Maggie Beautiful narrowed her eyes at the same time Scarlett did.
“Bet she wouldn’t do that if Captain Maria Maria was in here,” Juliette mumbled underneath her breath.
Carmen flicked a piece of meat at Juliette’s apron, and it stuck. “Look at that.” She was laughing. “I just mixed turkey with chicken.”
“You’re just mad because I beat you home.” Juliette stuck her tongue at Carmen.
“Lactose intolerance does wicked things to people, and gives them superhuman speed in a race,” Carmen said. “I demand a rematch.”
“Fine,” Juliette agreed. “But that still doesn’t explain that chick’s temper.”
“No,” Maggie Beautiful muttered. “It certainly doesn’t.”
I had to agree. Something was wrong with the woman. She was breathing loud enough for us to hear, almost screeching to herself, mumbling in Italian, but none of it sounded good.
Ermanno chose to walk into the kitchen then, and when he noticed the woman, his eyes narrowed. Did he know her? No. He was looking at her like he was trying to place her.
When the woman finally turned around, her eyes came straight to mine. She had witchy green eyes. So different from mine. So different from Scarlett’s, even. She had a truly beautiful face, though, with a soft complexion and features, except for her nose, which was straight and narrow. It was almost like all the pieces of her face didn’t fit, but they did—and they created a pretty picture somehow. She wasn’t slim but had curves. A small waist that turned into an hourglass shape. The woman mouthed something at me, but it wasn’t her mouth that I was concentrated on.
It was those spell-casting green eyes, made even more noticeable by her jet black hair, which was pulled tightly into a bun, a handkerchief covering her head.
It was like her eyes were directing the curse her mouth was casting.
I refused to look away from her, though. I’d never seen the woman in my life, and apparently she had a real issue with me. It wasn’t my issue, though, and whatever it was, it was on her. Wasn’t the first time a woman didn’t like me for any apparent reason. Wouldn’t be the last.
I narrowed my eyes at her as if to ask….problem?My reaction clearly pissed her off. She took a step in my direction, I stood from my seat, and then Ermanno stepped in front of her.
“Think twice about taking another step in her direction,Signorina,” he said to her in a quiet but menacing, for his age, voice.
It took a moment, but her eyes finally fell to him. It was like she was surprised this young man had stopped her from getting to me.
“Who are you to tell me what to do?” she said quietly, and I could’ve sworn Ermanno called her a pigwitch, but it wasn’t as quiet as he intended it to be. I wasn’t sure if that was some Italian insult or what.
Three things happened at once. I went to move Ermanno out of the path of her insistent stare, Maggie Beautiful went to stand between them, and Mamma Maria Maria entered the kitchen, her eyes taking in the scene.
Mamma Maria Maria chose action. She whacked the woman on the ass with the spoon hard enough to flare out the woman’s house dress. Mamma Maria Maria shouted at her in rushed Italian, telling her to move, to get to the dishes, which Mamma Maria Maria had yet to see—the way the woman had flung the platter and destroyed the nice dish.
The woman didn’t listen to her. Her eyes were still locked on mine, and as she turned toward the door, she mouthed at me—you will regret it all.She slammed the door shut so hard, thecrack!of it echoed through the suddenly silent kitchen, all except for Mamma Maria Maria, who dropped to the floor at the sound.
Chapter 25
Some Conversations Are Silent
Aria Amora
The dining room of the ornatecastelloglowed with candlelight and flowed with fine wine. The scents drifting in the air made me nostalgic for home and for a place that hadn’t been mine until my husband brought me there.
I met numerous family members and guests that Luca personally knew—most of them famous in some type of way. My first meeting with these people, along with our interactions, seemed to be scrutinized by my husband, his father, and his brothers. Occasionally I caught even Scarlett scoping it out. This was because soon, I’d be introduced to my husband’s world, and since he and Rosaria had portrayed a solid couple—the heat was on me.
Would they fall in love with me or not?
Rocco explained that it did not matter how his world felt about me, I was his wife, end of story, though we both knew there was so much more to tell. And even though their world had some bearing on the next king’s reign, I understood that it was their world’s opinion that influenced the direction the family took when it came to the next king.
It was an uncertain time, and if someone had good reason to challenge my husband for his position, the world not approving of our marriage could sway the way the family felt.
If I was being honest with myself, and myself only, sometimes I got the feeling my husband was tired of his position in the family. If it wasn’t for the ties that bonded him so tightly, in my heart I knew he would have been okay with being another spare to the heir.
The rightful king being Brando Fausti.
