Page 24 of Tempted By the English Marquis
Augusta looked left and right, then dashed into the room. She closed the door quickly behind her. “I hear there is an almighty row in progress at the other end of the palace. And it involves you.”
How on earth does she know that?
Augusta raised an eyebrow. “You don’t honestly think that the servants keep their lips shut when these sorts of things happen, do you? Most of the information I have garnered over the years about my parents has come by way of the household staff.”
Wariness settled over Serafina. “What are they saying?”
“Well, my source, whom I shall protect, tells me it’s about the man you might be going to marry. Your mother is fiercely opposed to him being your husband.”
Her friend might think she was being discreet but there were few servants in Palazzo Lazio who could speak English. Lady Augusta had been in Rome for a number of months, but her Italian hadn’t progressed to anything more than rudimentary. That cut the number of suspects down to less than a handful of people. And only one who Serafina knew would dare to share such gossip with Augusta.
I had better have a quiet word with Maria Volpe and warn her to be more discreet. She doesn’t want to get on the bad side of my mother.
Following the death of the Duke of Lazio’s wife several years ago, Donna Francesca had taken over the role as the head of the de Luca household. She might not agree with her husband’s decision, but the contessa most certainly wouldn’t stand for any of the servants to voice their own opinion on the matter.
The de Luca family wielded a lot of influence. A maid dismissed due to having spread gossip, true or not, would find it hard to get a new position in a good household.
With her hands held tightly together, Serafina wandered over to the window. Her room was situated on the second floor of the palace and whenever she was worried about something, she liked nothing better than to gaze at the gardens below, taking in the immaculately kept green lawn and elegant flower beds. “I was summoned to my father’s office a short while ago. He and my mother announced that negotiations were underway with the families of several prospective husbands. My father gave me a name, Giovanni Magri, as the likely successful candidate.”
Augusta came to stand beside her. “Can I take it that he is not someone whom you would be happy to call husband? Your mother apparently doesn’t think much of him.”
Other than Donna Francesca’s protests, Serafina had nothing to go on at this stage. No way to form an opinion of the man.
Serafina turned to her friend, taking in her long brown hair and pale complexion. She did her best to offer her friend a smile, but it quickly died on her lips. There was nothing in today’s announcement from her father to be happy about.
Augusta was so different from the other young women that she knew. For a start, Augusta spoke her mind. And while the duke’s daughter didn’t hold back on her opinions, that same luxury wasn’t afforded to Serafina.
Serafina sighed. “I have never heard of him. Papa seems to think a union of our families would be advantageous. But yes, my mother wasn’t pleased. Not that her judgement or mine carries much weight. The connection is what is of importance.”
Family loyalty kept her from saying anything else. None of it really mattered anyway. In a few weeks, like it or not, she would be married, and Lady Augusta would probably be on a boat back to England.
Augusta retreated to Serafina’s favorite green floral sofa and dropped onto it with a large huff. “That isn’t fair. Not that it is any different with arranged marriages in London. But why is it that if you are being forced to marry someone horrid, the family will always throw the prospect of wealth and influence into the conversation? As if that makes up for a husband who is smelly, ugly, or downright beastly.”
Or, heaven forbid, all of those things.
Serafina nodded her agreement. Augusta had the right of things. “I wish you could stay in Rome forever. Or I could come home with you when you leave. London was such an interesting place. And it would be wonderful to see the rest of your family again.”
Especially Gideon. I wonder if he has a lady in his life now.
She and Augusta had shared many secrets, with Serafina confident that none of them would get back to either of their mothers. But there was one thing she had never told her friend, and she had vowed she never would. During her short stay in London, the dashing Marquis of Holwell had caught her eye. She hadn’t realized the depth of her feelings for him until the boat drew away from the dock.
If only I could stow away in Augusta’s luggage.
Her quiet thoughts of longing were rudely interrupted when Augusta suddenly leapt up from the sofa where she had just sat. Startled, Serafina took a hurried step backwards.
Augusta waved her arms about. “We need to find out about this Giovanni chap. Who he is? Where he lives. And most importantly, why your mother is against the match. You are not going meekly into this marriage—not if I can help it. A woman should have a say in whom she marries and, more importantly, have the right of refusal.”
Serafina loved her feisty friend. It was a pity that they couldn’t simply go and ask Donna Francesca for the truth. Unfortunately, that would be a step too far. Her mother might fight her father tooth and nail over any betrothal, but she would not stand for Serafina to question his decision.
Augusta’s well-meaning intentions to meddle might only serve to further inflame the situation. Serafina had a sneaking suspicion that Donna Francesca would view it as the perfect excuse to finally rid herself of the Duchess of Mowbray and her daughter.
“Speaking of marriage, what are you going to do once you return to England?” Serafina asked. “I mean, won’t your family expect you to settle down and marry? You are older than me, and I know it’s high time I was wed.”
There were times when Serafina found the English to be most peculiar. What kind of father allowed his daughter to go roaming the world instead of settling down to the serious business of marriage? Her own parents had taken some convincing to allow her to go to London with her brother Matteo.
Her cousin Nico had sweetened the deal by allowing Donna Francesca to take over one of his sunlit private sitting rooms on the ground floor of the palace. What was meant to be a temporary arrangement had become a permanent one, with the contessa still occupying that space.
Augusta slowly shook her head. “I suppose I shall have to marry once we return home. Find someone else. Though Lord knows when that will be. Mama keeps changing her mind. At this rate, we will never leave. Besides, after my last heartbreak I am in no particular rush to find a husband. There is still a faint chance that Flynn might be alive.”
