Page 35 of A Captain For Clarissa
Edward stepped closer, his blue eyes sweeping over her in frank admiration. “A happy coincidence, to be sure. I encountered Lady Glenkellie in Florence, where she informed me you had been safely recovered from your mysterious disappearance and were en route back to England. But to find you here...” He trailed off, his gaze flickering around the rustic courtyard, settling on Rafael with a look of barely concealed contempt.
Clarissa’s mind whirled. Just moments ago, she had been sharing a private moment with Rafael in this very spot, almost certain he had been about to propose marriage. Now, with these two interlopers from her old life, everything felt upended, uncertain.
She forced a smile. “The de Silva family has been kind enough to host me on my journey. Come, let me introduce you. Captain Rafael de Silva, this is the Conte di Bardolino, and Mr Edward Dalton.”
Rafael bowed stiffly as Clarissa made the introductions. “Welcome, gentlemen. You are very welcome to Torre do Rochedo, but to what do we owe the pleasure of your company?”
The Conte smiled broadly, seemingly oblivious to the undercurrent of tension. “Ah, Captain de Silva! I was visiting relatives in Florence when Mr Dalton arrived, and I heard that Lady Clarissa was here in Portugal. On a whim, I simply had to come pay my respects.”
Mario was very young, no older than Clarissa herself, and seemed boyish compared to Rafael. His excuse was transparently thin. Clarissa sighed inwardly. Mario had set his sights on her sister Diana the previous summer when they visited his beautiful estate on the shores of Lake Garda. Now that Diana had married her duke and was no longer available, it seemed Mario had turned his attentions to Clarissa. She would have to firmly discourage him.
Mr. Dalton, however, fixed Rafael with a cool stare. “Indeed. Quite the coincidence, finding Clarissa here, is it not?”
Clarissa’s heart sank at the barely veiled accusation in Edward’s tone. She glanced at Rafael, seeing the muscle in his jaw clench.
“Coincidence or not,” Rafael replied evenly, “LadyClarissa is an honoured guest in my family’s home. I trust you will remember that during your stay.”
The two men seemed to size each other up, the air between them crackling with unspoken rivalry. Clarissa’s unease grew. How had her life become so complicated so quickly?
She stepped forward, determined to defuse the situation. “I am sure you are weary from your travels. Perhaps, Captain, you could introduce the gentlemen to Senhora de Silva and she could find them accommodations?”
Rafael hesitated a moment, then nodded. “Of course. Please, follow me.” As he led the men away, Clarissa caught the briefest glimpse of something raw and vulnerable in his sea-green eyes.
But it was gone in an instant, leaving her to wonder if she had simply imagined it. With a sigh, she turned away and went to find Marianne, her head spinning with questions and her heart heavy with a growing sense of foreboding.
As Clarissa descended the grand staircase later that afternoon, she was surprised to find Edward waiting for her at the bottom, his posture casual yet confident as he leaned against the ornate bannister.
“Ah, Clarissa,” he greeted her with a charming smile that once would have made her heart flutter. “I was hoping we might have a moment to chat.”
Clarissa forced a smile, trying to ignore the unease that prickled along her spine. “Of course. Shall we take a turn about the gardens?”
He offered his arm and she took it, allowing him to guide her outside. They walked in silence for a few moments, the only sound the crunching of gravel beneath their feet.
Finally, Edward spoke. “I must confess, Clarissa, I find myself quite perplexed by your sudden departure from Athens. One moment we were enjoying each other’s company, and the next, you were gone without a word.”
Clarissa’s stomach twisted. How could she possibly explain the truth of what had happened? “I...I’m sorry. It was all rather sudden.”
He stopped walking, turning to face her with a frown. “Sudden? Clarissa, you disappeared in the middle of the night. Your family was frantic with worry. And now, to find you here, in Portugal of all places...”
She bristled at his tone, at the unspoken accusation behind his words. “I hardly think my whereabouts are any of your concern, Mr Dalton!”
His eyes narrowed. “No? And yet, not so long ago, I had hoped they might be. I had thought perhaps you and I...” He trailed off, shaking his head. “But I see now that I was mistaken.”
Clarissa’s heart sank. Once, his words would have thrilled her, but now, they only filled her with a vague sense of regret. “I...I’m sorry if I gave you the wrong impression. But my feelings...they’ve changed.”
He stared at her for a long moment, his jaw clenched. Then, he let out a humourless laugh. “Changed? Or were they simply never what I believed them to be?”
She looked away, unable to meet his gaze. “Mr Dalton...”
“No, don’t trouble yourself,” he said coldly. “I understand perfectly. I only hope, for your sake, that your newfound affections are not misplaced.”
With that, he turned on his heel and strode away, leaving Clarissa alone in the garden, her heart heavy with the weight of words left unsaid.
As Clarissa watched Edward’s retreating figure, she heard the sound of approaching footsteps. Turning, she found herself face to face with the Conte de Bardolino, his handsome features alight with a boyish grin.
“Clarissa, mia cara!” he exclaimed, sweeping into a low bow and pressing a kiss to her hand. “What a delightful surprise to find you here!”
Despite her melancholy mood, Clarissa couldn’t help but smile at his exuberance. She remembered the Conte’s infatuation with her sister Diana the previous season, how he had followed her about like an eager puppy. Both sisters had been nothing but amused by his attentions.
