The earl knew he was placing her in a situation that called for experience she did not possess, and he was on the point of rescuing her when she asked abruptly, “Is it not true that there are vast, unpopulated lands in the colonies?”
Signore Montalto had learned painfully not to patronize her, and thus responded cautiously. “Yes, signorina. It is so vast that all of Europe—and England—would fit on the eastern seacoast.”
Cassie chewed furiously on her lower lip and turned to the earl, a hint of apology in her voice. “I ask that you forgive my ignorance, my lord, but since there is so much unused land, would not free men and women do just as well as slaves?”
“What do you mean, cara?”
“Could not the Dutchmen transport Englishmen and Europeans to the colonies? Men and women who want to begin a new life on their own land. Would not such men and women swell the colonies’ population and increase the valuable exports Signore Montalto speaks of? Perhaps I am being naive, my lord, but would there not be profit to be made from such a venture?”
Silence fell, and Cassie shuffled her feet nervously.
Signore Montalto wiped the look of surprise from his face, and waved a dismissing hand. “A possibility, signorina, certainly, and one that I have considered. However, there is little profit in such a notion.”
The earl said thoughtfully, his long fingers stroking the line of his jaw, “The profits would not, of course, be as great, for such men as Cassandra describes have little money. And the Dutch would of necessity have to refit their ships, since their cargo would not be slaves, but free men. But it can be done, Marcello. You will present the idea to the Dutch representative.”
“It would serve, perhaps, if you insist,” Marcello said.
“Excellent. Now that we have come to an amicable decision, I suggest that we return to our guests.”
As they left the library, arm in arm, the earl turned to her, raised her hand to his lips, and kissed her fingers. “I thank you, cara.”
She looked up at him wonderingly and shook her head. “I do not understand you, my lord. What am I to make of a man who abducts me, brings me to a foreign country, and then proceeds to let me meddle with his fortune?”
His eyes rested a moment on the strand of pearls. He said smoothly, “You need make nothing of me, Cassandra. You need only to become my wife.”
Cassie frowned him down, turned on her heel, and walked quickly back to the drawing room.
“You are enjoying yourself, Cassandra?” he asked, when he caught up with her.
“Let us say,” she said deliberately, “that I am pleasantly surprised. Have you bribed your guests to be kind to me?”
“If you consider good food and drink a bribe, then the answer is yes.”
“How interesting it would be to know the question.”
Cassie whirled about at the sound of the Contessa Giovanna Giusti’s bright voice.
“My dear Antonio,” Giovanna said softly, her slender white hand touching his sleeve, “I have had the opportunity to speak only a few words to your charming guest. Things English, you know, I find most fascinating. Would you not leave the signorina and me alone so that we may learn more of each other?”
The earl hesitated, for the smile on Giovanna’s lips was dangerous. He was on the point of including himself when Cassie said easily, “Yes, my lord, do leave us for a while. I have heard so much about the contessa that I am most desirous of learning more about her.”
He looked at her searchingly for a moment. “Very well, my dear. But do not be too long, for there are other of my friends who wish to enjoy your company.”
The earl stared after the two women, scarcely heeding the words of his friend, Jacopo Sandro, an aging aristocrat whose only pleasure appeared to be the purchase of outlandish wigs from Paris.
“So, signorina,” the contessa began, “you are enjoying your stay in Genoa?”
“I daresay it is always interesting to visit a foreign country, contessa.” Although Cassie had not had much experience with ladies who were bitches, she knew enough to be on her guard.
Giovanna’s eyes roved to the pearls about Cassie’s neck. “The pearls are lovely and quite distinctive.”
“Grazie, signora,” Cassie said simply, wondering what the contessa was about. It occurred to her that perhaps she had misread the lady’s intentions toward her, and she unbent a trifle. “And your jewels are quite elegant.”
The contessa inclined her graceful neck, her smile still firmly affixed to her full lips. “Did the earl teach you Italian?”
“No, it was my governess. I fear that my accent is quite fearful.”
So Caesare was right, Giovanna thought, if the little slut had a governess, she is likely of acceptable birth. She looked again at the pearls and felt anger knot in her throat. “So you intend to wed with the earl, I see.”