The contessa responded with an evil laugh. “Ci vediamo in Inferno!”I will see you in hell!
The ruby’s light hit the emerald, and the contessa’s high-pitched scream of “no” pierced the air. The energy from the ruby shattered the emerald. In a blinding flash of illumination, it broke into a thousand shimmering pieces that floated in a circle for an instant and then disappeared.
In that instant, Iris reached up, and Marco grabbed her hand, lifting her into the whirling maelstrom of the time-travel portal. For a moment, wrapped in each other’s arms, they gazed out of the painting, which was already beginning to disappear.
Above the roar of the wind, Iris’s words were heard. “Thank you, my friends. May peace and love be yours forever.” And then she and Marco vanished.
The contessa ran for the painting. With her hand raised and the dagger poised to strike, she hurled herself into the portal that was shrinking with every second. The contessa screamed a bloodcurdling cry, and out from the painting, a sword thrust and impaled her. She writhed as the blade passed through her, emerging from her back.
The ruby-ringed hand that held the sword retracted as swiftly as it had wielded its deathblow, and the contessa fell to the floor in a crumpled heap. A last burst of ruby light lit the room until it slowly faded away.
Gabriella expelled a breath of relief, her hand pressed against her heart as she tried to calm its beating. Catarina was dead, Marco and Iris were together at last, and all that remained of the painting was an empty frame.
I’m still here.Tears poured down her cheeks, and she turned around, seeing Jack stride toward her. He lifted her and turned her around in a dizzying circle. But she didn’t care because she was in Jack’s arms.
“My beauty,” he whispered in her ear.
“My love,” she whispered back. “Jack, I’m still here. I didn’t get whisked away like before.”
“I am eternally grateful for that. But now, I’m afraid you’re stuck with me for good.” His lips curved in a crooked grin.
“Well, I guess we’ll just have to make the best of it.” She giggled. “I’m sure I’ll figure out some way to pass the time. You can always help me in the kitchen.”
“Oh, I’m sure we shall be cooking up a storm, my beauty,” Jack said before claiming her lips in a fierce kiss.
Epilogue
Maremma, Italy
October 26, 1902
The day dawnedwith blue skies and autumnal sunshine that was unique to the magnificent coast of Tuscany at this time of year. Overhead, a flock offennicotteri, flamingos, flew on the last leg of their journey to theLaguna di Orbetello, a lake where they would wait out the winter.
Gazing at such natural beauty, Gabriella imagined the beautiful pink birds to be a harbinger of blessings to come. After all, today was her wedding day, and her heart raced with excitement that soon she would be Jack’s wife and their life together would truly begin.
Banished were any thoughts of the evil woman who had nearly destroyed them all. After the smoke had cleared, they all gathered in the dining room for the evening meal. Jenee and Xavier had whipped up a delicious French dish of cassoulet, and Emily had enlisted Colin for cleanup duty. Even Cynthia and Beauford helped. Beauford had formally apologized to Aunt Kitty, who’d been informed of the contessa’s blackmail and the desperation he’d felt upon his father’s suicide. She cried at the tragic ending of her brother-in-law and prayed for his soul to be at peace.
After dinner, over a simple dessert of strawberries dipped in Gaby’s chocolate hazelnut spread, Jack got on his knees and took out his mother’s engagement ring. It was a magnificent ruby encircled with diamonds that Aunt Kitty had kept safe, along with the rest of his mother’s jewelry. He asked Gaby to marry him again. She burst into tears and told him she’d already said yes. He replied that he would keep asking her every day until their wedding day. He had. And that had filled her heart with joy.
Em and Jen had rushed into her bedroom at the crack of dawn. Gaby was staying in the room Iris had been in. She still found it hard to believe they would never see Iris again, or Marco. She knew in her heart that they were finally truly happy and together forever.
Just as I am with Jack.
After a delightful morning spent with her two besties, giggling and teasing each other, Em and Jen had finally returned to their rooms to get dressed. Gaby took the opportunity to sneak out for a breather before the nuptials began.
With her veil trailing behind her, she opened the door and peeked out. Seeing the coast was clear, she scooted down the hallway and took the back stairs to the only place where she could find peace and calm, where she felt most at home.
A few minutes later, she entered the kitchen. The staff was busy preparing the wedding supper based on the menu Gaby had created. Both she and Jack would begin their life together on a creative note. She, with a spectacular meal she’d orchestrated, and Jack, accompanied by Aunt Kitty, would entertain after the nuptials with a recital.
Gaby had asked Jack what he planned to play, but he refused to tell her.
“You, my love, will have to wait like everyone else,” he’d said, kissing the tip of her nose. “I don’t believe I askedyouwhat menu you have planned for the wedding. Please, allow me to surprise you, my darling.”
The kitchen staff greeted her with shouts of congratulations. She and Jack had already informed them a few days ago that they would all be getting raises, to loud cheers. Gaby’s eyes blurred with tears as she thanked her staff for their good wishes and asked them for a few minutes of privacy. Her devoted team wiped their hands on their aprons and walked out to the garden, giving her a few precious moments to gather her thoughts.
She’d been so busy preparing for today that she hardly had a minute to think about her family. She’d kept her emotions tucked inside, but she couldn’t hide from her sadness a minute longer as tears spilled down her face.
*
