Page 37 of Tempted By the English Marquis
Maria returned bearing a tray with two small cups of coffee and accompanying water glasses. She set them on a nearby low table. “I thought you might like to know that the Duchess of Mowbray has joined the evening meal.”
This is going from bad to worse.
Augusta started to her feet but halted and sat back down. “I don’t feel well.”
Serafina gave her a reassuring pat on the hand, then turned to her maid. “How did Lady Anne greet the Marquis of Holwell?”
Serafina picked up her coffee cup and casually took a sip. She could just imagine how Maria would take that question. Her maid was a pleasant girl, but she did have a loose tongue when it came to gossip. And while Maria was a useful source of information, her mistress wasn’t naïve about the fact that chatter had a tendency of flowing both ways.
“It was a formal greeting. They apparently wished one another a blessed Easter,” replied Maria.
Augusta picked up her own small cup of hot black coffee and took a tiny sip. She set it back on the tray, then rested her hands lightly in her lap. Serafina took her cue from her friend’s sudden silence.
“Thank you, Maria. Could you please have someone inform Donna Francesca that Lady Augusta is feeling unwell, and that I am tending to her? Make sure that you let her know that we are here in the sitting room and have been back at the palace for some time.”
Her maid lingered for a moment, curtsying only when it became clear that she was not going to get any further instructions. Or tidbits of information.
“That will be all for this evening. Good night, Maria,” said Serafina.
Once Maria had taken her leave, Serafina locked the door. Augusta’s continued silence spoke volumes about how bad things were within her family.
“You may not like hearing this, but I think the best thing you can do right now is retire to your room. If Gideon sees you in this condition, it will only cause further disharmony in your family.”
Tears glistened in Augusta’s eyes as she picked up her coffee once more. “I don’t understand any of this or why he is here. If he is here to take us home with him, I will gladly go. No offence intended.”
“None taken.”
“But if he thinks Mama is going to meekly acquiesce to his demands, my brother is in for one devil of a shock. Mama still won’t tell me what is going on, but she has made it clear, she is not leaving Rome any time soon.”
Or ever?
“Take tonight and get some sleep. I have a feeling that tomorrow, when you see Gideon, he will have all the answers to your questions.”
Serafina had a horrible feeling his words would only serve to confirm her growing suspicions.
ChapterNineteen
When a maid appeared in the dining room and made her way over to Donna Francesca, Gideon didn’t give it much thought. Servants were always coming and going in his world. The woman bent and spoke quietly to her mistress. When the evening’s hostess turned her gaze to him, his interest was aroused. She nodded, spoke briefly to the maid, and went back to her wine.
I wonder what that exchange was all about. I wish I could speak Italian.
Isabelle, who was seated beside Gideon, tapped him on the arm. “I don’t suppose you understood anything of what was just said to Donna Francesca.”
Gideon shook his head. “No. But she looked straight at me, so I am going to assume that it was something to do with my being here.”
“Apparently your sister Augusta is unwell. Serafina is sitting with her. They won’t be joining us for supper.”
A spark of frustration lit Gideon’s mind. His mother had been cold and disinterested; now his sister was avoiding him. He hadn’t come all this way to be ignored by the women of his family. Or disrespected. By behaving this way, they were causing him great embarrassment. In his sister’s case, he wasn’t sure if her intent was deliberate, but when it came to his mother he was left with no doubt. The duchess didn’t want him there.
A nasty showdown was looming.
“Do you think I should go and see my sister in her room? Would that be acceptable? I don’t wish to overstep any social boundaries or conventions,” he replied.
Isabelle stabbed her fork into her softly boiled potato, letting her hand linger over her plate for a time. “I would suggest that you leave things as they are for the moment. Your arrival today has stirred things up quite a bit.”
He was grateful for the contessa’s words of advice. She had lived within the palace for several years and clearly had a better understanding of the politics of the place.
His gaze drifted farther down the table to where his mother sat. Since her arrival, she hadn’t made any attempt to engage him in conversation. Her head was constantly turned away, and now she was busy talking to Count Nico.
