Page 75 of Tempted By the English Marquis
A deeper frown creased his lips. He wasn’t happy with her answer, and she could understand that he might be disappointed to hear her words of caution. But while Gideon was taking a chance in offering his heart to her, she was the one who had the most to lose. The one who would be left crushed if their hopes came all to naught.
There had been one question which kept repeating itself in the dark of last night. One which went to the heart of her fears.
What if Gideon was simply trying to be noble? If he had somehow decided, it was his duty to save her from a terrible marriage? The thought weighed heavy on her mind. Going from one ill-fated union to another wasn’t going to solve her life’s problems. And marrying Gideon would mean leaving Rome. That was not a small ask.
This city is in my blood. How can I ever give it up?
On the street below them, the cries of the vendors broke the early morning peace. Soon Rome would be fully awake. And they would no longer have this path all to themselves.
“Can I ask why you are uncertain about us, Serafina? Have I foolishly assumed that we share more than we actually do? I know I love you, but perhaps it is not the same for you.” Gideon asked, his eyes focused on the rocky path at his feet.
She was sorely tempted to punch him. This was the man who a year and a half ago had hesitated when she had all but thrown herself into his arms and begged him to kiss her at Hampton Court Palace. The man who, if he had gone down on bended knee, she would have said yes to, which would have saved them from all this heartache.
“One day, I will tell you how hard it was for me to stand on that ship and wave goodbye to you as we left London. Then when I am done, I might also tell you just how angry I was. How you couldn’t see past our friendship to what lay beyond,” huffed Serafina.
Gideon slipped his hand about her waist and drew her to him. He brushed a tender kiss on her temple. “There is not a day when I don’t think about that afternoon and regret my indecision. I was in love with you—I still am. But I convinced myself that I wasn’t ready for marriage. And that you, at barely nineteen, were too young.”
Hot tears sprang to her eyes. “I love you too, Gideon. Just promise me one thing.”
“Anything.”
“That if you are sure about us, and if the chance presents itself again you won’t hesitate. If we do succeed, I want to be certain that I am giving up my family and my city to be with a man who will fight for us. One who believes that we are meant to be together. I don’t need a hero trying to save me from Signore Magri or my father.”
Gideon kissed away her tears, then bent his head so that their foreheads touched. He held her close. “I will never fail you ever again. You are mine and I am going to claim you as my wife. Your father might have his plans, but I believe that we can find a way. We might need a little luck, but we can do it. And I would never ask you to give up Rome; we will come back from time to time. Our children need to know the city of their mother.”
This was the promise she had hoped he would give.
The squeak of the garden gate had Serafina pulling away. She glanced back up the path. The servants sometimes used this stretch of land as a quick route from the palace to the lower street. She dared not be seen. “Someone is coming. We need to leave now.’
Taking a hold of Gideon’s hand, she towed him along the path. “Let’s talk as we walk around the city. First stop, coffee and sweet cake. Then I shall take you to the Pantheon. My father is in meetings on a Wednesday morning, so he won’t be about the town. This is the best day for us not to be seen.”
They had precious hours to themselves, and she wasn’t going to waste a minute.
ChapterForty
Before arriving in Rome, Gideon hadn’t been much of a coffee drinker, preferring tea. A few short days in the Eternal City and he was beginning to get a taste for the dark, delicious brew. And when it came accompanied with a small oval-shaped cake, he knew he was fighting a losing battle.
In a tiny café, tucked away in a corner well out of sight of prying eyes, he and Serafina sat enjoying their morning meal. It wasn’t the usual breakfast he ate at home, but the dark-haired beauty who sat opposite him made it the most amazing food he’d ever had.
“What is this cake called?” Gideon was keen to learn as much as he could about the local cuisine. If he was going to bring Serafina home to England, he intended to make it his mission to find a baker in London who could bake her favorite food. His marchioness might become English, but he would never wish for her to live without the comforts of her homeland.
“Ciambella. But if you are going to call it by its full name, it’s Ciambella Romagnola.It’s from the northern parts of the Papal States. I eat it most mornings.”
I wonder if I could kidnap an Italian chef and take him back home with us. Possibly two. One to bake these wonderful breads and another to make fresh pasta dishes.
He tucked into the rest of the food, savoring every bite. While he ate, he noted that Serafina sipped at her coffee but barely touched her own meal.
She was worried. Concerned that he might fail her again or that perhaps her father might prevent their escape. He expected that until she had his wedding ring on her finger, and they were officially Lord and Lady Holwell, Serafina would live in fear of their happiness being suddenly snatched away from them.
“How far is it from here to the Pantheon?” he asked. Small talk seemed the best option at this point. Anything to help settle her mind.
“This narrow street is the Via del Seminario, so we are not too far. I took us the long way around from the palace so as not to meet up with anyone I might know. The Pantheon or as its also known as, the Basilica of St. Mary and the Martyrs, opens early so we can go and visit before the crowds arrive. After that I was thinking we could take a walk and then find a place to eat.”
More food. Gideon softly laughed. “You Italians love your food. I think if I lived in this city, I would put all the weight I have lost back on and then some.”
Her eyes lit up. “That reminds me. We should stop by the tailors and see if any of your new clothes are ready.”
It had only been a few days since he had been measured for a whole new wardrobe; Gideon hadn’t been expecting to see anything from the tailor for far longer than that.
