Page 84 of Tempted By the English Marquis
“We talked and Mama gave me some idea as to why she feels she cannot go home. I won’t disclose those reasons to you because they were spoken in confidence. What I will say, however, is that I gave her a box of letters that Papa had written. Love letters.”
Augusta swallowed the cheese with a gulp, then began to weep. Pity filled Gideon’s heart.
He had been through this with his other sisters and both brothers. The realization that their family was forever changed was hard to accept. The others had had time to come to terms with it, but this was still so real and raw for poor Augusta.
Rising from his chair, Gideon came ’round to his sister. He bent at the knees and put an arm around her shoulder. “I am secretly hoping that Mama will read the letters and come to understand that Papa still loves her deeply and that he wants her to come home.”
“You could make her come with us, couldn’t you?”
Even if he could, he wouldn’t. The duchess was her own woman and had the right to decide her future. “I won’t do that. If I forced Mama onto a ship, could you imagine how angry she would be by the time we reached London?”
His mother would tear the city and the entire Kembal family apart in her outrage. The damage was bad enough now, but in time it might be able to be repaired. The Duchess of Mowbray in full vengeful flight would leave nothing standing in her wake.
“Whatever she decides, we have to respect her wishes,” Gideon said.
“I don’t understand why people feel the need to go all the way to Rome. There are plenty of places a lot closer to town than here. Don’t get me wrong, it’s a magnificent city, but it’s a long way from London. One can’t just hop into a carriage and see a friend or go to smooth over a possible misunderstanding.”
Gideon sensed that statement was about more than just their mother. A certain viscount was clearly on Augusta’s mind.
“Sometimes we don’t have a choice other than to leave our current lives. I’m finding that it’s not fair to judge when I don’t know the whole story.”
Her sad blue eyes met his before Augusta turned away. “You are right of course. But then again, one cannot be expected to make sense of things when all they hear from the other side is silence.”
Bloody hell, Flynn. You could have sent word.
“At some point, you and I need to have an honest conversation about Viscount Cadnam. He lives close by, so if you want to see him, I can take you. Flynn did press upon me the fact that he had no choice in leaving England. He didn’t abandon you. And I doubt he has had the funds to be able to afford to post a letter home.”
Augusta nodded. “Yes, I know. And I don’t doubt him. It’s just that everything has been so hard over the past year. I didn’t even want to come on this trip, but Mama was adamant that it would do me good. Now I just want to go home to England.”
Subject closed—no further discussion. Like with the duchess, Gideon was finding small steps were the only way forward. Hopefully he would get the opportunity to broach the subject of Flynn Cadnam again before they left.
“Did you have a nice day today?” asked his sister. Gideon scowled, then decided it was best to let the matter of Flynn drop.
“Yes, it was the best day I have had since I arrived. I dropped into the tailor’s shop to check on my new suits. They said they hoped to have them ready by the end of the week,” Gideon said. He wasn’t prepared to go into any further detail about the rest of his day, the time spent with Serafina was precious and Gideon wanted to keep it to himself.
As the last piece of sliced meat found its way to Augusta’s mouth, she gave Gideon’s hand a soft pat, then pushed it away. She rose. “I think I might retire for this evening.”
“G, I promise I won’t leave our friend alone in Rome without means. Count Nico cashed a banker’s order for me, and I intend to give Flynn some money in the next day or so. Rest assured I will do what I can to see him returned home to England—if that is what he wants.”
Tucking a wayward curl behind her ear, Augusta nodded. “Thank you, Gideon. As with everything, you have gone above and beyond. You have my deepest gratitude and my love.”
He let her go with a humble “Good night,” then resumed his seat at the table. He picked at the olives and finely sliced meats, while thinking back on the day that had been. On those precious moments that he and Serafina had stolen for themselves while at the Pantheon. Of her smile.
It was already Wednesday night, and he had just over four days in which to not only find a way to talk to Enzo de Luca, but also convince him to let Serafina out of her future betrothal and marry him instead.
“How am I going to convince her father that I am the better choice?”
Serafina’s happiness should be the paramount consideration. Unfortunately, Enzo de Luca and Giovanni Magri both seemed to hold a different view.
There had to be someone who Enzo could be made to listen to, a voice of reason. Nico had initially seemed the obvious choice, but as Gideon’s thoughts drifted back to the supper and the other de Luca family member who had not been in attendance, a different name came to mind.
If Enzo wanted his son back within the family fold, the issue of Serafina’s future husband might just be the leverage that Matteo de Luca could use to dictate his own terms.
First thing tomorrow, Gideon would pay a visit to Palazzo Fonsato and talk to Matteo de Luca. With Matteo on his side, he could press for Serafina’s hand in marriage.
ChapterForty-Six
The soft tap at his bedroom door roused Gideon from his deep slumber. He stared up at the ceiling, trying to focus. It was dark. Only the flicker of flames from the fireplace lit the room. He turned and checked the window.
