Page 66 of The Vagabond Viscount
The duchess snatched up a gown from the top of the pile in Augusta’s trunk and pressed it into her hands. “Gideon has gone to stay with Viscount Cadnam, who I understand resides close by. Now get dressed. We have to be ready when he hopefully sends word as to where that is.”
A still half-asleep Augusta quickly dressed and threw on her cloak. She had just finished lacing up her boots when two palace footmen appeared at the door. Behind them stood Flynn.
Their gazes met, and in response to her smile of relief, he shook his head. Now was not the time to reveal their long-secret relationship to her family.
“Ah, Flynn. It is good to see you,” said the duchess. She embraced the viscount. “I can’t believe you are alive—it is such a wonder. I’m just sorry that our meeting has to be under the current circumstances. Augusta, come say hello to the viscount.”
Augusta gave Flynn a brief hug—it befitted their official relationship. It was nothing like what they had shared the night at the chapel.
“I have come to show the servants where to carry your luggage. I live close by, so Enzo de Luca has mustered an army of servants to lug your things the short distance. I’m afraid that you are to go on foot,” he explained.
Lady Anne huffed at the obvious insult to her noble status. “Well then, let us take our leave of this place. I know when I am not welcome.”
Augusta followed in her wake. She had always suspected that when the Duchess of Mowbray finally left Palazzo Lazio that it would be under a cloud. She hadn’t ever imagined it would be as a result of Gideon taking Serafina to his bed.
Gideon had played his hand, and he had lost. She could only pray he had a backup plan.
Eloping might be a good idea, dear brother.
ChapterThirty-Eight
Shortly after their arrival at Flynn’s modest accommodations, it was decided that the hotel Albergo del Sole in the Piazza della Rotonda was the best place for the Kembal family’s next home. It was centrally located, safe, clean, and full of English tourists.
At such an ungodly hour, Augusta didn’t particularly care where she slept. She just wanted a comfortable bed and somewhere to think. It had been a long day, followed by a sleep-interrupted, drama-filled night. She was exhausted.
Gideon and Flynn quickly organized for them to take three separate suites. Her brother frowned at Augusta’s insistence that she have her own room rather than share with their mother. Fortunately for Augusta, he wasn’t in any sort of position to argue with her demands. It was his actions which had landed them in this pickle in the first place.
“I am so sorry for all this,” offered a contrite Gideon.
Augusta wrapped her arms around her brother and gave him a reassuring hug. “I am glad you finally did something about Serafina—I just hadn’t expected you would go that far.”
When she drew back, she caught the beet-red glow of Gideon’s cheeks.
Anyone would think an unmarried miss would have no clue as to what happens in the marriage bed. You would be shocked to hear the talk in the ladies' retiring room at parties.
“Are you planning to elope with her? If you do, you must know that the guards change at eleven o’clock both during the day and at night. I have a key for the garden gate, which leads down to the street below the palace.”
Gideon’s brows furrowed, and she could just imagine what he was thinking. Wondering how she knew all these things and why she had a key.
“I am going to try and get some sleep. I can’t think straight when I am overtired. In the morning, Flynn and I are going to discuss our options.” He glanced at Augusta’s travel trunk, which sat in the corner of her room. “Can I ask that you don’t unpack? If Serafina and I do try and elope, you and Mama might need to leave here at short notice. Flynn will, of course, assist, and he has offered to accompany you back to England just in case Serafina and I have to find somewhere to hide. I promised Papa I would bring you home, and I won’t fail him.”
Gideon sadly didn’t mention the duchess in that sentence. It was clear that things between him and Lady Anne were still at a stalemate. The only good piece of news was that their mother had taken Gideon’s side in the aftermath of the recent unexpected event.
Perhaps there is still a chance for them to come to some sort of agreement. I don’t want to go home and leave her here.
Augusta was still angry with her mother, and more than a little confused over the duchess’s decision to remain in Rome. The thought of going back to London, and the Kembal family never being whole ever again filled her with heartbreaking sadness. One form of grief had been replaced by another.
She was tired and wanted nothing more than this nightmare to be over. For Gideon and Serafina to be wed, and for all of them, including Lady Anne, to sail home together.
But the night’s proceedings had not been so kind. Shortly before they departed from All Saints, a pensive Matteo de Luca had appeared bearing a letter from his father. Enzo had decided that the de Luca family had suffered a grave insult to their honor, and Gideon was going to have to fight Matteo in a duel to the death.
I know Enzo de Luca is angry about what happened between Gideon and his daughter, but this is insane. Why can’t he just let them marry? No one has to die.
Her brother was a marquis, and one day would be the Duke of Mowbray. The Kembals were rich, they were well connected. But it clearly wasn’t enough.
We are not Catholic, nor are we members of Rome’s elite. Serafina’s father obviously doesn’t see any gain for him in allowing this marriage.
When Gideon turned to leave, Augusta reached for his arm, drawing him back. “Gideon. Please just worry about you and Serafina. And about doing whatever it takes to avoid fighting Matteo. He is a skilled swordsman, and you don’t stand a chance against him. I don’t care what you have to do or who you have to bribe to make this right, but you must take Serafina and flee Rome as soon as you can. Flynn and I will deal with any other problems.”
