Page 33 of Tempted By the English Marquis
“There are going to be a lot of sore heads in Rome tomorrow morning,” he said.
Upon not receiving a response from Nico, he turned to face his friend. To his surprise, Nico was seated forward, his hands clasped gently together in front of him. The expression on his countenance was one of apprehension. Gideon sensed a change in the mood from celebratory to one that was more somber.
“The coach is now crossing the Ponte Sant’Angelo, which means we are not that far from Palazzo Lazio. Soon you will be reunited with your mother and sister. Have you given much thought as to what that meeting might look like?” said Nico.
It’s all I have thought about for days.
Gideon nervously sucked in his bottom lip. His teeth grazed over the skin. This was a moment he had been waiting for since December. From the day the duchess and Augusta had first been due home to England.
At that time, his thoughts had been ones of joy and excited expectation. He had been eagerly waiting to hear the stories of his mother and sister’s grand adventure.
Now his mind was filled with doubt. With fear over what he might find. And, if he were truly honest with himself, with fear over what he might say.
If things didn’t go well with the duchess, who else would know? Would his family’s private pain become the talk of Roman high society?
Who can I trust at Palazzo Lazio, and who is not my friend?
“Can I ask who else lives at the palace? I know you and your wife do, as does the duke.”
“The extended de Luca family. The main people you will probably have dealings with are my Uncle Enzo and his wife, Francesca. They are Serafina’s parents. Donna Francesca currently serves as the matriarch of the family.”
“If you are the heir to the title of duke, why isn’t your wife the head of the house?” asked Gideon.
“I thought you would get around to asking that question. Isabelle’s Italian is getting better—I would say she is near fluent—but she still doesn’t feel that it is good enough for her to be able to run the palace effectively.”
Gideon could imagine that his aunt might not have taken the news of Nico arriving home from England with an English wife all that well. A stranger had stepped into their midst.
“And besides that, not only is Isabelle carrying our second child and constantly tired, but my aunt is the best hostess in all of Rome. When my wife is good and ready, she will learn at the feet of Donna Francesca. Things are settled in the household at present, so no one is in any hurry to make changes.”
Gideon envied the de Lucas and their untroubled approach to family life. The notion of slowing things down and enjoying the simple things was a foreign concept to him.
Perhaps now, while he was away from the social expectations of his home country, he could take time to assess his own future. The Duchess of Mowbray certainly seemed to have done that, and she had made some life-altering decisions. Gideon might get some clearer answers from the duchess if he didn’t press her too hard too soon.
I need to understand her position, but it’s so difficult.
“How will your aunt deal with yet another Kembal arriving unannounced on the doorstep? I don’t expect she will be thrilled,” Gideon said.
“Donna Francesca doesn’t get to decide who sleeps under the Duke of Lazio’s roof. Once you are settled in your room, I shall ask that word is sent to Lady Anne informing her of your arrival. Our family will be celebrating Easter tonight with a late supper. My wife and I would be honored if you would join us. If the welcome you receive from your mother is not a warm one, then at least you won’t have to spend the rest of tonight on your own.”
Thank heavens for Nico. Just knowing that he had a friend on whom he could call took a load off Gideon’s mind. He hadn’t felt so lonely in his entire life as he had over the past weeks. “Thank you. An evening of good company would be most welcome. I really appreciate your kindness, Nico.”
The horses slowed to a walking pace. Nico nodded toward the window on the far side of the coach. “You can’t see it all that well in the dark, but that butter-colored baroque jewel of a building is Palazzo Lazio. My home.”
Gideon’s mouth went dry. Shortly, he would come face to face with his mother and sister. His hands clenched into tight fists as he fought to keep his rapidly beating heart under control.
I am being ridiculous. These ladies are part of my family. My blood—not my enemies.
Self-talk wasn’t helping. He shifted his gaze from the sight of the palace, and he met Nico’s eyes. The count looked as worried as Gideon felt.
“Do you think when we arrive that I could have the use of a valet? I would like to wash and shave before meeting any of your family,” said Gideon.Or mine.
Nico nodded. “Of course. I shall send my personal valet to attend to you. It will give you time to compose yourself.”
A sigh escaped Gideon’s lips. “Is my trepidation that obvious?”
“Yes. But you forget I have spent the past six months living under the same roof as your mother. The palace might be big, but even I could tell when things changed for the duchess. She stopped being full of light, and a sadness came over her. I have experienced grief and loss, and from what I have witnessed, she is mourning the death of something. I am not sure if your visit to Rome will succeed in whatever you are hoping to achieve. Nor should you expect a warm-hearted welcome from Her Grace.”
Nico’s words of caution were the sort of counsel Gideon badly needed. He had come holding hope for a peaceful resolution, but he had also come armed with quiet ultimatums.
