Page 101 of Tempted By the English Marquis
Gideon whirled round.
Standing at the end of the gangplank was his mother. For a moment, he stood and just stared at her. His eyes were seeing this, but his brain wasn’t quite able to register it. It was only when his heart finally leapt in his chest that he stirred once more to life. “Mama?”
She held out her hand to him. “Would you be a dear and help me step onto the deck? I am not the sort of woman who can jump and land with any sort of grace.”
Gideon stepped forward and assisted his mother down the small steps and onto the deck. They moved out of the way as several of the duchess’s large travel trunks were carried on board.
“I’m sure Augusta won’t mind sharing with me. We wouldn’t be so cruel as to ask you and your wife to give up the main cabin,” she said. The hint of a smile was at the corner of her lips.
“You shall have your own cabin, Your Grace. I booked one just in case you changed your mind. I did reserve the biggest suite for Serafina and me, but rest assured the de Lucas made certain that we would be travelling home on their most comfortable ship.”
Lady Anne touched a gloved hand to his face. “At least I will have six weeks to compose more letters for your father.” She nodded to another small case which was being carried up the gangplank. “I had quite forgotten how clever Clifford could be with his words. How eloquent.”
Thank god. I don’t how I was going to face father if you didn’t come home.
“Where are the girls? And what about Flynn? Is he making the journey home with us?”
He had offered Viscount Cadnam a trip home, but Flynn had politely declined. His friend had lived rough in Italy over the past year, but with the money that Gideon had given him, he could now take the time to experience Rome as it should be done. New clothes were on Flynn’s back and he had a standing invitation to set foot on board the next de Luca ship bound for London whenever he felt it was the right time to go home.
“Flynn will make his way back soon enough. He and Matteo have a whole spring of fencing bouts lined up. And he is going to do some work for Count Nico. I know Augusta is finding it difficult to accept that he is remaining in Rome, but she will be thrilled to know you are coming home with us.”
It had taken him and Serafina a long time to finally find one another, so Gideon still held hope that Augusta and Flynn would eventually see their way to a happy future.
The duchess stood alongside her son as the gangplank was raised and the sailors cried out the orders to set sail.
An arm slipped into Gideon’s and the familiar scent of his wife’s perfume filled his senses. Serafina rested her head against him. She was silent as the ship drew away from the quay. There could be no words for what her heart was feeling. All Gideon could do was hold her and be there for the woman he loved when the tears eventually came.
On the other side of the duchess, Augusta raised a hand in farewell. She stood watching the shore as her mother turned and walked away.
“I am holding you to every single one of your promises Flynn Cadnam. Don’t let me down.”
As Augusta went to follow her mother, Serafina reached out and took her by the hand. “He will come, I know he will. Flynn loves you,” she said. A weeping Augusta nodded, then walked away.
Gideon shot his wife a questioning look and Serafina offered him a calm reply. “I am keeping your sister’s confidence. Please wait until we are closer to England to ask me about her and Flynn.”
The newlyweds remained long on the deck watching as the stone walls of Civitavecchia disappeared from view. When they were finally out of sight, Serafina put her hand into Gideon’s and spoke in a voice thick with emotion. “The Eternal City is now a part of you, so you know you must return.”
“Si, per sempre. Yes, forever.”
Epilogue
Six weeks later
Mowbray House, London
Gideon and Serafina followed Augusta as she raced up the grand staircase to the Duke of Mowbray’s study. Cries of “Papa!” and “Oh, thank god!” echoed through the house.
Lord and Lady Holwell were content to take their time up the stairs. The long sea voyage had once again taken its toll on Gideon, but his wife had done an excellent job in making sure he got home in one piece.
Augusta dashed out from her father’s room just as they got to the door. Gideon suspected her next destination was the bedroom she shared with Victoria. Then both sisters would go and find the rest of their siblings.
The duke greeted them. He took one look at Gideon and pulled him into a firm hug. “Thank you for bringing Augusta safely home.” His gaze moved to Serafina. “And you got married. That’s wonderful news. I am thrilled.”
A smiling Serafina greeted her father-in-law with a deep curtsy, and then a happy smile. “It’s good to be back in London, Your Grace.”
His father stood nodding at the pair, then turned to his son. “You did as well as you could, Gideon. I’m glad you brought a wife back from Rome.” The edge of sadness in Clifford’s voice couldn’t be disguised. He had sent his son with hopes of his own, but they hadn’t been fulfilled.
A tide of emotion swelled up in Gideon. It was all he could do just to hold it back. Gazing at his father through misty eyes, he croaked, “I brought back two wives. Mine. And yours.”
