His eyes wide, the courier nodded.“Si,signore.I will tell him.”He bowed and backed out of the study.
Will whirled around and stared at his oldest son.“The Marchesa Montblanc?”he repeated.“He’s only eight years old.A bit young to be choosing a bride, is he not?”
“He’s the Marquess Montblanc, and he’s quite adamant on the matter,” Donald countered.“It may never actually happen, and I would never be that father so presumptuous as to arrange a marriage for his titled son—nor the ward you’ve just agreed to take on, but…” He sighed as he shook his head.“Antony has claimed she is to be his wife since he could first talk.”
Will chuckled.“Saves me the cost of the girl’s come-out,” he said, grinning.
“I’ll let you be the one to tell Mother that,” Donald warned, a smirk forcing his dimple to appear.“Do you wish to do the honors withDonnaNancy?”
Inhaling deeply, Will said, ‘I think I shall let Barbara be the one.Antony can translate for her.”
“Although I’ve already agreed to annual trips to England, perhaps you can bring her to Rome or to Catania on occasion,” Donald suggested.
His father lifted a shoulder.“I’ve already been informed we’ll be returning on occasion,” he said.“Especially since you keep giving us grandchildren.”
Donald cleared his throat.“Shall we go up and tell our wives the good news?”
“Indeed,” Will replied, although he gave his son a curious glance as they made their way up the stairs.
Afew minutes later, shouts of excitement filled the second floor of Villa Montblanc.Tears of joy soon followed.While their husbands welcomed the news and seemed glad for Barbara and Will, Diana and Helen were especially happy to learn they would have a new cousin.
Only one person seemed perplexed by the news, although he had to wait for David’s return before he put voice to his query.
“If Nancy becomes your sister, does that mean she will be myzia?”Antony asked of David, his voice quiet in the general ruckus that had erupted around them.
The viscount knelt down on one knee and considered the query for a moment.“I will think of her as my sister, and your father might do the same, but she will never truly be your aunt,” he said.“Is that all right?”
Antony allowed a sigh of relief.“This is good, because I could not marry myzia,” he said in all seriousness.
David chuckled.“You already know you are going to marryDonnaNancy?”he asked in surprise.
His dark brows furrowing as if he thought his uncle was teasing him, Antony said, “Sì.Don’t you know whoyouare going to marry?”
Opening his mouth to give a vague response, David quickly swallowed his answer.“Do I?”he asked rhetorically.
Antony fisted one hand and punched him on the shoulder.“You will marryCuginaVittoria.”
Allowing his foot to go out from beneath his knee, David tumbled to the floor of the corridor and stared up at the ceiling.“From the mouth of babes,” he murmured with a chuckle.
