Red Magic Read Online Free Page B

began a protest, but the cool,
stern voice of her mother rose, continued.
    "Your Papa needs a grandchild, he needs to know that his land, the land which he loves so much, which you love
so much, will be passed on through you."
    This speech held more power than slaps. How
often had Caterina and her Papa ridden that land together, those lush green
pastures where the cattle grazed and grew so fat, the shaded, leafy bowers
where the ancient willows stooped to finger the water! Now that Wili was gone,
it was all in Caterina's hands, the sweetest water and the richest meadows in
the valley. In a vision, all senses engaged, Caterina experienced it, the smell
of dark earth after plowing, the summer grain, the sedate, ruffling rows of turnip. Above were the hillside vineyards, clustered
with grapes.
    "By this marriage, Caterina,"
Lady von Velsen said, "This beautiful place will pass to your children and
grandchildren."
    "But, oh! Mother of God! Wili's
dead!"
    "Yes. Our dear sweet Wili's dead and
there's nothing to be done except to go on with living."
    For a time nothing more was said. They wept
and embraced. "I know you aren't prepared for marriage, but here it is,
and we shall just have to make the best of it. I know you're brave. I've seen
you take those fences on a hunt just as cool as any of the men, but now it's
time for a different kind of bravery. It's well known that you're as brave as a
man, Caterina. Now let's see if you're as brave as a woman."
    Cat's green eyes widened.
    "Yes, my dear," Lady von Velsen
went on softly, stroking her daughter's pale cheek, "you've never thought
like that, have you? You've always imagined that courage is only for men, but
that's because women's bravery is taken for granted. I think you are going to
discover that every day we have to be both braver and stronger than any man.
You're still so young and I knew someday you'd learn, but this is forcing the
lesson, like bitter medicine. I wish there were more time, Caterina, but there
isn't."
    Cat had never seen her mother like this.
Mesmerized, she listened.
    "You must stop acting like a child and
start acting like a woman, a noblewoman, born not only to wealth and privilege,
but to responsibility and duty. Life is hard for women, whether they are noble
or common. We are seldom allowed to make our own choices and I blame your papa
for making it harder for you. No matter how well you ride, or what you know
about hunting or about horses or the business of the manor, you're still a
woman with a woman's destiny and not the son he wanted so much."
    "But it's not fair," Cat
exclaimed. "Wili loved Christoph. She wanted him and I don't. Oh, I
don't!" She hadn't cried while trading blows with her father's heavy
hands, but now Cat leaned against her mother's warm bosom and began to sob.
    "There, there, baby," Lady von
Velsen soothed, caressing her child's scarlet head. "It will be difficult
at first. To say anything else would be a lie. Christoph has been irresponsible
and cruel, but I believe the terrible thing that has happened will temper his
resolve to do the right thing. He's your kinsman, Caterina, and once he was
your playmate. He will be good to you. I'm sure of it."
    Caterina clung to her mother and trembled.
The secret desire she had felt for Christoph ever since last year was now
doubly shameful. Into her mind came images of things witnessed in the barn and
pasture, of the swift collision of brute pairing, all mingled with memories of
that day at the riverbank, memories that had haunted her continuously since it
had happened. She remembered the feel of his muscle. She remembered the amused
speculation in his brilliant eyes as he'd tumbled her on top of him, as he'd
caressed her, aroused her, and then, so casually—set her free.
    In six weeks the scene would play
differently. A ring would be on her finger. Duty to family would provide the
voluptuary with both impulse and excuse. In the sanctity of the fresh linen
bridal chamber, in the very house