Chapter9
An Unwelcome Passenger
Meanwhile, in the courtyard of Palazzo D’Avalos
Armenia settled into the velvet squabs of her town coach and pulled her feet from the tight dance slippers, wiggling her toes as she allowed a sigh of relief.
Although she couldn’t help but feel pleased at the thought of her niece’s successful come-out—the appearance of Nicoletta’s new family had brought a combination of joy and curiosity to the evening—she also hoped she might be spared from having to be at all the fêtes her nephew had planned for his daughter to attend.Watching handsome young men fawn over the girl was better left to a younger woman.
Other than the family dinner scheduled for the next night—Nicoletta planned to host Donald’s entire family as well as her own—Armenia had nothing else on her calendar for the following day.With any luck, Edoardo would find a new wife, and Armenia would be relieved of her duty as a doting great aunt.
Or perhaps one of the young bucks at this evening’s ball would propose to Vittoria.The girl’s dance card had been filled with a number of names of young aristocrats.
The town coach jerked into motion, the wheels clattering on the cobbles as it turned to make the exit from the courtyard of Palazzo D’Avalos onto the street.When it suddenly halted, nearly dislodging her from her seat, she glanced out the window nearest her.She expected to see another coach trying to make its exit at the same time.
Instead, the door suddenly opened.
“Perdonatemi, mia donna.”
Armenia gasped as a man quickly stepped up and into the coach, settling onto the bench opposite her.A familiar scent accompanied him, but it did nothing for the immediate fright she experienced.
“Chi sei?” she asked in surprise.Who are you?In the dark, she couldn’t make out his features.The thought of trying to escape the coach was replaced with the need to remain where she was when it resumed its movement, the pair of horses neighing in complaint as the coachman urged them onto the street.
“Patrick McAdams,mia donna.We danced together earlier this evening,” he said, as if he thought that would be reason enough to invade her town coach.“When I saw you didn’t have an escort, I thought it best I see to your safe arrival at your villa.”Despite the dark, she was aware he had removed his top hat and placed it on the seat next to him before rubbing his gloved hands on the top of his thighs.
Blinking several times, Armenia resisted the urge to scoff.“Although I appreciate your concern,signore, I assure you, I am in no danger.”Her response sounded sharper than she intended.
Did she usually sound so annoyed when someone was attempting to help her?
Another thought had her rolling her eyes, if only for how ridiculous it seemed.She was far too old for the gentleman to have invaded her coach for another purpose.
Seduction.
A decade ago, it wouldn’t have been such a far-fetched thought.Many a penniless aristocrat thought she would be amenable to hearing platitudes and invitations to their beds.Now?She was sure she was old enough to be Patrick McAdams’ mother.The thought of him attempting to bed her came and went in a flash.The effects of it lingered, though.
As did the scent of his cologne.
While most of the men who had attended that night’s ball wore scents featuring cloying florals and tangy spices, his was far more subdued.Hints of citrus and amber combined with his natural musk to make for a masculine cologne.
“Perhaps, but if I learned on the morrow your coach had been set upon by thieves or...or involved in an accident, I would not be able to forgive myself,” he claimed, interrupting her reverie.
Her heart rate returning to its normal rhythm, Armenia settled back into the squabs and regarded the American with narrowed eyes.“And after we have arrived at my villa, how do you expect to get to your lodgings this evening?”Once again, the query came out sounding harsher than she intended.
Despite the dim interior, she saw him wave a gloved hand in her direction.“My coach is following this one,mia donna,” he replied.
Armenia gave a start.How had she not noticed the clatter of another coach—directly behind her—on the otherwise empty streets?
The words reinforced what she had already concluded only the moment before, though.He had no intention of attempting seduction, which meant his reason for being in her coach was probably as he claimed.
To see to her safety.
She tamped down the sudden disappointment she experienced, curious as to why it hurt more than it should.
“Did you enjoy the ball,mia donna?”
Glancing out the window in an attempt to learn how much farther they had to go, Armenia blinked back a tear.“I did.I rather expect Vittoria will find herself a married woman before the autumn entertainments have concluded.”
“She certainly had the attention of many of the young men in attendance,” Patrick agreed.“I wished to thank you again for dancing with me.You dance beautifully.”
