Shock and sadness filled the face of Luke’s mother. “We did not blame you for her death, Luca.”
“That’s not how I remember things, Mother,” my fiancé replied. “Nor how it felt. How could I stay when my mere presence would upset you?”
Damiana opened her mouth to say something, but closed it, remaining silent for a few tense moments. With a sigh, some of her anger melted away. “Then it is our fault that our grief drove you away. So, perhaps the punishment of your absence was justified, even if it lasted for too long a time.”
My heart ached for the broken family. So much hurt and distrust because they had not hashed out their issues before.
Although I could stay to support Luke, he needed to take advantage of the slight opening to really talk to his mother. “I am going to see Lady Eveline off, and then I might go exploring.”
Damiana’s expression softened when she addressed me. “If you need any transportation, please alert Enzo. He will be sure to take care of you.”
“Thank you.” I glanced with sympathy at Luke. “I’ll be back before suppertime.”
“Be careful,” he uttered, mouthing a quick “Thank you” to me.
I blew him a kiss and returned to my room with Lady Eveline. She departed and left me to find some shoes and grab my purse.
I didn’t know how long I would have for my secret mission, but if discovering more about Isabella and her death would help, then I needed to get to work as fast as possible.
Leaving my room with determination, I stomped down the hall in search of a certain mouse of a witch to find out the best place to start.
Chapter Thirteen
Not being able to speak Italian was turning into a major inconvenience. Although most of the staff that worked in the castle treated me with respect, several that I approached would repeat the same phrase, which I figured meant they didn’t understand me, and would leave. I resorted to asking for Fiametta by name, but even then, I couldn’t understand any of them who tried to reply.
In frustration, I traipsed through different rooms until I found an open doorway leading to a luscious garden. Stepping outside into the daylight, I closed my eyes and soaked in the sun’s rays. A small homesick part of me knew it was the same sun that beamed down on my family and friends back on the Crystal Coast. I spent a few minutes wandering around, smelling brilliant flowers and listening to bees buzzing from one blossom to the next.
A tiny brown bunny with a pink nose hopped into view. It sat on its haunches and stared at me, its ears twitching this way and that.
“Fiametta?” I whispered, looking around to see if anybody else heard me. “Is that you?”
The bunny cocked its furry head to the side, watching me. I took a couple steps towards it, and it bounded off.
“Wait!” I cried out. “Don’t go!” Chasing after its fluffy tail, I did my best not to trample on flowers as I followed it off the gravel pathway.
“Che cosa? What are you doing?” a familiar woman’s voice echoed over the garden.
I stood up straight and stared at her. “Fia? But I thought…” I pointed in the direction the bunny had scampered. “Never mind.” With my cheeks heating in embarrassment, I made my way back to her, hoping she hadn’t witnessed my little mistake.
“I heard you were asking for me,” she said, wiping her hands on her apron.
“I was,” I admitted. “And I may have thought you were trying to see me…in a whole different form.”
She snickered. “You thought I would hop on over to talk to you?”
Well, crap on a cracker. She had seen me. “After how you found me last night, I don’t think I’m totally crazy. Even if I looked it.”
“What can I help you with?” Fia asked.
I checked our perimeter again and moved a little closer to her. “I wanted to ask you some questions about last night. You seem to know a lot about,” I whispered in a quieter voice, “who we might have encountered in that very special room.”
Her smile dropped. “This is not the place to talk. Since you are with Master Luca, you should know about his family and their sense of hearing.”
I winced. It didn’t occur to me that even if I couldn’t see anybody near us, it didn’t mean somebody couldn’t listen in. Not in a household of vampires.
“I am not done with work yet, but if I tell my boss that you specifically require my assistance, I am sure I will be permitted to accompany you should you want to go somewhere.” She lifted her eyebrows to underscore her meaning.
I caught on quickly. “Oh, right.” I spoke in a louder, awkward tone. “Fiametta, would you be able to take me into town and show me around?”
“Very convincing,” she snorted. “Give me a few minutes, and I will meet you at the back entrance.”
I thought about all the corridors and rooms. “Where is that?”
Fia chuckled. “Okay, stay here, and I will come to you.”
Her feet crunched on the gravel as she returned inside, and I took a stroll through the manicured garden. Someone had cultivated each grouping of flowers into elaborate patterns of colors.
Someone else joined me in the garden, and I stopped my admiration and looked up, expecting to find Fiametta. Instead, Amara strode with perfect steps despite her insanely high heels.
She said something to me as she approached, and even though I couldn’t understand the words, her condescending tone was easy enough to interpret.
“Oh, I forgot you don’t speak Italian,” she uttered, not an ounce of apology on her flawless face. Her eyes roamed over my body as she judged my outfit. “Are you feeling well today?”
Holding my head up high despite my slight discomfort, I looked her straight in the eyes. “Yes, I am, thank you for
