“The Contessa Catarina di Farnese, my nemesis. The woman behind all this destruction is here under this roof. That sorceress has completely changed her appearance. But I know it’s her.”
Gabriella was unable to contain her curiosity. “You found proof that it’s the baroness?”
Iris nodded. “I found a copy of my book hidden in her room. In addition to an emerald necklace she wore the day I met her.”
Emily scrunched her brows together. “And Cynthia—do you think she is somehow part of the baroness’s scheme?”
“I don’t know, but I doubt it. More likely, Cynthia is being manipulated.” Iris sank into a yellow brocaded bergère chair across from the settee where Em and Gaby sat.
“I think you’re right.” Emily poured Iris a cup of tea, milk, and sugar, and handed it to her. Gaby marveled at Em’s calm demeanor. Em, who’d been the editor of a popular online fashion magazine, would never have been considered patient. Gabriella could only imagine it to have come about from Emily’s new life as a marchioness, her marriage, and motherhood.
Iris took several sips and sighed. She set her teacup on the small table next to her chair. And it hit Gaby how beautiful she was. Gone were the tinted spectacles. Her striking green eyes regarded them with keen intelligence. She’d released her hair from the tight bun, and it cascaded around her shoulders like a beautiful red halo. It struck Gaby that Iris was a chameleon as well. But she’d been forced to take on many guises to free herself and Marco from the evil contessa. Anyone would recognize her as his muse if Iris stood next to Allegretto’s painting. Gaby still had trouble believing the heroine ofThe Time Traveler’s Loverwas real. That the book was accurate. That everything was actual, including her traveling back in time.
Handing the pilfered telegram to Iris, Emily said. “Read this.”
With a quivering hand, Iris scanned the note from Beauford Bastion Broome to Cynthia. When she finished, a knowing smile spread across her lips. “But of course. This all makes sense now. The baroness is blackmailing Cynthia into marrying Lord Langsford to get her hands onIl Leto.She is the reason and the mechanism for Jack losing his earldom. Caterina has clearly coerced Jack’s cousin into doing her dirty work. Her machinations are endless. She has been planning this for quite some time.”
“I need to warn Jack, to tell him what’s going on,” Gaby said. Her heart was in her throat at the danger they were all in with that witch under the same roof. And she was apprehensive about Jack and Kitty because they had no idea what was happening.
“You will, sweetie. But first things first,” Em said, patting her knee.
Another knock at the door, and they all turned their heads.
“If this keeps up, we’ll soon have everyone in the house here.” Em chuckled.
This time it was Jenee who bounded into the room. Taking everyone in, she proclaimed, “Bien, on est tous là.”
“Yes, we are all here, and soon we’ll need another pot of tea,” Em said. “Iris, show Jenee the letter so we may bring her up to speed.”
Jenee read the missive and handed it back to Iris. “Aha! The plot thickens. Prepare yourselves for a shock. I have news.”
“What now?” asked Gaby. She didn’t think she could stand any more plot twists.
“It all makes sense now,” Jenee added.
The new Emily wasn’t as patient as Gaby had thought, because her consternation displayed a growing annoyance. “Jenee, darling, please just spit it out. I can’t take any more of this dilly-dallying.”
“Cynthia is pregnant!”
They gasped and leaned forward, nearly spilling off the settee to the floor.
“Well, if that isn’t the most stunning revelation, I don’t know what is,” Emily said.
“Is the pregnancy okay?” Gabriella asked. She held no ill wishes toward Cynthia.
“Oui—fortunately, the pregnancy appears to be fine,” Jenee replied. “Cynthia is shaken but resigned, delighted to be with child. She swore me to secrecy and doesn’t want the baroness to find out.”
“Damn, double damn,” Emily cursed. “My theory that the baroness was blackmailing her could be wrong, then.”
“Not necessarily,” said Jenee. “The baroness may know about the dalliance between Beauford and Cynthia, but she has no idea that Cynthia is pregnant. Cynthia only just figured it out. But a compromised reputation would eliminate her from the Marriage Mart and leave her no other option but to marry Jack. The baroness would be secure in her quest to control them and take possession of the painting.”
Emily tapped her finger to her lips. “This explains Beauford moving heaven and earth and racing to get here. Maybe there is more to him than we think. Perhaps something the baroness never counted on has happened—Beauford fell in love with Cynthia and can’t bear the thought of her marrying Jack.”
“The baroness must be aware that the painting is here,” Gaby said. “To get her hands onIl Leto, she’ll do anything and everything. Even threaten to ruin Cynthia’s reputation if she doesn’t marry Jack, and with her holding all the money and power, he will be forced into a corner.” Gaby wanted to burst into tears, but she had to be strong. They had to stop Caterina.
“So, why keep up this charade?” Jen asked. “She might have already gotten the inside scoop from Stefano that Gaby and Jack found the painting, and it’s in Jack’s bedroom. A locked door won’t stop her. After all, she’s a sorceress. So why not break into Jack’s room and leave through the portal, taking the painting with her?”
Iris, quietly listening to the rapid-fire conjecturing, said, “Because she can’t. Marco now controls the portal, thanks to the ruby ring. Without me, she cannot get through.”
