Armenia furrowed her brows at hearing the obvious disdain in her niece’s voice.“The discomfort you are experiencing is notDonPenton’s fault,” she whispered.
Vittoria dipped her head.“Apologies,” she replied.
Once they were in the dining room, Nicoletta was seated at one end with Donald taking the carver.The others couples took chairs across the table from one another so that Armenia was left next to David and Vittoria was opposite them.
Footmen appeared with the wine and first course, and a lively discussion about that day’s sights ensued.Armenia displayed a pleasant expression in between bites of food.Although she usually ate very little at dinner, she was famished.
“It is unfortunate you did not join us for our walk today,” Barbara said from the other end of the table.
Armenia set down her glass of wine.“Indeed.I do believe our paths nearly crossed in the Piazza del Rotunda, though,” she commented.“I was there with a new acquaintance to admire the interior of the Pantheon.”
“The interior?”Diana repeated.“What pray tell was your interest, my lady?”
Despite her plan to simply keep quiet during dinner, Armenia was forced to participate.“The perfect number involved in its construction,” she replied, the memory of her kiss with Patrick McAdams beneath the oculus sending a frisson through her entire body.“At least, from a Greek’s perspective.”
“Six?”David said from her right.
“Eight-and-twenty,” Randy said.“But...”He paused, his brows furrowing in concentration.
“Originally there were eight-and-twenty red porphyry columns in the Pantheon.They have since been replaced with granite copies,” Armenia explained.“There are also eight-and-twenty coffers in each row of the ceiling.”
“Fascinating,” Diana murmured.“I do wish you had been with us.Pray tell, what else did you see today?”
Armenia felt heat color her face as several eyes turned to regard her with anticipation.For a moment, she thought to shock them with a comment about Patrick’s physique, but reason had her saying, “Four fountains is all.I live very close to Piazza Navona, you see, where there are three.”
“We’ll have to go there on one of our walks,” Helen said.
“After the Forum and the Colosseum, my love,” Tom said with a chuckle.
“Is that tomorrow’s itinerary?”Armenia asked.
“Indeed.Will you join us,ZiaArmenia?”Nicoletta asked.“We’ll be taking the coaches, of course.I can send one for you,” she offered.
When everyone’s eyes were on her, Armenia realized she could hardly decline.The outing would certainly help the day go by faster.“I should like that very much, although I must be back at Villa D’Avalos by five o’clock.”Before anyone could ask, she added, “I am hosting a friend for dinner.”She knew Vittoria was staring at her even before her gaze swept to the young lady.
“I’ll send the coach so it arrives around eleven o’clock,” Nicoletta said, grinning in delight.
“I shall look forward to being your escort on the morrow,” David said, directing his comment to Armenia.He drained his glass of wine in two gulps.
She blinked.“Why,grazie.I don’t believe I’ve had the benefit of such a handsome young man on my arm for a couple of decades.”
He chuckled, but when his gaze settled on Vittoria, the humor quickly dissipated from his face.
Vittoria was staring daggers at him.
Armenia was sure he was about to mention he would also see to escorting Vittoria, but a footman stopped to refill their wine glasses and to set the next course before them.
By the time they had resumed eating, the conversation had turned to something they had learned at one of the other piazzas that day, and Armenia was relieved to simply eat in silence.
Nicoletta caught her attention once, though, a pleading look that had her noticing how Vittoria and David were both sulking.The two were taking turns staring at one another.When one realized the other’s attention was on them, they quickly took a drink of wine or pretended interest in something on their plate.
Armenia might have felt amusement at seeing what could possibly be a lovers’ tiff in progress—didn’t they realize that life was too short for such pettiness?—but at no point had she thought the two felt affection for one another.
Just the opposite given how they had behaved with one another in the parlor.
She glanced over at Nicoletta, a brow arched in silent query.The young matron’s look of defeat had her scoffing softly.“Affection cannot be forced,” she whispered.
“I understand,” the marchesa replied sadly.
At no point did either David or Vittoria seem to notice they were the topic of the other women’s quiet conversation.
Given how many glasses of wine the two consumed, it shouldn’t have been a surprise.By the time dessert was served, they were obviously inebriated, and neither were happy drunks.
