Wings of the Falcon by Barbara Michaels & Elizabeth Peters

Author:Barbara Michaels & Elizabeth Peters [Michaels, Barbara & Peters, Elizabeth]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: mystery, Romance
ISBN: 9780060745240
Goodreads: 140397
Publisher: HarperTorch
Published: 1977-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

I needed no interpreter to understand. The ghosts of the martyrs were rising, with swords in their hands, to join in the fight for Italy's freedom. They were thrilling words. Andrea fairly shouted them, his golden curls tossing, his eyes shining. He ended with a mighty crash and bounded to his feet. He seized my hand and planted a hearty kiss upon it; then he turned to Galiana and caught her up in his arms. She shrieked with delight, her little feet dangling.

Still the same impetuous Andrea--but there were several significant differences. The blond moustache was new, and so was the bronzed hue of his skin; but the most striking change was in his attire. The loose red shirt, and the bandanna tied rakishly around his throat--how well I knew them, from Miss Perkins' descriptions! Not an official uniform, but as distinctive as any regimental facings, this was the costume worn by Garibaldi's soldiers--by the Thousand (as they were called) who had set sail from Genoa for the liberation of Sicily.

I was endeavoring to assimilate this startling new development when an outraged exclamation made me turn. Miss Rhoda stood in the doorway, her lavender satin skirts filling it completely. Over her shoulder I saw the pale face of the Contessa; her eyes were fixed on her daughter, still clasped in Andrea's red-shirted arms. And behind the Contessa was her omnipresent shadow--the maid Bianca.

Andrea lowered Galiana to the floor as Miss Rhoda swept into the room and bore down on the young pair like a battleship. The Contessa swayed, as if seized by faintness. Bianca's muscular black-clad arms supported her mistress instantly. After a moment the Contessa recovered herself and waved the maid away, but Bianca continued to stand in the doorway, her eyes fixed on her mistress with a look of doglike devotion that was very curious to see.

Andrea grasped Miss Rhoda's hand and pumped it so enthusiastically that her intended lecture turned into a series of stutters. His manner changed completely as he greeted the Contessa; he took her hand gingerly, as if it would break, and raised it to his lips. Then, with obvious relief, he turned to me.

"Cousin, it is good to see you. I am sorry I could not greet you on your arrival; but as you see, I had more pressing matters to attend to."

"I do see." I could not help smiling at the twinkle in his eyes. "But what a way to announce yourself, Cousin. Is that the new anthem of Italy?"

"It may well be that. A stirring song, eh? We call it Garibaldi's Hymn."

"Sing it again," Galiana begged.

Andrea was willing to comply, but as he went to the piano the Contessa said softly, "Galiana, you forget yourself. Andrea, you must not offend your grandfather in his own house."

Galiana drooped, as she always did when her mother reprimanded her. Andrea looked abashed.

"Where is my grandfather?" he asked.

"Here!"

He entered the room as he spoke. His face was set in a scowl that would have daunted

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