Page 100 of Tempted By the English Marquis
After last night’s farewell dinner at Palazzo Lazio, they had agreed his mother wouldn’t come downstairs to the hotel foyer this morning. Augusta was calm and ready to leave; she didn’t need any more tears.
Knocking on the door of his mother’s suite, Gideon found Lady Anne standing staring out the window. She turned to him, eyes brimming with tears.
“I thought you had gone.”
“Not yet, but soon. I have one last task to undertake before we depart.”
Gideon took a deep breath and steadied himself. Aside from when he had declared his heart to Serafina, these next words might well be the most important ones he would ever say.
“Papa left you those letters, but he also asked me to say something to you in person.” He cleared his throat. “He said, ‘Whatever your reasons. Whatever fault you find with me. Come home. I will never stop waiting for you. Never stop loving you. You are now and forever my wife. Come home.’”
He gave his mother one last hug, then headed for the door.
* * *
Nothing more needed to be said. The Duchess of Mowbray had been given a choice, an easy one in Gideon’s book, and she had decided to remain in Rome. After all they had been through, he still couldn’t understand her reasoning, but he no longer judged his mother. And if they parted in peace, then at least that was a blessing.
Gideon met Augusta downstairs. Augusta gave him a sad smile, to which he said, “This is not goodbye forever. Serafina and I plan to make future trips back to Rome.”
Augusta sniffed back a tear. “Of course, you do. She and I threw enough coins in the Trevi Fountain to fund a hundred journeys. It’s just that leaving Mama all alone . . . I don’t know if . . .”
He had to stand firm. “G. You are coming home to England with me and Serafina. Father gave clear instructions. Besides, don’t you want to see the rest of the family? Coco and Victoria will have missed you terribly. And when I left, our brother Matthew made it clear that if you didn’t return, he was going to make Victoria move so he could take over your large bedroom. We can’t have him doing that, now can we?”
For as long as Gideon could remember, Augusta and Victoria had been waging a war with Matthew over the coveted corner bedroom on the second floor. The room commanded an expansive view of Berkeley Square. The girls were adamant they would never move.
“I know. It’s just hard to think we are leaving people behind here in Rome,” said Augusta, her gaze settling on the stairs which led back up to the hotel suites.
Gideon knew better than to let her wallow in thoughts of their mother. And of Flynn. The hour of their departure was rapidly drawing nigh, and Augusta needed a distraction. “How about you come with me, and we find Serafina?”
His sister nodded. “Let’s do that. Just remember, it’s notaddio, it’sa preso. Not farewell but see you soon.”
Her bottom lip quivered, and for a moment Gideon feared G wasn’t the only one on the verge of tears. Leaving his mother behind was one of the hardest things he would ever have to do. Nothing, however, would surpass the pain that he knew was coming when he arrived back in England and told his father that he had failed to bring Lady Anne home.
* * *
Gideon and Augusta were silent for most of the journey to the port city of Civitavecchia. Serafina was also lost in her thoughts for much of that time. This wasn’t her first trip to England, but it was the first time that she would be leaving home for good.
She had managed to keep a smile painted to her face as they said their final farewells. That had lasted the whole way from Palazzo Lazio and through the familiar streets of central Rome to the hotel, and even remained as they passed by the outer sections of the holy city.
But when the spire of Saint Peter’s Basilica disappeared from her sight, Serafina let out a pained cry. Gideon, god love him, had reached out and wrapped her up in his embrace, whispering words of comfort. “I love you. We will return. You are not the only one who now has family in the Eternal City.”
Augusta burst into tears, burying her face in her hands. No one was leaving Rome with their heart intact.
* * *
At the port they lingered on the dockside, silently watching as their luggage was hauled on board. When the captain cleared his throat for the fourth time, Gideon finally plucked up the courage and took a hold of his wife’s hand. His brows knitted as a tearful Serafina drew away. She reached for Augusta. “Come, sister. It is time we sailed for home.”
Gratitude filled Gideon’s heart. Serafina was leaving the land of her birth, but she was more concerned with supporting Augusta than her own welfare. He silently followed them up the gangplank of the ship then remained on deck while the two women headed to the main cabin.
“How long until we sail?” he asked the captain.
When the captain frowned, Gideon’s heart sunk. What was wrong with the boat?
“You are sailing with the tide?”
A screwed-up face was the only reply he got.
“I think what he is trying to tell you is that he doesn’t speak English.”
