Page 54 of The Vagabond Viscount
Drawing out of Serafina’s embrace, Augusta wiped at her face. “I don’t care what anyone says—there is still hope for you to be happy. I know it is a matter of mere days until the betrothal ceremony, but we have to do everything we can in order to stop it. Gideon doesn’t want me involved, but if I can speak to Flynn, then perhaps he can talk sense to my brother.”
Gideon had always listened to Flynn, and Augusta suspected he was the keeper of many of his friend’s private confidences. There had to be aspects of his old life that the viscount had never shared with her. Things to which only Gideon was privy.
If there was one person who could help give the marquis a hard shove in the right direction, and have her brother finally claim his future duchess, it was Flynn. “I am going to find out where Viscount Cadnam is, and then I am going to go and speak to him. If he can come back from the dead, I am sure he can work a miracle or two.”
ChapterThirty
The following evening
Augusta could have sworn the day was the longest in her life. She had endured a frightful row with her mother before the duchess finally left for Tivoli with her gentleman friend, Signore Arosio.
Serafina had been unavailable, having spent most of the day with her mother; firstly on the visit to Signore Magri’s house and then later, getting ready for the pre-betrothal celebrations which were being held at her future home this evening. What Augusta had assumed was going to be a small private affair was apparently nothing of the sort and many of Rome’s elite were expected to be in attendance. Enzo de Luca was determined to make his mark on Roman society.
Even Gideon didn’t have time for Augusta. He had left Palazzo Lazio early in the morning and gone to a fencing academy with Serafina’s brother, Matteo, and didn’t return until it was almost time for them to leave for the private party.
Left to her own devices, Augusta had done what all well-bred young ladies of her acquaintance would consider the right thing to do. She had broken into Gideon’s room, searched for the missive from Flynn, and upon finding the note, had stolen it.
She now knew where her beloved was staying, but since she was obliged to attend the party at the Magri house, Augusta was forced to wait until late at night to finally go in search of Flynn.
“All Saints’ Chapel.” The letter contained an address near Trajan’s column. “I didn’t even know there was a Church of England chapel in Rome,” she muttered.
It was odd to think that they had walked right by the chapel only yesterday on their way to the Colosseum. Even stranger to know that Flynn was living close by Trajan’s Column, which was but a short walk from Palazzo Lazio. His home was close enough for Augusta to have decided on risking a late-night ramble as soon as she could steal out of the palace.
We have been living only a matter of a hundred yards or so from one another.
The gathering at Signore Magri’s modest home had been tedious, to say the least. Serafina had been forced to spend the evening close to her mother, while Augusta had spent much of her time observing Gideon and silently wishing she could strangle her brother for not having offered for her friend when he’d had the chance in England.
A feigned headache had seen Gideon and Augusta accompany Serafina home early from the supper. While Gideon and Serafina stole a rare private moment together behind the closed door of Augusta’s bedroom, she kept watch in the hallway outside.
Augusta was on the lookout for both the palace bodyguards and any other de Luca family members who may also have happened to come home from the party. The last thing any of them needed was for the de Luca family to discover that the Marquis of Holwell was spending time alone with Serafina, and that he intended to make her his wife.
If he knows what’s good for him, he will be planning to marry Serafina.
Augusta was busy concerning herself with what she would say to Flynn when they were reunited, when footsteps from the nearby gallery roused her from her musings. Serafina’s new maid Anna, appeared at the top of the stairs and began to signal to her.
Someone must be coming.
She knocked hurriedly on her bedroom door, then waited for an answer. After a gruff “Come,” came from within, she opened the door. Her brother and best friend were standing barely an inch apart from one another.
“Anna is at the top of the stairs, waving her arms about frantically. I am sorry, but I think your time is up. Some more members of the family must have followed us home. Serafina, you should go to your room.”
Serafina hurried away, leaving Gideon and Augusta to quickly take up their positions in a pair of chairs near the window. When Enzo and Francesca de Luca appeared in the doorway a few moments later, they were greeted with the sight of the Kembal siblings sitting at the table chatting about their plans to return home to England.
Augusta turned to the contessa. “I see you are home. I helped Serafina to bed a short while ago. Her headache hasn’t improved. Hopefully, she will get some sleep. Will you look in on her?”
Donna Francesca met her gaze but offered no reaction to what Augusta suspected she knew was a lie. Instead, the contessa turned and snapped at her husband. “I told you Serafina was ill. I don’t know why you didn’t believe me. We didn’t need to leave the party in such a hurry. Now, kindly get out of my way while I go and check on our daughter.”
Enzo grumbled a half-apology. He didn’t say goodnight to either Augusta or Gideon. It was clear he was angry at having been spoken to in such a haughty manner by his wife.
Gideon rose from his chair and closed the door. “He is not happy. I am determined to press ahead with courting Serafina and securing her hand in marriage. But knowing how suspicious Enzo de Luca is, Serafina and I have agreed that we will need to tread very carefully over the next day or two.”
Serafina’s maid Maria had suddenly been replaced earlier that day and Augusta had an inkling that it was Donna Francesca’s way of making certain that her husband didn’t get wind of anything. “Yes. Enzo seems definitely wary of everyone and everything at the moment.”
“I am going to steal Serafina out of the palace early tomorrow, I want to spend time with her so she and I can talk. Do you perhaps have a piece of paper on which I can write her a note?”
Augusta nodded. “Speaking of notes, I should give this back to you.” She handed Gideon the letter from Flynn. His brows knitted together in obvious confusion, to which she explained, “It fell out of your pocket.”
He took the paper. “I suppose since my clothes are so big on me, I didn’t notice when it happened. Thank you, Augusta.”
