Chapter25
An Orphan Arrives
Upon the group’s return to Villa Montblanc, a small carriage was pulling out of the courtyard, and their equipage was forced to stop until the drive was clear.
“That is the Russo carriage,” Nicoletta said, her brows furrowed.“But it’s empty.Surely Maria would not have?—”
“DonnaRusso has not paid a call,” Donald said, clutching Nicoletta’s gloved hand.“DonnaNancy and her nurse will be joining us for a time,” he added.Nicoletta’s confusion was evident until he added, “There’s been a terrible accident, my sweet.The Russos have both died.”
Everyone in the coach inhaled sharply and stared at Donald.
“No,” Nicoletta said under her breath.
“When…?”his father started to ask before Donald added, “Last night.On their way home from the ball.I only learned of it before we departed this afternoon.”
“On that awful curve, no doubt,” Nicoletta whispered, referring to a location where a road’s sharp turn was hidden in the dark.
“I didn’t wish to speak of it earlier.To cast a pall over our outing,” Donald explained.
“But Nancy is all right?”Nicoletta asked, her eyes wide with fright.The coach jerked into motion again, and she gasped at the sudden movement.
“She was with her nurse at their villa when it happened.”
Nicoletta lifted a hand and crossed her heart.“She will be devastated,” she whispered.
“Does the girl have any other family?”Barbara asked.“Aunts or uncles?”
“We will host her until we can discover the answers,” Donald stated.“It is the least we can do for her given how helpfulDonnaRusso was during Nicoletta’s first few years as a marchesa.”He glanced out the window as the coach came to a halt in the courtyard and a footman hurried out from the villa.
“She was with me when I delivered Antony, and I was happy to be with her when she gave birth to Nancy,” Nicoletta said.“She had a difficult labor.I worried Nancy would not survive the night, but she proved us all wrong.”
“How old is she?”Will asked.
“Nearly as old as Antony,” Nicoletta replied.“Maria…” She paused to swallow the lump in her throat.“She has raised her to be a proper young lady even as she allows her to be a child.Antony is quite taken with her.They play together sometimes.”
“She sounds adorable,” Barbara remarked.
“Does Nancy have a brother?”Will asked.“Older siblings?”
Donald shook his head.“There are no sons.No other daughters.From what I know of Conte Russo, there may be no close heirs.Mayhap a cousin in Naples,” he said, lifting a shoulder in resignation.
“We will not allow Nancy to go to Naples,” Nicoletta stated.When the others stared at her, shocked at hearing the insistence in her voice, she added, “The family there is rotten.Maria has said so.”
Will and Donald exchanged knowing glances.“It sounds as if Antony might be gaining another sister?”Will asked gently, at the same moment the tiger opened the coach door.
Before anyone made a move to depart the coach, Barbara suddenly gripped Will’s arm, and he turned to stare at her.“What is it?”
She directed a glance at Donald and then at Nicoletta before she turned her attention back to her husband.“What if David and Donald were to gain a sister?”she asked in a quiet voice.“I’ve always wanted a daughter,” she reminded him.She gave Nicoletta an apologetic shrug.“Anotherdaughter,” she quickly amended.
Will took her hand from his arm and kissed the back of it.“Let’s not get ahead of ourselves,” he whispered.
Donald dipped his head.“I hardly think it appropriatewetake her in.”
“Why ever not,” Will asked, his voice kept low.
Donald dipped his head.“Antony informed me he planned to make her his marchesa when he was of an age to marry,” he replied with a soft chuckle.“They have played together since they were babes.”
Nicoletta allowed a watery grin.“Perhaps it would be best for her to live with you,” she said, her gaze on Barbara.“Seeing as how I will be giving birth to another babe before the spring entertainments.”
