"The heir told me that while he was away from the city, no matter what I had to do, I was to protect myself at all costs. Even if it meant overstepping."
"Since that's how it is, my lady, don't blame me."
Gianna rose to her feet with Nana Agata's help and shouted, "Guards!"
Several armed soldiers emerged from behind her. They moved the way Moretti men moved, hands already positioned near their waistbands, shoulders squared, faces emptied of anything resembling hesitation. Gianna pointed at me. "Bind her. I want to see whether the heir, once he learns his own wife tried to murder his child, will dissolve the marriage or not."
I jabbed a finger at my own chest. "Dissolve the marriage? Does the heir have the nerve? Tell him to try."
The lead soldier approached with a stony face. "My lady, why must you bully a helpless woman?"
"The heir gave orders. No one, not even his wife, is to mistreat his woman. Forgive the offense."
He moved to seize me.
Rosa threw herself in front of me, her right hand dropping to her hip where the folding knife sat beneath her coat. "You wouldn't dare! Do you have any idea who my lady is?"