Page 15 of A Captain For Clarissa
“My lord, I –” Rafael hesitated, reluctant to impose further upon their gracious hosts.
“Please, Captain,” Clarissa encouraged him, her eyes shining with gratitude. “We insist.”
“Very well,” he conceded. “Thank you for your kindness, Lord Glenkellie.”
The great door of the villa swung open, and there framed in the doorway stood a beautiful red-haired woman in an elegant silk gown, an expression of shock on her face.
“Alex? What happened, why are you not… Clarissa!” With a glad cry, the red-haired woman ran down the steps, arms outstretched.
“Aunt Marianne!” Clarissa called in return, rushing forward to embrace her aunt.
“My dear girl,” Marianne exclaimed, enfolding Clarissa within her gentle touch. “I am so grateful to have you back, safe and sound.”
“Thank you, dear Aunt,” Clarissa responded, her voice wavering with genuine emotion. “I am glad to be with you again, truly.”
“Inside, inside; I must know what happened.” Marianne - the Marchioness of Glenkellie, Rafael supposed, reminding himself to address her as Lady Glenkellie - cast him a curious look as she led Clarissa back up the steps. “And who is that extremely handsome man you have brought with you?”
Her tone was not quite quiet enough, and Rafael caught every word. He felt his cheeks flush, had to fight against the inclination to turn tail and flee, back to his ship and its familiar comforts.
Instead, he allowed Alex to lead him up the steps and inside the palazzo.
Clarissa was giving Marianne the brief, highly edited version of her adventure. Marianne clutched a hand to her throat, face turning ghostly white, before she pulled Clarissa back into her embrace again, holding her tightly.
As the two women shared their tender moment, Rafael could not help but feel like a stranger in this unfamiliar world. The opulent surroundings of the palazzo were a stark contrast from the sea-worn confines of his ship, leaving him feeling out of place among the rich tapestries and marbled floors.
“Captain de Silva,” Marianne said, turning her attention to him. “We cannot thank you enough for returning our dear Clarissa to us.”
“Please, Marchioness,” Rafael replied, his tone earnest yet humble, “it was my duty and honour to protect Lady Clarissa. I would do it again without hesitation.”
“Your modesty only serves to make us more grateful, Captain,” she replied, her eyes shining with sincerity. “You are a true gentleman.”
“What is this I hear?” a new voice cried, and an older gentleman came striding into the room. “Do my eyes deceive me, it is little Clarissa, safe and well!”
Clarissa accepted an embrace from the older man, who was introduced to Rafael moments later as the Conte Ginori, related to the Glenkellies by virtue of having married Alex’s aunt. The Conte immediately reiterated Alex’s insistence that Rafael should be their honoured guest, and called a footman to show him to a guest chamber.
As the evening progressed, Rafael found himself at odds with the grandiosity of the palazzo. The meal served for their dinner was more extravagant than anything ever placed before him, yet it was also apparent that the huge variety of exotic dishes were nothing out of the ordinary for the Ginori household. He admired the exquisite art adorning the walls, but his heart longed for the simplicity of his ship and the ocean that had been his home for so many years. He could not deny, however, that Clarissa’s company provided a sense of belonging amidst this foreign landscape.
She sat opposite him at dinner, her lovely face animated as she talked of the sights she had seen in Athens, all the while deftly avoiding any question which tended towards the topic of her departure from that city.
After dinner, Rafael felt stifled, and excused himself to step outside. Standing on the terrace breathing in the air fragrant with orange blossom, he was somehow not surprised to hear soft footsteps behind him.
“Captain,” Clarissa said softly, coming to join him where he stood on the terrace overlooking the moonlit gardens. “I hope you don’t find all this too overwhelming. We may live differently, but we share the same values and love for adventure.”
“Thank you, my lady,” he replied, touched by her perceptive words. “While I may feel out of place among these magnificent surroundings, your presence makes me feel welcome and at ease. I am content knowing that I have found a friend in you, Lady Clarissa.”
“Indeed,” she replied, her voice warm and sincere. “I am please to have found a true friend in you as well.”
He hesitated, and then asked “It has been many years since I was last in Florence, and I had little time to explore it then. Would you do me the honour of accompanying me on an exploration of the city tomorrow? You have lived here for some months, I understand.”
“Indeed, and I have seen all of the major tourist sites at least twice, I think.” Clarissa laughed. “But I should be delighted to see them again, with you. I’ll ask the Count to place a carriage at our disposal, in the morning.”
He bowed, and she dipped a little curtsy in response before turning away. Watching her go back inside, Rafael marvelled ather resilience; it was only a few days since she had been barely rescued from a ghastly fate, and she wasapparently none the worse for the experience. Any other well-born young lady would have gone into a permanent swoon, he suspected, but not Lady Clarissa.
The morning sun cast a golden glow over the city of Florence, as Rafael and Clarissa stepped out into the bustling streets. They stood for a moment, drinking in the vibrant energy that seemed to pulse through the very air around them.
“Are you ready to explore, my lady?” Rafael asked, his sea-green eyes sparkling with anticipation.
“Indeed, Captain de Silva,” Clarissa replied, her laughter ringing like a bell. “Lead the way.”
