Not knowing how to react, Luciana simply grew still. After being raised in a convent that valued peace and harmony, she was not accustomed to being on the receiving end of such cruel words. Could it be true that she was somehow to blame for her mother’s death?
She didn’t know what to believe, but one thing was certain. She couldn’t converse with her dead sister without revealing her gift. Mother Ginessa knew about it, but Luciana wasn’t sure how much the duke knew. Besides, what could she tell him? I just met my sister and she hates me?
She leaned toward the duke, who was still gazing forlornly at the fire, apparently lost in painful memories. “Ye mentioned afore that I look just like my sister?”
He covered his mouth to suppress a sob. “Poor Tatiana.”
Luciana glanced at her sister. Even their names sounded alike. “What happened to herself?”
Tatiana snorted. “I died, obviously. Not too sharp, are you?”
With his shoulders sagging, the duke wiped tears from his face. “Poor, beautiful Tatiana. To have died so young.”
“You see?” Tatiana moved closer. “See how he grieves for me? I’m the one he cares for.”
Mother Ginessa crossed her arms. “It seems very chilly all of a—” She blinked, then cut a questioning look at Luciana, who nodded very slightly. With a wary glance around the room, the nun made the sign of the two moons.
“How did my sister die?” Luciana asked the duke.
“Struck down by a plague,” he grumbled. “The king demanded we go to his palace in Ebton. On the journey there, we stayed at an inn in the port of Ronsmouth. Tatiana and I both became ill, though she was suffering much more than I. Keeping our identities a secret, I hired a vessel to bring us to the Isle of Moon. I’d learned from my correspondence with Mother Ginessa that you have a gifted healer here in the convent.”
“Aye.” Mother Ginessa nodded. “That we do.”
Another tear rolled down his cheek. “We were too late. My poor Tatiana died on the voyage.”
Luciana felt a surge of sympathy for him. He obviously loved his daughter. “I’m so sorry for yer loss.”
He gave her a sad smile and patted her hand.
“You should feel sorry for me!” Tatiana stomped a foot, but it made no noise. “It’s terribly unfair. I was so looking forward to showing off my new gowns at court.”
“I’m sorry you didn’t get to meet her,” the duke told Luciana. “You would have loved her.”
Luciana glanced at her sister’s pouting face, then decided to change the subject. “Can ye tell me about my mother? What was she like?”
His eyes took on a faraway look. “She was the world to me. It was an arranged marriage, of course, ordered by the king, but Ariana was so clever, so lovely, so kind and pure of heart, I couldn’t help but fall madly in love with her.”
Luciana smiled.
“There.” He pointed at her, his eyes glistening with tears. “She smiled just like that. And she had beautiful black hair and sea-green eyes. You and Tatiana resemble her greatly, although you both have blue eyes like me.”
“I obviously inherited the greater share of their intelligence,” Tatiana boasted.
Luciana ignored her sister and asked, “Can ye tell me what happened to my mother?”
He shut his eyes briefly. “She died. Two days after birthing you and Tatiana. You and your sister were born on the night the moons embrace, but of course we didn’t want anyone to know that. Even though Ariana suffered greatly, she held on for two more days, so we could convince everyone that you were born at a later date. Her last request was that I send you away—”
“Why?” Luciana winced at the sound of her sister’s snickering.
“My dear child.” He took her hands in his. “We did our best to conceal the time of your birth, but there was no way to hide the fact that there were two of you.”
“Twin girls are considered a blessing here on the island,” Mother Ginessa explained, “but I’m afraid it is quite different on the mainland.”
“Twins are considered an abomination, caused by the twin moons. Female twins are even worse, for they represent the goddesses themselves.” The duke squeezed Luciana’s hands. “The only way to keep you both alive was to separate you. We could never let anyone know that you’re twins.”
“So ye sent me self here to protect me?” Luciana sighed. “But why let me think ye were dead? Could ye not have come to visit?”
“Repeated visits here would have aroused the suspicions of the king’s spies. I couldn’t risk them finding out about you, not when it would mean your death.”
She winced. “Is it truly that dangerous?”
“I’m afraid so,” he replied. “In your studies, have you learned about the religion of the Eberoni?”
Luciana nodded. “They worship the sun god called the Light, so they are called the Enlightened. The head of the church is the Eberoni king.”
“Exactly. So anyone who refuses to follow the king’s religion is considered a blasphemer and put to death.”
Luciana sat back. “He would kill someone for worshipping the goddesses? Why? Luna and Lessa are helpful. They guide the men home from the sea.”
Mother Ginessa raised her hands to make the sign of the moons. “The Eberoni fail to understand the loving care the goddesses bestow upon us.”