—it was lie to his face, or lose Laura.”

She sounded very certain, but I was used to reading her expressions. “If you had no choice, then what troubles you? Why do you think you are in danger?”

“Rodrigo looked so furious.” Very quietly. “Like he could throttle me on the spot. Many times he’s lost his temper and shouted at me, but—” She gave a little shudder. “I’ve only seen him look like that once before. When he had that poor man at the menagerie masquerade hanged, just for calling Juan a bastard.” She crossed herself. “I took one look at his face and fled the room.”

I had another half-dozen barbs at my lips, but I didn’t loose any of them.

“What will he do to me, Leonello?” Her eyes met mine square. “I never thought in all the world that he’d hurt me or Laura; not ever. He’s no monster to wreak vengeance on a woman and a child, even if they offended him—”

“You aren’t the only one he might decide to hurt,” I pointed out. “What about your spineless little husband? You threw it in the Pope’s face that your husband bedded you, after all, stole you back and fathered a child on you—”

“Orsino is Adriana’s son and Adriana is Rodrigo’s own cousin and ally. He’s family, and we all know what Rodrigo thinks about family.” A bitter twist at that. “But I’m not family, and I’ve made it plain Laura isn’t either. So will Michelotto come in the dark for one of us?”

I hesitated.

“Go ahead, Leonello,” she said tiredly. “Tell me I was a fool to say such things to Rodrigo. Tell me I was reckless. Cut me up and down with that tongue of yours; I won’t complain. Just tell me the truth.”