It was barely light when Carina and Gabriella set out from the Palazzo Denuzio a week later. The landau was closed and heavy veils covered their faces as they handed their papers through the window for inspection. They could be turned back at any time and Carina was on edge every time they were stopped.
The visit had been hard enough to arrange and she couldn’t have managed without Gabriella. It was her idea to involve Rose and Gino. They were sworn to secrecy and Gino instructed to make enquiries at the Vicaria on behalf of a young lady who wished to visit her brother. The prison guards said this ‘sister’ was by no means the first. They were inundated by such requests and prepared to oblige only if it was made worth their while. Between them, Carina and Gabriella had gathered a hundred scudi and divided the money into purses for Gino to distribute. Rose’s task was to help them leave the house and make sure no one discovered they were gone. She would lock their bedrooms and wait for their return.
It was a day of showers and sudden gusts and they hung onto their bonnets as they hurried across the piazza. Gino was waiting with the landau in a side street and Rose had provided a basket of food. The journey passed in silence. Gabriella kept her eyes closed while Carina was too nervous to talk. She had never been inside a prison before. Paulo said ‘gentlemen’ were treated better than others, but the Vacaria had a gruesome reputation. They must be nearly there, she thought and lifted the corner of her veil to peer through the rain-spattered window.
Beneath stormy clouds, Mount Pellegrino hunched like a great beast over the fortress of Castellamare. It was a forbidding place and Carina shuddered as they went past. Somewhere inside there, Baron Riso was incarcerated. She hated to think of him in solitary confinement but now she could see the Vacaria. The prison’s outer walls had small barred windows and a spiked rail running along the top. She nudged Gabriella, adjusting her veil as the carriage came to a halt. Gino opened the door and helped them out.
A rough-looking prison guard approached and said with a Calabrian accent, ‘No more than ten minutes. That’s what we agreed. So let’s see what you’ve got in your basket.’
The basket was returned to the landau and its contents spilled on the floor and examined. When he finished, Gino handed him a purse and he gave a harsh laugh.
‘Lover boy’s a lucky fellow.’
Hardly, Carina thought grimly as they followed him to the entrance. Two guards joined them carrying truncheons and they passed through an arched vault and went down a steep slope. Most of the prison was underground, fortified by massive black stones with water running down the sides. Gate after gate was unchained, opened and locked behind them. There was no fresh air and the stench of human filth made Carina want to retch. She pinched the bridge of her nose and breathed through her mouth. It was worse than she could have imagined and when Gabriella stopped and bent over, she caught her by the shoulders as she was sick on the ground.
All around them the sound of groaning rose and fell. Lanterns in wall brackets gave out little light and the further in they went, the darker it became. The place was so cold they shivered despite their thick cloaks. The jailor stopped in front of a cave carved out of the rock. The cell was no larger than the inside of a carriage and the ceiling too low for a man to stand upright. At first Carina saw only one prisoner. Then two shadowy figures on the ground struggled to their knees and she realised they were manacled together.
Both men were dressed as common felons in devil’s dust cloth. Heavy chains bound their ankles and wrists and their faces were black with grime. Gabriella shrank back as Enrico was wracked by a coughing fit. When he was able to raise his head, his eyes shone too brightly and Carina knew he was ill.
‘We’ve brought you food, ‘she whispered. ‘Don’t speak. Save your strength.’
‘Papa’s petitioned the king. This is for both of you.’ Gabriella pressed her face to the bars and pushed through a loaf of bread.
‘I don’t want the king’s mercy. It’s enough you’ve both come,’ Enrico spoke with difficulty. ‘You’re my guardian angels.’
Carina took a step to one side to allow Gabriella to talk to him while she passed cheese and fruit to the other prisoner. She had the impression he was taller and older than Enrico. ‘What’s your name?’ she asked.
‘Max Corso. Have you news of Francesco Riso?’
‘He’s in the Castellamare. We’re told his rank means he will be given a fair trial.’
‘That would require an act of God.’ Max Corso’s light-blue eyes fixed on her face. ‘Your friend is extremely ill. You must secure his release. He hasn’t the strength to survive in here.’
Dear Lord, her premonition hadn’t been so wrong! Carina felt a slither of ice slip down her throat. Enrico will not die, she swore silently. I won’t let it happen. We must find a way to save him. The basket was empty and her gloved fingers brushed Max Corso’s hand.
‘I promise to do all I can. Trust me—’
‘Basta! Enough!’ The guttural voice of the guard was close by her ear. ‘Hurry up now!’
It seemed they had only been there a few minutes when it was already time to leave. Carina went quickly to Enrico.
‘God bless and take care of you. Stay strong, dear friend.’
‘We’ll meet again when the revolution is accomplished,’ Enrico whispered and then they were being led away and heading back towards the outside world. Gabriella stumbled and taking her arm Carina saw her lips move in silent prayer. If only she were blessed with her cousin’s faith and Enrico’s hope! Orderlies passed them with foul-smelling soup and a fuse of rage ignited inside her. When a rat ran across her shoes, Carina scarcely noticed. This was Satan’s kingdom on earth and the Bourbon regime was rotten to the core. Those who perpetuated such inhumanity must be destroyed! The revolution was far more than a political struggle. It was a war against evil and she had joined the crusade.
She was tempted to instruct Gino to withhold the payments; but the guards would only take it out on the prisoners and she watched in silent fury as the money was distributed.
Gabriella slept for most of the way back, leaving her to deal with travel permits. Carina was too agitated to care how many times they were stopped. Enrico’s situation was grave and they needed to act fast. A petition to the king would take too long. Who else had the authority to order his release? The answer that came turned her stomach. The thought of petitioning Prince Scalia made her feel physically sick. No, she couldn’t do it! Gabriella must entreat her father to speak to the governor. Carlo Denuzio had the ear of the king. He could say that Enrico had been wrongfully imprisoned and demand his immediate release.
They were nearly home and alighted the carriage at the far side of the piazza. Skirting the church as the bell in the campanile chimed eight, they came to the door where Rose was waiting. She escorted them discreetly past the kitchens and the servants’ quarters, up the back stairs where a housemaid was scrubbing the stone. Gabriella had rehearsed the story that they had been to early Mass and Carina went with her to her bedroom. When she came to her own, she removed her bonnet and kicked off her filthy shoes. Then she stripped off her gloves, washing her hands and face before she lay down on the bed.
Paulo had warned her not to interfere, she thought. She was a wiser woman now than the girl who left London a few months before. Enrico wasn’t her responsibility. The sensible course of action was for her uncle to plead Enrico’s case, only she had no faith in him. Carlo Denuzio was too weak.
Carina slipped out of bed and began to pace the floor in her bare feet. She loved Ben and must protect him. One false move and she might endanger the patriot cause. There were a hundred reasons to not get involved, but if she did nothing Enrico would die. Carina recalled Scalia’s interest at the Villa Pallestro. He would not ignore a supplication from her. It was a loathsome prospect, but there was no other way and she went over to the desk.
For a long time she stared at a blank piece of writing paper. Then she took up the quill and dipped it in ink.
Your Excellency,
There is a matter of great urgency I need to discuss with you and pray you will receive me at your earliest convenience. I beg you request permission from my uncle to attend upon your Excellency at the Palazzo Reale. The matter to which I refer is of a delicate nature and I would be grateful if the application came at your bequest rather than my own.
I trust upon your kindness and remain, sir, your most obedient servant …
Carina signed her name at the bottom and addressed it to the prince under the direction of the Palazzo Reale. She sealed the envelope, inscribing her initials above the wax. Then she walked over to the bell pull. She would instruct Gino to deliver the letter this afternoon before she could change her mind. Prince Scalia was not a man to be easily deceived. If he responded to her request, the interview would be a trial by fire. She must be clever, duplicitous and use every weapon in her armoury.