Page 48 of Tempted By the English Marquis
He dubbed the expansive gallery at the end of the hallway the Grand Adventure Room. Most of the pictures which crowded the walls were landscapes. There was a huge painting of what appeared to be the Grand Canal in Venice, then quite a few country scenes. Those ones reminded him of the fresco on the ceiling of his room.
Exiting the gallery, they passed through a smaller room decorated in what initially appeared to be red and gold wallpaper. Gideon stopped to look at the design before realizing that it wasn’t paper; the repeating pattern had all been rendered in paint. The various images depicting naked mermaids must have taken hundreds of hours to complete.
Naked Mermaid Room.
All thoughts of landscapes and mythical women quickly fled his mind as he followed the servant into the grand foyer.
Nico had brought him in via a side entrance last night, and they hadn’t come this way. He was sure of that, because no one would ever forget the grand foyer once they had seen it for the first time.
A series of towering Corinthian columns rose from the ornate marble floor. They touched the ceiling, which had been painted blue to look like the sky. White fluffy clouds sat at the edges while in the middle of the roof, cherubs danced with ancient gods. There was more gilt than Gideon had ever seen.
His steps slowed. It was impossible to take it all in and still walk.
“I don’t have words,” he muttered.
The sound of approaching footsteps reached his ears, but Gideon’s gaze remained fixed on the ceiling.
“Impressive, isn’t it? Wait until you see the room filled with Roman busts and statues dating back thousands of years.”
He lowered his head and grinned at Augusta. “It would be terribly rude of me not to assume that all the gold up there is real.”
She nodded. “Considering I have a sculpture in my bedroom which was created by Giovanni Bellini, I would think it safe to say it’s very real.”
The luxury and opulence of Nico’s travel coach should have been enough for Gideon to realize that the de Luca family was not just well-off; they were obscenely rich. They possessed the sort of wealth that allowed them to own this palace; it was beyond even Gideon’s privileged existence.
Serafina came to stand alongside her friend, giving him a subdued “Good morning, Lord Holwell,” in greeting.
There was a wariness about her that he hadn’t noticed last night when they had spoken in the garden.Have you been warned off about me?
“Are you ready to leave?” she asked. Her gaze flittered over his coat and settled on his boots. “Good. Those look comfortable.”
He had to ask. Why was it so imperative that he wear sensible shoes? “Are we going somewhere that requires us to climb or traverse a rough landscape?”
A grinning Augusta nodded. “Yes, Rome. This city is almost all cobblestones. You would be surprised as to how hard they are on one’s feet.”
Gideon had assumed they would be travelling by carriage, but from the way the two women spoke, it was clear he was wrong.
“So where are we off to this morning?” he asked.
When Augusta turned to Serafina and raised her eyebrows in question, it quickly became apparent who was in charge.
“I was thinking we should first go and visit the Colosseum before it gets too busy with visitors. Then on our way back, we can walk past what remains of the Roman Forum around and under the Palatine Hill. That should have us ready for food, and we can venture farther into the city for something to eat.”
Serafina’s plans all sounded wonderful. The prospect of actually seeing the Colosseum up close filled Gideon with excitement. For the first time since he had arrived, he found himself looking forward to something. Everything else thus far had come with a degree of emotional baggage. Of trepidation as to how people would react. Roman ruins were not inclined to give a damn about yet another English tourist.
“Is there somewhere that you can recommend for me to visit so I may get fitted for new clothes? Considering the circumstances of my trip to Rome, that request might sound a little strange, but as you can see . . .” He opened his coat and pulled up his trousers. “I am less of the man who left London six weeks ago.”
A look passed between his sister and Serafina, after which Serafina turned and nodded to the footman. And while the servant bowed and moved away, Gideon noted that he didn’t leave the foyer. It was clear that the footman had no intention of leaving Gideon alone with Signorina de Luca, even in the presence of his sister.
I see instructions have been given. I am not to be trusted. Anyone would think I was attempting to spirit her away under the cover of darkness.
Serafina stepped closer, speaking low so that only the three of them could hear. “Augusta and I have talked this morning, and I am aware of the situation with regards to your family. But please don’t think she has been indiscreet in confiding in me. Some time ago I had already come to my own conclusions about why the duchess was still here in Rome.”
Her words were somewhat of a double-edged sword. While it was reassuring to know that Augusta had someone, she felt she could share her troubles with, it also meant that Serafina wasn’t likely to be the only person who had come to that understanding without having actually being told.
“Thank you. I trust you will keep this a private matter between the three of us. My mother no doubt will be worried about what the other members of your family will say and do when they find out the truth,” replied Gideon.
“I’m very good at keeping secrets, but I would caution you to be careful where you speak. Some of the servants have a good grasp of English, and they know the price of knowledge. Even within the palace, palms are regularly greased. If you understand my meaning.” Her warning was clear; the staff was not to be trusted.
