OK writing some more
Rodolfo and Sylvia were sitting in a small lounge of the bellezzan palace, discussing whether Arianna should go or not.
"Rodolfo, it'll be difficult! How will we cover up the disappearance of the duchessa of bellezza? We can't tell them the truth, your mission is private!"
"I know... we could say that she was going elsewhere, like, I don't know, Padavia? Or somewhere further?"
"How would that work? Padavia, or wherever we'd pick, would hear and know that the Duchessa wasn't there, so it'd soon come back to here!"
"Well, it's the only option I can think of."
Sylvia sighed in frustration.
"Talking to you is like talking to a brick wall! Unfruitful, and decidedly frustrating! I don't think she should go. And not just for Bellezza. It'd be dangerous for her!"
"Sylvia, my dear, calm down."
Sylvia's eyebrows shot up, and she looked even more annoyed.
"Remember," Rodolfo hurried on, "all the risks you took? If you were Arianna, nothing would stop you going down there, and Arianna is very like you. If we stop her, she'll just go anyway, and that would be disastrous."
"True."
"So if she came, we could say that the Duchessa is taking a holiday in Remora."
"Bellezza sending it's Duchessa into a city that just had a fire! They'll think we're mad!"
"You think of a better idea."
Sylvia said nothing, pursing her lips.
"So you agree?"
"Very well, if it can't be helped."
"Good, I'll go and inform Arianna."
He got up and left.
*******
Arianna sat on her bed, feeling numb. Barbara and the other maids were rushing around her, packing her things to get ready to visit Remora. Arianna couldn't concentrate on anything going around her, her mind kept going over possible scenarios in her head. She felt like screaming as loud as she could for as long as she could. The worst part was not knowing.
"What happened?" she whispered.
************
Someone grabbed Rosalina around the waist and pulled her down, out of sight of the window. She twisted in their grip, panic stricken until her captor's voice went, rather crossly:
"Rosalina!"
It was Cesare. She stopped struggling.
"Why did you do that? They're coming!"
"Hush! Quiet! They'll hear you! We have to get out of here, if they know we're awake they'll block the exits."
"Oh. What... What do you mean, if they know we're awake they'll block the exits?"
"Why do you think they've got torches? They're going to burn us down."
A new voice entered and both turned around to see Paolo. Rosalina's eyes opened wide with fear, and she had to stop herself screaming. Luciano appeared.
"Come on," he whispered, "we're going to try and get out the back."
They followed him, as they headed towards the kitchen. Theresa and her frightened children stood there, faces pale, eyes wide. The littlest ones were crying. Paolo indicated the door.
"It opens on to a yard which we don't use anymore." he said.
Theresa and the little ones headed for the door, and they slipped out, Theresa still trying to hush the young ones. Rosalina followed with Luciano and Cesare, with Paolo bringing up the rear. They walked up the streets as quickly as they can, praying that no one would hear. Rosalina reached up to feel the comforting feel of her necklace, and felt a pang of horror. It was gone! Rosalina stopped dead and felt in her hair in case it had got tangled in it. But it wasn't there.
"What is it, Rosalina?" Paolo asked, in an impatient whisper.
"My necklace! It's not here!"
"So? It's just a trinket! What is that compared with our lives?"
"It's not just a trinket! it's my talisman!"
Paolo stared in horror.
"I forgot! Rosalina you can't go back, they'll kill you!"
"But if I don't, we might as well give up the whole mission! You can't do it without me!"
Cesare had stopped and was heading back.
"What's wrong?"
"My talisman! It's back at the house!" she wailed.
"Don't go!"
"I'm useless to you all without it!"
"No you're not." he said it quietly.
She stared at him for a moment, then she flushed. Without another word, she turned and ran back to the house, hair flying out behind her, as smoke began to emerge from the windows.
By the way, just in case some of you didn't get that, the last bit was back to what happened the night it burnt down. just checking.