'I mean,' he told her, 'that leaving you at the Casa made finding you easy, while at the same time making it very difficult, if not impossible, for you to get very far, if you managed to get anywhere at all. What I'm saying is that it's possible- even probable- that Ricardo was told to bring you to the Casa because having located you, he was to stall for time until someone came along and . . .
'But there things make no sense. You have said that your father intends to personally remove you to some form of oubliette in his self-made kingdom. Why, then, these other two men, one of whom is armed with a very sophisticated weapon whose sole purpose is to kill from a hidden place from a far distance? Knives, bludgeons and handguns are the weapons of kidnappers, not rifles, which are cumbersome, restricting, and inappropriate for violent situations in close quarters. Perhaps your father has changed his mind and decided to eliminate you altogether?'
Kara swallowed and went very pale as Roman said this. What other reason could there possibly be for the presence of the two men but to kill her?
'I am angry,' Roman said suddenly, getting to his feet.
Kara stared, for Roman did not look or sound the least bit angry.
'In fact,' he continued, walking to the fireplace and, leaning on the mantle, studied whatever it was he saw in the flames, 'I am outraged. So much so that Kara and I will be married just as soon as it can be arranged.'
Kara stared at him speechlessly, unable to comprehend his mood or his mind. He turned to her, then, and at the look in his eyes her stomach was twisted by a thrill of fear. As in a daze, she watched him as he said his good-bye's and led her outside to the trap, untethered his own horse and tied its reins to the back of the trap, wrapped a blanket around her shoulders, and carried her off into a moonless night with the oil lamps left unlighted. It was so dark that she literally could not see her hand in front of her face, but neither Roman nor Toro seemed to have the least difficulty finding their way.
'For your sake, Kara, no objections to our marriage. No hesitation. It will be done and it will be made widely known, here across the Isla Fiero, in Athens and across your homeland of Greece, and in every place that your father does business, however large or small. And it will be made known that the Castellan gauntlet is down where your life and your welfare is concerned.'