‘Don’t you ever tell my mother I wore these,’ he said. ‘She’d never believe you to be such a dandy.’ ‘Promise me.’ ‘Don’t worry,’ I said. ‘I won’t tell your mother anything at all, since you’re supposed to be safely in Venice at the moment. She’d split me from head to toe for getting her lovely boy into so much trouble.’ ‘I wish we hadn’t come.’ ‘We can’t leave him alone to face the trial,’ I said. ‘If nothing else, we have to be here to witness it.’ Willem sighed. ‘I suppose so.’ ‘Besides,’ I said, ‘you never know what might happen.’ He grabbed the corners of my shawl and pulled me close so nobody could hear. ‘Isabella Hawkins, what madness are you planning now?’ ‘Don’t you fret.’ ‘I swear, if you so much as utter —’ ‘Shhh. Here they come.’ We heard the drums and the thud of the soldiers’ boots long before the procession came into view. Guards with torches lit the way. ‘Mostly unarmed,’ I said. ‘So?’ ‘That’s good.’ ‘Signora Contarini will slit my throat if I let you do anything silly.’ ‘I have no idea what you’re talking about.’ He glared at me and I turned away to watch the macabre spectacle that now filled the street.
