Page 47 of Tempted By the English Marquis
Her mother’s eye turned to the other de Luca seated at the table. She waved at the footman. “I think this one has finished with his food. You may take him from the room and to his tutor.”
No good morning. Not even a mention of her brother, Vincenzo, by name. The young boy was being removed from the breakfast room with as much regard as a pet. Then again, after eleven children, Serafina could understand why the younger offspring didn’t hold much interest for the contessa.
Vincenzo slid out of his chair, gave a careful, deep bow to his mother, then followed the footman out the door. Serafina’s gaze took in his plate of half-eaten food. If the footman knew what was good for him, he would take the long route via the kitchens before handing the young boy over for his schooling.
With her brother gone, she was the only other person of note at breakfast. The only person her mother could turn her stern attention to. That thought had Serafina’s appetite disappearing in an instant.
With her hands gently clasped in front of her, she waited.
“You need to be careful about whom you are seen with, young lady. Whatever friendship you may have had with Lord Holwell while you were staying in London has no place here in Rome. Am I understood?”
Serafina nodded. Her mother couldn’t be clearer. Innocent or not, there would be no more encounters with Gideon in the garden. At least not without a chaperone.
Or perhaps his sister.
“Yes, Donna Francesca. It was purely by chance, but I promise it won’t happen again.”
“Good. I just wanted to make your father’s position on the matter of your impending marriage clear. Serafina, you may also leave the table.”
She rose from her chair and curtsied to her mother. “Cousin Nico sent word to me earlier this morning requesting that Augusta and I take Lord Holwell to see some of the sights of Rome today. I trust that meets with your approval.”
The note from her cousin was a barefaced lie, but Serafina trusted Nico enough to know that if Donna Francesca raised the subject with him at a later point in time, he would cover for her. Nico wasn’t above pulling rank with his aunt when the occasion called for it.
“As long as you and Lady Augusta go together, and you have your bodyguards with you.”
As Serafina headed for the door, her mother’s last words rang in her ears. “And don’t let Lady Augusta have any more wine to drink while you are out.”
Serafina kept going. Hopefully Gideon would be happy to spend the day with her. But before she left the palace, she intended to speak to her maid. Maria’s loose lips were going to get them both into serious trouble someday.
And she had a horrid suspicion that when they did, the repercussions would be far worse than a few stern words from Donna Francesca.
ChapterTwenty-Four
Alittle while later, a servant knocked on Gideon’s door. When he opened it, he was handed the following note.
Serafina and I decided to take you to see some of the ancient sites this morning.
Wear your most comfortable boots.
Meet us at the main entrance in Via della Pilotta.
G
Gideon considered his sister’s letter for a moment, then quietly swore. What had he said about not playing at Cupid? He read the note again.
“Maybe I am being a little harsh on Augusta. She and Serafina are probably just wishing to be good hosts and tour guides. I am in Rome.”
He raised an eyebrow at the request for him to wear comfortable footwear, softly chuckling at the notion of him possessing anything other than well-made English boots. Fatigue still plagued him, and he yearned for more sleep. But the idea of spending time with his sister and Serafina while exploring the Eternal City was irresistible.
Gideon grabbed his coat and the small bag of coins which Nico had graciously delivered to his room last night. There was something to be said for being the guest of a family who had their own private bank.
He made it most of the way to the door before racing back to his bedside table and retrieving his Italian phrasebook. Serafina was of course fluent in her native tongue, but Gideon wasn’t going to pass up the opportunity to converse with the locals. He may well make a mess of things, but he wanted to try.
After stepping out into the hallway and closing his door, Gideon paused. He looked right and left, unsure of which way to go. He had arrived at Palazzo Lazio at night and had no idea which way was the front entrance.
Intercepting a passing servant, he pushed the note under their nose, pointing at the street where he was meant to meet up with the girls. The footman nodded, then motioned for Gideon to follow.
They continued down the lengthy hallway, and through several rooms which Gideon only remembered having visited earlier because of the bloody battle scenes on the wall. Deciding that memorizing particular paintings wasn’t such a bad way to navigate his way around the palace, Gideon started making mental notes of his surroundings.
