Page 14 of A Captain For Clarissa
“Your sense of duty does you credit, Captain.” Alex studied Rafael thoughtfully for a moment before continuing. “In light of all you have done for us, I extend an invitation for you to stay with us as an honoured guest in Florence. My wife will certainly want to meet you, and I insist that you allow us the pleasure of expressing our gratitude properly.”
Rafael hesitated, glancing at Clarissa, whose face brightened with hope and encouragement. Despite the allure of spendingmore time in her company, he remained mindful of his station and the incongruity of accepting such a generous offer.
“My lord, your kindness is overwhelming,” he finally said, his voice low and sincere. “But I fear it would be an imposition on my part to accept such hospitality.”
“Captain de Silva,” Alex countered, a trace of amusement in his tone, “I assure you, your presence would be no imposition. Rather, it would bring us great joy and satisfaction to host someone who has demonstrated such exceptional character. We owe you a debt we cannot possibly repay.”
Rafael glanced at Clarissa again, her eyes shining with anticipation. The desire to stay by her side warred with his innate sense of propriety, but ultimately, he could no longer deny the connection that had formed between them.
“Very well, my lord,” he acquiesced, a hint of a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. “If you insist, I shall accept your gracious invitation. I did promise to see Lady Clarissa safely to Florence, and I have not yet completed that task.”
“Excellent!” Alex clapped his hands together in delight. “I look forward to getting better acquainted with the man who saved my beloved niece.”
Rafael’s man returned to the docks soon after with a hired carriage ready to take them to Florence. Rafael assisted Clarissa into the plush interior, her cheeks flushed with excitement at the prospect of their journey.
“Thank you, Captain,” she whispered, her fingers lingering in his for a moment longer than necessary. He bowed his head, looking away, and handed Ana up to sit beside her in the forward-facing seat, while Rafael and Alex sat with their backs to the driver.
As the carriage began to move, Alex leaned forward, curiosity etched upon his face. “Clarissa, my dear, I still have some questions about your… adventure, if you feel up to talking about it?”
Sensing Clarissa’s discomfort, Rafael interjected quickly, “Perhaps it would be best if we allowed Lady Clarissa some time to recover from her ordeal before delving into such matters.”
“Of course,” Alex conceded, his concern evident. “You are quite right, Rafael. We shall speak no more of it until you are ready, my dear niece.”
“Thank you, Uncle,” Clarissa murmured, her gratitude palpable.
However, as the day wore on and the rolling Tuscan countryside unfurled around them like an emerald tapestry, Alex’s resolve weakened. The questions seemed to tumble from his lips unbidden, like a stream that could not be dammed.
“Who were these pirates? How did they come to abduct you?”
“Truly, Uncle, I –” Clarissa hesitated, her gaze darting to Rafael for support.
“Perhaps we could discuss something else, Lord Glenkellie,” Rafael suggested smoothly, his eyes never leaving Clarissa’s.“Like the beauty of Tuscany, for example. It has been years since I last visited this region, and I must say, it has only grown more enchanting.”
“Ah, yes,” Alex agreed, his attention momentarily diverted. “The vineyards, the ancient towns, the art… this land is truly a treasure.”
As the conversation turned to more innocuous topics, Clarissa’s tension eased, and she began to enjoy the journey anew. With Rafael by her side, she felt as if she could face anything – even the prying questions of a well-meaning, if overly curious, uncle.
“Thank you,” she whispered to Rafael, as they passed a picturesque villa nestled among cypress trees, its terracotta roof gleaming in the afternoon sun.
“Always, my lady,” he replied, his hand brushing hers with the lightest of touches, sending a shiver down her spine.
The sun dipped below the horizon, casting a warm glow over the ancient streets of Florence as the carriage pulled up to the gates of the Ginori villa, which was so opulent Clarissa had always thought it should be called a palazzo. Clarissa watched through the window as the ornate wrought iron gates creaked open, revealing a lush courtyard filled with fragrant roses and orange trees.
“Enough evasions, Clarissa,” Alex began, his voice taking on a tone of concern as they entered the villa grounds. “I must know what transpired during your ordeal.”
“Uncle, please,” Clarissa whispered, her eyes pleading. But the words caught in her throat, as if held captive by the very memories she sought to escape.
Seeing her struggle, Rafael stepped in. “With your permission, Conte, I will recount the events that led to Lady Clarissa’s safety.” His voice was steady, reassuring. As he looked into Clarissa’s eyes, she found herself nodding, grateful for his intervention.
“Very well,” Alex conceded, his gaze fixed on Rafael with an intensity born of love and worry for his niece.
“Upon discovering the corsair ship, we engaged them in battle,” Rafael began, tactfully omitting the most harrowing details. “We prevailed, and it was in the aftermath that I came across Lady Clarissa, bound and hidden away. Their intentions were clear –” he paused, searching for the right words, “they planned to sell her to the highest bidder.”
“Dear God!” Alex murmured, his face paling at the implication. “Rafael, I cannot thank you enough for rescuing my niece from such a fate.”
“Please, sir, it was my duty and honour to protect Lady Clarissa,” Rafael replied, humbly deflecting the praise.
As they disembarked from the carriage, Alex turned to Rafael. “You must stay with us, Captain de Silva. We owe you a great debt, and we would be honoured to have you as our guest - I know the Conte will not hear of you refusing, after what you have done for Clarissa.”
