it, frowning.
She would have stayed where she was, but Nugent hustled her to the dressing table and took her hair down to comb it. “I’ve had a nice cup of herb tea made for you. Drink it before you go to sleep. We’ve an early morning ahead of us.”
“Lord Huntley and I agreed to a six o’clock start.”
“So I’ve been told. Up you go.”
Caro stood while her maid unfastened her gown and stays. She had her arms through her nightgown and stopped. “When were you told?”
Her maid pulled the soft muslin down. “Before I went to dinner. Mr. Maufe didn’t want to discuss our arrangements in front of the innkeeper.”
Caro’s jaw dropped then snapped shut again. That—that sneak . He’d already made all the arrangements before he spoke to her. He hadn’t listened to her at all. It was pure fortune that made her agree to six o’clock. He had already made the arrangements. Well, he’d soon learn she was not to be trifled with. “Please send a message to his lordship that I would like to leave at six thirty.”
Nugent put Caro in bed and made her drink the tisane. “If you want to tell him that, you may dress yourself and walk to his bedchamber. I’ll not be a part of such foolishness.”
“Are you disobeying my order?” Caro asked in an imperious tone.
“I don’t know what’s got into you.” Nugent snorted. “I’ve never known you to be pettish, and I don’t mean to let you start now.”
“I’m not in the schoolroom any more.”
“Then don’t act like it.” Taking the cup, Nugent pulled the bed-hangings closed. “Of all people, you should know how important it is to leave early.”
“You’re right.” Caro sighed. “I don’t know why I’m acting this way either.”
Nugent huffed. “Go to sleep now, my little lady. You’ve a long day come morning.”
“Good night, Nugent.” Caro pushed her pillow around. She had every intention of confronting Lord Huntley over his high-handed behavior. She would not be bullied or have her opinion ignored.
CHAPTER 4
A summons from his grandfather awaited Antonio, Marchese di Venier, when he arrived home. A few minutes later, when he entered his grandfather’s salon, Nonno stood staring out over the lagoon. Past eighty years old and shrunken in the manner of an old man, he appeared frail, yet he still wielded enormous power in Venice and beyond.
Kneeling, Antonio took the old man’s hand and kissed it. He hoped his grandfather was successful in arranging his marriage to Lady Caroline. He’d wanted her ever since he’d first seen her. She was so different from any other lady of his acquaintance, so reserved, so beautiful. A treasure that should, by right, belong to him. Just like this house, which would one day be his, along with his grandfather’s wealth. In his haste to add Lady Caroline to his collection, he’d gone about it the wrong way, but his grandfather would have smoothed everything over.
She would be his wife, and he would be the envy of every gentleman in Venice. No one refused the powerful Duca di Venier. His grandfather remained silent for a few minutes. Finally Antonio could wait no longer. “You sent for me, Nonno?”
A frown formed on his grandfather’s normally calm face. “Antonio, I have bad news. Lady Horatia informed me that Lady Caroline is to marry the Earl of Huntley. According to Lady Horatia, they have had an understanding for quite a while. However, Lord Huntley has only recently proposed.”
Antonio stared at his grandfather for a moment, unable to believe what he’d said. How could that be? He’d been refused? Antonio clenched his fists and tried not to growl. “It is impossible. There is nothing in his actions toward her to show he has claimed her. He does not even stay by her side or dance with her. I refuse to believe it.”
She belongs to me.
The duca raised a brow. “Would you have had me call Lady Horatia a liar?”
Antonio snorted. “I shall see for myself. I will go to the palazzo
She would have stayed where she was, but Nugent hustled her to the dressing table and took her hair down to comb it. “I’ve had a nice cup of herb tea made for you. Drink it before you go to sleep. We’ve an early morning ahead of us.”
“Lord Huntley and I agreed to a six o’clock start.”
“So I’ve been told. Up you go.”
Caro stood while her maid unfastened her gown and stays. She had her arms through her nightgown and stopped. “When were you told?”
Her maid pulled the soft muslin down. “Before I went to dinner. Mr. Maufe didn’t want to discuss our arrangements in front of the innkeeper.”
Caro’s jaw dropped then snapped shut again. That—that sneak . He’d already made all the arrangements before he spoke to her. He hadn’t listened to her at all. It was pure fortune that made her agree to six o’clock. He had already made the arrangements. Well, he’d soon learn she was not to be trifled with. “Please send a message to his lordship that I would like to leave at six thirty.”
Nugent put Caro in bed and made her drink the tisane. “If you want to tell him that, you may dress yourself and walk to his bedchamber. I’ll not be a part of such foolishness.”
“Are you disobeying my order?” Caro asked in an imperious tone.
“I don’t know what’s got into you.” Nugent snorted. “I’ve never known you to be pettish, and I don’t mean to let you start now.”
“I’m not in the schoolroom any more.”
“Then don’t act like it.” Taking the cup, Nugent pulled the bed-hangings closed. “Of all people, you should know how important it is to leave early.”
“You’re right.” Caro sighed. “I don’t know why I’m acting this way either.”
Nugent huffed. “Go to sleep now, my little lady. You’ve a long day come morning.”
“Good night, Nugent.” Caro pushed her pillow around. She had every intention of confronting Lord Huntley over his high-handed behavior. She would not be bullied or have her opinion ignored.
CHAPTER 4
A summons from his grandfather awaited Antonio, Marchese di Venier, when he arrived home. A few minutes later, when he entered his grandfather’s salon, Nonno stood staring out over the lagoon. Past eighty years old and shrunken in the manner of an old man, he appeared frail, yet he still wielded enormous power in Venice and beyond.
Kneeling, Antonio took the old man’s hand and kissed it. He hoped his grandfather was successful in arranging his marriage to Lady Caroline. He’d wanted her ever since he’d first seen her. She was so different from any other lady of his acquaintance, so reserved, so beautiful. A treasure that should, by right, belong to him. Just like this house, which would one day be his, along with his grandfather’s wealth. In his haste to add Lady Caroline to his collection, he’d gone about it the wrong way, but his grandfather would have smoothed everything over.
She would be his wife, and he would be the envy of every gentleman in Venice. No one refused the powerful Duca di Venier. His grandfather remained silent for a few minutes. Finally Antonio could wait no longer. “You sent for me, Nonno?”
A frown formed on his grandfather’s normally calm face. “Antonio, I have bad news. Lady Horatia informed me that Lady Caroline is to marry the Earl of Huntley. According to Lady Horatia, they have had an understanding for quite a while. However, Lord Huntley has only recently proposed.”
Antonio stared at his grandfather for a moment, unable to believe what he’d said. How could that be? He’d been refused? Antonio clenched his fists and tried not to growl. “It is impossible. There is nothing in his actions toward her to show he has claimed her. He does not even stay by her side or dance with her. I refuse to believe it.”
She belongs to me.
The duca raised a brow. “Would you have had me call Lady Horatia a liar?”
Antonio snorted. “I shall see for myself. I will go to the palazzo
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