Page 19 of Forbidden Noble
Clara stood and met the warm gaze of her handsome husband who stood beside his happier but less interesting friend. “We’re on our way, Astorre. We were talking about decorating and how Rossie is a wonder at making everything sparkle with beauty. She offered to be my ear.”
“Good.” Astorre returned to the hall.
Stephano held the door for them, but before they left the room, Rossie whispered to her, “Well, if anyone can warm him up, it’s you Clara. I have faith as you’re the sweetest woman I know.”
Astorre cleared his throat. “Clara is a sweetheart.”
Rossie nodded at him like they were conspiring about her. “Glad you see that, Your Grace.”
Clara took Astorre’s hand as they followed a polished wood floor with a narrow blue carpet. Gorgeous landscapes with shades of the same blue were hung on the walls. Rossie had exquisite taste.
They reached double doors with arches shaped in a dome and entered a dining room that beat out any restaurant she’d ever seen.
Rossie had been busy making this house hers.
The long cherry wood table was absolutely her style and the chairs had been upholstered in teal fabric.
They took seats and servants brought in trays of food and goblets filled with wine. Astorre asked Rossie, “So, how did you and Clara meet?”
The lemon chicken with mashed potatoes had been prepared for her.
Seriously.
Rossie knew she had a thing for creamy lemon sauce. She picked up her fork and brought a bite to her mouth--it tasted both savory and sweet at the same time. Delicious. Rossie said, “I needed help when I first started my wedding business. Clara is a jack-of-all-trades and can pretty much fix anything.”
“But I’m a master at nothing.” Clara finished her bite, shook her head and said, “Rossie’s being nice.”
Rossie winked. “We’d known each other in school, kind of, but we became very good friends as adults.”
Clara then told her husband, “I was a loner in school.”
Astorre cut a piece of chicken. “I was too, until college.”
Stephano said, “Astorre threw the best parties in college.”
Astorre wiped his lips and met her gaze. “I figured I should live it up since I was going to end up homeless.”
And she'd never wanted a career because she’d ruin it. Plus she’d never wanted to make real connections. She understood.
They all continued eating and she had no problem finishing everything on her plate. "Thank you, Rossie. For remembering my favorite."
Rossie held up her glass of wine. “Cheers to you, Clara.”
Astorre and Stephano also held up their glasses, while she asked, “To me?”
Stephano said, “Yes, you saved my friend from destroying himself. I hope you’re very happy.”
“Congratulations to you both," Rossie added.
Always a dear friend. Clara sipped her drink, as did Astorre. She said, “Thank you, but I had nothing to do with it. He met Max and suddenly…”
Stephano’s gaze grew serious and he put his goblet down. “Fionalli was at your wedding?”
“No, just in the hotel,” Astorre explained. “I didn’t let him get near Clara.”
His friends would already know everything about what had happened. She twirled the liquid in her glass. “Max said he was really in love with Olivia.”
Rossie’s head turned back and forth. “Have either of you considered that Max was biding his time to marry Olivia and get your title, Astorre?”
