Forbidden Marquis

by Victoria Pinder

  Rossie smiled at her friend. “I already did. I’m ready to go home. To Avce.”

  Clara fell into step beside Astorre. “Oh. Well, I’m happy.”

  Stephano motioned toward a limo as he said, “Clara, you are welcome to stay in our home in Avce for as long as you like. We all want friends like you.”

  “I’m unsure what my plans are, but thanks for the hotel room for the night.” She ducked into the limo.

  Astorre’s face was white, but after her mother returned to the limo, Rossie kissed Stephano’s cheek and then hopped in. As she took her seat, she asked, “Clara, can I ask a favor?”

  “Yes?” Clara answered as Astorre took the seat beside her.

  Tonight, she’d talk to Stephano. They had a lot to work out and she needed to tell him she loved him. Love mattered more than fear and it was time to come clean. She looked at her mother, with her face that still had very few wrinkles, and her friend. “Tomorrow, can the three of us get lunch? You, Mom, and me?”

  “Absolutely,” Clara said.

  Then Rossie turned her attention toward Stephano. He hadn’t said much, but he was always proper. He'd asked for decorum and she’d ignored his plea to stop in the ballroom. Once they were alone, she’d spill her guts. With luck he’d forgive her, but at least she’d tell him the truth.

  Rossie stayed next to Stephano as they wandered through the lobby and then walked her mother and their friends back to their rooms.

  Next, it was their floor with posh blue carpets in the hallway. Rossie’s heart sped up a little faster.

  She’d run out of excuses to share her feelings. Stephano held the door for her to their room and she passed inside.

  All of this time he hadn’t held her back or touched her.

  Her skin craved his forgiving touch and she heard the door close with a bang, though in actuality it hadn’t slammed.

  Stephano untied his tie and headed toward the bathroom, unbuttoning his shirt. She pressed her hand on his muscular back to stop him. “Stephano?”

  With a proper tone that mimicked Mr. Darcy in Pride and Prejudice, he said, “The party downstairs is breaking up. Tomorrow we’ll have breakfast with the bride and groom.”

  If she didn’t break through his layer of protection he had around him now, she’d be the Titanic after it hit the iceberg. She bounced on her feet and got his attention as she said, “Sounds nice. Can we talk?”

  “I’ve nothing else to say.” He emptied his pocket with his wallet on the table near the bed.

  Nervous adrenaline raced through her. “I have lots to say.”

  “Rosalind, my energy is drained now.” He unbuttoned another button and kissed her forehead. “We can talk tomorrow. I’m happy you’re back.”

  In his voice she still heard distance. Maybe it was in her head. Maybe it wasn’t, but she held onto his abs on both sides and lowered her head. “Stephano, I’m sorry for how I lashed out earlier and then took off.”

  Love. Drat, she hadn’t said what she needed. She swallowed and intended to say more,but he patted her sides and offered a small smile. “It’s forgiven.”

  Speak. Speak. Speak. She ignored how her heart was practically in her stomach that was becoming harder and harder. She’d sworn to herself that she’d not make any scenes or be impulsive. But Stephano had a right to know so she took a deep breath before she said, “I love you.”

  His entire body became rigid. “What did you just say?”

  Right. She wrapped her arms around his waist and said, “I love you.”

  “Right, then.” He nodded at her like they were friends.

  This wasn’t good. Earlier, he’d said he loved her. Panic nearly froze her, but she discounted how her muscles became more rigid and prayed she wasn’t too late as she said, “That’s what I wanted to say. I love you with my whole heart. I was an emotional trainwreck when we met and somehow I didn’t believe in love--I was going to get married to the wrong man.”

  Stephano blinked and bent his knees to be at her level as he patted her back, again like a friend. “We’ve been over this.”

  But they weren’t friends. Her feet were planted into the ground and she refused to move or get out of his way. She prayed he’d forgive her as she said, “I know, but what you don’t know is that I was so afraid of love that I rationalized it away and was about to make that huge mistake--and then you appeared in my life.”

  He folded her hands off his sides but pressed them to his heart and swayed with her as he said, “I’m listening.”

  This was better. His arms made her feel warm inside. She glanced up though she followed his lead, dancing slowly together. “Falling in love with you was nothing like I expected. And I didn’t realize this until a few hours ago.”

  He graced her with a genuine smile as he relaxed. Her heart soared as he asked, “What made you change your mind?”

  Another memory floated in her mind of just a few hours ago, when she was an emotional wreck and losing it and he didn’t even blink. Her eyes welled with tears. “When you looked at me, you told me I was beautiful.”

  His brow tightened. “That’s vanity, Rosalind.”

  How he stood like an anchor in the hurricane of her life was so important. She caressed his chest. “It was more than that. You saw me and loved me as I am.”

  Her mouth parted and she wanted to be kissed. She stood on her tiptoes while he only said, “I still do.”

  “You do?” She closed her eyes, hoping he’d take her offer.

  His arm wrapped around her and held her close. “I have everything.”

  Without another word, his lips met hers. His kiss was better than anything she’d ever had, even from him. Stephano was her prince and she’d stumbled into a love that might last a lifetime.

  Being his lady was an honor.

  Rossie checked her green and pink accent sundress and her clean, untouched face clear of all makeup.

  She hadn’t let anyone see her without her layers on in years.

  But after last night, she hadn’t the energy to get up and spend hours perfecting her appearance. It was time to test the waters of acceptance.

  Stephano called out, “Our guests are here.”

  She left the bathroom and held her head high. Stephano didn’t seem to notice as he kissed her cheek.

  Part of why it was so easy to love him was that he saw the true her. He pressed his hand on her lower back and opened the door. However, his eyes widened as four people filed in. “Matteo. Sheena. Chelsea. Cassidy.”

  Rossie nodded at Stephano to indicate that she’d take care of ordering more food from their staff. She hugged all the guests as Stephano said, “I didn’t know you ladies were joining us. Please come in.”

  Stephano led them out onto the balcony where they intended breakfast. Rossie hung back and immediately called guest services to bring more food for them. She saw how Stephano glanced her way and her heart stirred.

  He was perfect and everything she’d ever wanted. She skipped to join them as she overheard Chelsea, Stephano’s almost wife, as she had her hands locked with the new bride, say to Stephano, “Sheena is still a little shy re-meeting the boys from boarding school.”

  Rossie took her seat beside her husband as the bride glared at him and said, “That’s not it. Not exactly. But I don’t have good memories of you, Stephano.”

  Her husband’s face was red, and he looked down at his seat while he said, “I apologize for my fifteen-year-old self. I was priggish.”

  Stephano? She smiled and couldn’t imagine Stephano anything like Alberto. She patted him on the knee. Neither of them were their childhood versions of themselves.

  Sheena, the bride, held her head up, but stayed sandwiched between Matteo and Chelsea as she said, “You told Matteo and Chelsea not to talk to me because my father owned a restaurant.”

  Stephano’s blush was hard to see but his face was slightly red. He held Rossie’s hand while he said, “I’ve since dined there many times, Sheena. Your father is a maste
r chef, and I was a stuck up brat.”

  “Glad we straightened that out then.” Sheena folded her napkin over her lap. “Matteo values his friends and I want us all to get along.”

  Good. Rossie nodded and was glad whatever had happened was over.

  The staff knocked on the door of the balcony. She left to let them in and set up enough food to serve an army for breakfast while one of the staff went out and set up the extra seats and served coffee.

  Once they left, she retook her seat and Cassidy removed her glasses. “Rosalind?”

  “Yes?” She stirred her coffee.

  The croissants were getting cold, so she lifted the basket, served herself one and passed it around the table.

  Cassidy and Chelsea shared a look and then Cassidy asked, “Can we ask you about Clara now that she’s taken off with Astorre?”

  Her heart sped up again. Her friend? Gone? “What? We’re going to have lunch together.”

  Chelsea shook her head and quickly said as she passed the croissants, “They checked out this morning and said they had plans.”

  “I’ll call her.” Rosalind stood.

  As she turned to leave, Cassidy asked, “Please sit. Can we ask you something first?”

  Stephano met her gaze and he stood, clearly going to take her place and track Astorre and Clara down.

  Strange. Rossie’s goosebumps appeared as she sat and tucked in her chair. “Sure. What?”

  Stephano and Matteo both went inside. She’d ask him about it when he returned.

  Cassidy took a croissant for her plate but didn’t touch it. “Who were Clara’s parents exactly? I’ve been running my computer program on couples and algorithms using social media and publicly available information. Clara matches Astorre -”

  “She does?” Rossie’s heart leapt and she looked at Stephano’s shadow inside the hotel room. They both matched and for her that was enough while she said, “I was hoping those two married so she’d stay.”

  Chelsea then finished for her sister, “She does, but I was wondering who her parents were exactly.”

  Clara’s past? Rossie didn’t know too much from personal experience, but Clara had shared a little. She sipped her coffee while she chose her words, not wanting to reveal anything Clara might take personally. She put her cup down. “She doesn’t know. She was adopted when she was a baby but then something happened to the people who’d adopted her. She grew up with a grandmother who never treated her like family.”

  “I wonder.” Cassidy looked at her plate.

  The two women had different coloring but they looked alike and almost talked with the same voice. Rossie leaned closer. “Wonder what?”

  Cassidy folded her hands together and scanned the table. “Our aunt in California gave up a daughter. She died not long after that and our mother tried to locate her niece but we didn’t have money and the adoption had already gone through. Clara's date of birth matches and her school records have the same last name as the couple that adopted our cousin.”

  Wait. Cassidy and Chelsea were from a noble family. Them not having money was strange, but more important was her friend Clara. Rossie changed chairs and sat next to Cassidy as she asked, “What are you saying?”

  Cassidy took out her phone like she’d prove her word as she said, “We think Clara is our cousin and we’re hoping she’ll take a blood test to find out.”

  Then she showed Rossie a few of the documents they’d discussed. High school diploma, school records, adoption record, her aunt’s marriage license. Rossie gave the phone back and thought how Clara always kept to herself but her own mother often talked about Clara like she was a member of the family. “She’d be happy to have family, I think.”

  Chelsea picked up the butter from the middle of the table and spread it on her croissant. “It’s more than that. If she is, her mother’s dower would go to her, but she’d have to marry before she turned thirty.”

  Clara was practically penniless and she probably didn’t want Rossie’s business as she hadn't said anything. Any money might help Clara and it wouldn’t break her pride if she inherited it. Rossie blinked and ignored the hope she’d keep her friend around. “Dower?”

  Cassidy also didn’t seem to care about dieting as she used a lot of butter on her croissant. “Yes, our aunt married a baron. If she’s a blood relation, there is a title and land in Avce.”

  Clara needed to show up. “But she’s not answering the phone?”

  Chelsea added, “If you find her, please have her contact us. Even if she doesn’t want the money, she’s family and we’d love to get to know her.”

  They were both nice. Rossie relaxed her shoulders and her stomach wasn’t in so many knots. Cassidy seemed like someone who believed in love and Chelsea radiated happiness with her life. “Clara doesn’t have much money, but she has pride. I offered her my company but she probably doesn’t want it.”

  The two men came back outside and Stephano stood next to his chair. Rossie jumped out of her seat to give it back to Matteo and rejoin her husband. As she sat, Stephano held her chair for her and fixed it as he asked, “What are you three discussing in such detail?”

  “Clara.” Rossie adjusted her napkin on her lap and then said, “Chelsea and Cassidy think she’s from Avce somehow.”

  Cassidy sat straighter and said, “We think she’s the heir to the Baron of Dona.”

  Stephano didn’t blink. He sipped his coffee and put it down as he thought about this. “No one’s claimed that title or the lands and the reclamation period is almost over for our country. Unclaimed lands revert to the crown for re-distribution. What can we do to prove this?”

  Chelsea answered first. “Find her and Astorre.”

  “I don’t know where they are, but we will.” Stephano narrowed his gaze as he studied the sisters.

  Rossie caressed his shoulder. “Apparently they took off this morning.”

  He turned toward her and brushed against her knee under the table as he took the basket of croissants Matteo offered. “We’ll find them. I want my wife to have her friends and family. As you might now only have lunch with your mother, can you invite her to dine at our house in Avce? I’d like to at least let her see the dower home I want to offer her.”

  “I’ll ask her.”

  Rossie picked up her coffee. She had Stephano. If her mother and Clara came with her and lived close then she’d be surrounded with love. Everything would be great. “Stephano’s always so sweet and caring about family.”

  She sipped her coffee. Stephano squeezed her knee one last time and then picked up his own cup as he said, “To you. Let’s eat.”

  Good. With luck, her friend would surface soon, but for now Rossie had everything and she was ready to start living happily-ever-after.

  Stephano waved at the security guards in the gatehouse of Astorre’s estate as their limo left the house.

  To him the fact that nothing in there had been touched was a sign. There was no way his friend would bring his bride back to that disaster. It needed a good sweeping of the cobwebs.

  No, his friend was not getting married.

  Stephano drank his champagne in his black leather-seated limo as they rode back to his house.

  His new mother-in-law held her flute carefully and said, “That house cannot be haunted.”

  Rosalind reached over and squeezed her mother’s hand as they sped down the street toward his adjoining estate. It was obvious when they entered his land in comparison. The grass and villages were well taken care of it. Rosalind hadn’t noticed before now just how meticulously Stephano’s staff took care of his lands as she said, “It’s just a local legend.”

  They both sipped their champagne. Then her mother trembled and put her glass down as she shook her head, “Still, the local legends of the church is that Mary supposedly told the royal family when they were Roman citizens of the ancient empire where to build. Your friend’s house has monthly thunderstorms? Let’s just say I’m happy my daughter married you.”

>   Stephano chuckled. The housekeeper, under strict orders to not sweep anything, must have talked in detail.

  They drove back onto his estate. Soon, he’d be alone with Rosalind again.

  Rosalind sipped her champagne, and then a moment later started, “If Clara marries Astorre-”

  “He swears he’ll never marry,” he interrupted. The house to him confirmed that Astorre was still the same, even if he’d taken off with Clara.

  Rosalind sat back, next to him, but finished her glass. She put it to the side as they drove in front of his house and finally said, “Well, his estate seems more like a Halloween story while we live in paradise.”

  She hugged her mother goodbye and slipped out. He did the same as his driver would bring Barbara to the dower house.

  They both waved off the limo. Once It was out of sight, Rosalind took his hand and they turned to go inside. “Thank you for letting my mother stay.”

  Unlike Astorre, who wanted his house to rot in disrepair, he saw no reason to let property be ruined. He liked his new mother-in-law. “It’s an empty house and the staff is happy to have something to do.”

  They walked inside and the butler closed the door as she said, “My mother still doesn’t know why it takes 32 people to run the place. Once she gets settled, finds friends, and we know Clara is okay, then I’m sure she’ll be fine. Thank you for the tour, Stephano.”

  He led her toward the stairs and once the staff left, he hugged her waist and said, “We’re alone again.”

  Her eyes sparked as she glanced up at him. “What do you have in mind, my love?”

  “Let’s go upstairs.” He motioned with his head.

  She took the first step. They walked together toward the bedroom. At the beginning he hadn't believed in love, but now, he knew what love was. He had everything, with Rosalind at his side.

  The End. I hope you enjoyed Stephano and Rossie’s story as much as I did. The next book the the Princes of Avce novel, follow Matteo and his last stand-in bride Sheena. Order Forbidden Count now.

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