I’d found the contessa as cool and arrogant as her son. She’d be unforgiving of any misstep.
“You are fortunate that she is being kind,” Donata said. “At least for now.”
Gisela flushed. “For now?”
“It is never flattering to believe that a gentleman has any intentions toward one but the most honorable and most welcome ones,” Donata said calmly. “But from what I understand, those close to the conte say he is very fond of his wife and is not likely to leave her. That could mean he is simply relieving his appetites, as many gentlemen do, though I do not believe that is the case here.”
Gisela’s eyes widened. “No, madame. Never.”
The shock and outrage in Gisela’s voice told me that Proietti had been correct when he’d said that Trevisan had not made any illicit advances toward his daughter.
“Then my dear, we must consider,” Donata went on. “If Conte Trevisan is not interested in the baser side of things, and he dotes on his wife, what is his purpose in bringing you into his house? He cannot be both a devoted husband and a philanderer who is ready to throw her over for a pretty young thing. He must be one or the other. Please look past your excitement that such a man chose you, and let us ponder why exactly he did so.”
Chapter16
Gisela gazed at Donata in stunned silence, and I saw her growing dismay. She might be headstrong and proud, but she was no fool.
“What do you mean?” Her question was quiet. No protests that of course Trevisan loved her, that she wouldn’t hear a word against him.
Donata opened her hand. “He is far from home, he is not liked in this city, and yet he obtains a house here and settles in. He is very upset at the death of Conte de Luca and has requested that my husband look into it, though we do not know quite why.”
Proietti shot me a glance, and I gave him a minute shrug.
“I know little of the Conte de Luca,” Gisela said. “I am aware that he was a wealthy and prominent man, but I have never made his acquaintance.”
“It makes me wonder why Conte Trevisan is so interested in him and his demise,” Donata said. “As well as why he is in Rome at all.”
I had been pondering these very questions. “Perhaps,” I broke in, keeping my voice gentle. “Letting the people of Rome believe he is interested in a second marriage will distract them from speculating on the true reasons for his visit.” I knew what I said was cruel, but I also might be correct. Better she knew now.
From Gisela’s stricken look, she hadn’t thought such a thing was possible, but I was pleased that she did not dismiss the idea out of hand.
“I would better like it if he pursued my daughter for great love of her.” Proietti’s voice was thick. “But I know much of the world.”
Gisela faced her father squarely. “Conte Trevisan is an honorable man. Much admired.”
That might be true, but sometimes honorable men were forced to make difficult choices. There was a reason Trevisan was adamant about every bit of de Luca’s home remaining intact, and I wondered if he’d caused Gian and the cook to be arrested so they’d be unable to take anything out of the house. What the devil was the man looking for?
“I am not questioning Trevisan’s honor,” I said truthfully. “I have met many who speak highly of him.”
Proietti turned a scowl on me at this declaration but did not argue.
“He sounds a paragon,” Donata said. “But no man is, so we may dismiss that notion.”
“His mother told me he is in Rome to complete business transactions,” Gisela said, her mouth firm. “That he has taken a house here because he does not know how long this business will take, which is also why his mother has journeyed with him.”
“He has not stated the nature of that business,” Proietti said sourly. “And my daughter refuses to ask him.”
“I will not be rude, Papa.” Anger returned to Gisela’s eyes. “Both he and the contessa are unhappy. Conte Trevisan is a kind man and takes care of me well.”
Donata’s mirthful laughter wafted into the somber mood of the room. “So has said every young woman since the beginning of time.” She set down her wine cup and folded her gloved hands. “There are two sorts of gentlemen a lady can find herself obligated to, my dear. Abadman will take and take all you have to give and then throw your devotion in your face whenever he likes. He will demand from you whatever he wishes until you are weary and despairing, and he will call itdutyandobedience. A good man will ask nothing of you and accept only what you are willing to give of yourself.”
“Then Conte Trevisan cannot be a bad man,” Gisela said stoutly. “He has demanded nothing of me.”
“Yet, he is putting aside his wife for you, or so some claim,” Donata replied. “Perhaps she did not give him enough even when he said he did not require it. Some gentlemen make their demands very subtly, but they exist, and they are vexed when you do not discern them.”
Gisela stared at her, lips parted. I imagined her thinking over all that had happened since she’d met the conte and putting those events in another light. Her next statement surprised me.
“His wife is very ill,” she said softly. “He is saddened by it.”
