Read Online The Visitant: A Venetian Ghost Story by Megan Chance - Free Book Online Page A

obscene,” I sputtered.
    “Come, don’t tell me it doesn’t intrigue you,” he said. “It would be good for you to read something about what real people do and how it feels. Perhaps then you’ll understand what you’re asking me to give up. You want to take away everything that’s worth living for.”
    “You could find other things worth living for,” I said, throwing the book onto the bed, where it sprawled open. “Love, for one thing. A family.”
    He made a sound of disbelief. “You could not possibly be so naïve.”
    “I am not naïve. I believe life could be better for you. But you’ll never know if you refuse to try.”
    “My God, you’re persistent.”
    “It would be best if you understood that I don’t mean to fail.”
    He was quiet for a moment. I saw a consideration in him I was not certain I liked, and knew I didn’t when he said, “Very well, I’ll make a bargain with you.”
    “What kind of a bargain?” I asked warily.
    “I’ll do everything you tell me,” he said. “If you read that book.”
    “You must be joking.”
    He shook his head. “No. I want you to understand why this might be . . . difficult. You’re a little self-righteous about all of it. It’s hard for me to listen to you when you’ve no idea what you’re asking.”
    I glanced at those open pages, the words that leaped from them straight into imagery, things I’d never seen, that I didn’t know. That I didn’t want to know, and I was angry that he asked it, resentful not only that he had but also that he’d raised my interest. These were not the kinds of books decent women read, not the kind that I should read.
    “Romance isn’t real,” he went on. “But what’s in there is. You’d be better off knowing it. You could say I’m protecting you, really. Once you know what’s really on a man’s mind, you’ll be better at judging whether or not he’s lying to you.”
    It was as if he’d seen into my mind.
    He closed the book and picked it up, holding it out to me. “Well? Have we agreed? My acquiescence for your learning. Believe me, I think you have the better side of it.”
    Gingerly, I took the book. The cover was rough between my fingers. I noticed for the first time how worn the edges were.
    His smile was smug. “It won’t be so bad.”
    “You should sleep,” I said, rising. “I’ll be back later this afternoon. Believe me, I will hold you to your promise.”
    “I’ll hold you to yours,” he said.
    I tucked the book into the pocket of my skirt. It was not thick nor especially heavy, but it felt both things, and I could hardly wait to be rid of it. I left him and dodged into my room, tucking it under the mattress of the bed where no one would come upon it, where I might even forget it was there. I was angry with myself for agreeing, though really I’d had no choice.
    Just like before.
    Samuel Farber had worked me just as easily, but I pushed the worrisome thought away and told myself that as long as Samuel ended up doing what I wanted, it didn’t matter. I would read every filthy book in Venice if it meant I could deliver a compliant and healthy heir to the Farbers.
    Still, I was so undone that I was halfway down the stairs to the courtyard before I realized I had no idea what I was doing or where I’d thought to go. Wanting to be somewhere warm, I hurried to the kitchen. Just as I reached the door, it opened, and Giulia stepped out.
    She looked surprised to see me, and then her expression settled into insolence. She kept the door from closing with an outstretched hand. “Mamzelle, how can I help you?”
    “You can’t,” I said, trying to push past her. When she didn’t budge, I stepped back.
    Her eyes narrowed with a satisfaction I didn’t understand or like. “Samuel has a beautiful voice, does he not? I think it is a gift, to be so chosen. Do you not think it too, mamzelle?”
    “Chosen?” I asked. “Sometimes the medicines affect him strangely, that’s all.”
    “If