Jamie shook his head. “We retraced the route two different ways, with no luck.”
Sister Cecilia spoke then. “You have lost her rather quickly, Major,” she drawled. Eduardo bit his lip and looked at his feet. The dog appeared to be laughing.I may have to kill him yet,Jamie thought.
A look from Mother Margarita silenced Sister Cecilia. “What will you do next?” Mother Margarita asked.
Jamie searched his mind. He would swallow his pride. “Ask help from the Count di Castellimonte,” he said. “Broaden the search.”
The nun looked regretful. “Good luck, then. My prayers follow you,” she said before the gate closed.
Jamie’s head fell back, and he breathed deeply. He knew he had no other choice.
“Where is this maid’s home?” Eduardo asked.
“In Trastevere,” Wat answered. “You think she went home?”
“Perhaps. Or if there is a young man, his place of work may be there.”
“Makes sense, Major,” Wat said. “I know the place.”
That made sense if fault lay with the maid and not more sinister forces. It wouldn’t hurt to look.
Jamie sent Luciano directly back to Palazzo di Savoia. “Tell the Count di Castellimonte that I respectfully ask him to wait thirty more minutes, he told the young man. “Tell him we shouldn’t be too far behind you.”
“We’ll go in pairs again. We’ll search the cafés,” he told the others.
“All respect, Major, but wouldn’t it go faster if we divide up?” Wat asked. It would have, but Jamie had no intention of allowing Eduardo out if his sight. If he didn’t find Isabella in an hour, he had questions for the young man and his aunt, questions and plans to extract answers.
“Alicia fed me honey cake,”Isabella pronounced an hour later, playing to her audience. They found her eating honey cake while Alicia and her young man, as Wat said, “Made moony eyes,” just as Eduardo had predicted.
Nora didn’t care. She just held the little girl on her lap.
“Alicia said he was handsome and a hero,” Isabella went on. “I thought he looked skinny. He had spots!”
“This young woman, where is she?” Castellimonte demanded.
“I would guess her mother’s house,” Jamie answered. “Unemployed.”
The count stood stiffly in the Palazzo nursery. His unbending posture looked out of place among desks and toys. Nora found it endearing.
“‘You’re fired,’” Isabella mimicked Jamie with relish. “He gave her such a look I thought Alicia would faint,” she added to emphasize the point. Nora thought she might have pitied Alicia if she hadn’t given them such a fright.
The count smiled at the little one. Nora wondered if he wanted to do more to Alicia. She shuddered.
“That’s all it was? A lovesick girl?” Nora asked.
“It appears so,” Jamie answered. He didn’t look convinced. Neither did Castellimonte. She saw them exchange a look. She supposed there could be more, but she didn’t see how.
What is Jamie keeping from me?she wondered. She thought again of the note from Wentworth. She felt her heart squeeze as if throttled by an unseen hand.I should know by now that men with secrets can’t be trusted.
“Your young courtiers deserve credit for the speedy resolution,” Jamie told the count. He looked ill at ease. “Eduardo’s suggestions led us to Trastevere, actually,” he said. “Giovanni and Luciano couldn’t have been more help.”
The count listened carefully but didn’t comment.What were those two thinking about?
“Eduardo called me naughty,” Isabella piped up. Nora glared over at the young man. Isabella didn’t notice. She kept on talking. “He said ‘You are Savoy. You command.’ He told me I should have ordered Alicia to take me directly to school.”
Sitting upright with her proud little chin raised, Nora could see her ordering the nursery maid about.Heaven help us!
The count looked amused. He put an awkward hand on Isabella’s head. “You are indeed of Savoy, little one. But you must do what your aunt and uncle tell you. You must mind those who care for you—unless they do something you know to be wrong. When you know them to be wrong, then and only then you must speak with authority.”
