Page 45 of Forbidden Noble
Once she made it to the small town outside, people gave her a wide berth.
She snorted a few times to keep herself from becoming a mess of tears in public and held her head up.
The last thing she’d ever be was a spectacle. Grandma May had been clear that wasn’t welcome behavior as no one wanted to see her tears. She walked through the second gate, once they'd opened it for her, and a black limo stopped in front of her.
Clara hugged her suitcase handle tighter until the back door opened and her dark-haired friend from home stepped out. Clara wiped her face when one tear escaped and then rushed over to hug her best friend. “Rossie, just in time.”
Rossie glanced at the castle walls behind her and then back at her. “Why?”
At least she'd stopped Rossie from going inside only to find out that Clara was already gone. A castle town car driver parked behind Rossie’s limo. “I’m heading to the Baron de Dona’s estate. You can meet me there instead.”
Rossie tilted her head and her face was clear and bright as she said, “I wanted to see your castle.”
“It’s not mine.” Every cell in Clara's body flared to life.
Rossie glanced at the second car and side-stepped to her own open passenger door. “Get in. We’ll ride together.”
Fair. Clara waved at Astorre’s driver to tell him to go and then hopped inside Rossie’s black limo with leather seats that smelled like it was brand new. Rossie’s driver closed the door and Clara couldn’t sit still. She trembled as she said, “Thanks. I sent a second note that Olivia and Sophia are welcome to join me later. Olivia sent a second note back saying no, she’s staying here.”
The driver took off. Thankfully her estate wasn’t far from here so soon she and Rossie could be alone. Rossie had no idea the trouble Clara was in as she asked, “What happened?”
“Nothing,” Clara said. She gave Rossie's driver the address and as they headed down the road, the rain picked up. Lightning flashed, and thunder boomed close after.
Rossie turned around and glanced out the back window that was now being pelted with water. Clara refused to ever see the castle again, or the man inside who'd made her heart bleed onto the floor. “Then why are we leaving?”
The car drove onto her property. At least she now had somewhere in the world to hide and never be seen again. This was her silver lining. “Astorre doesn’t love me. It’s like living with my grandmother all over again. Come, let's get out. My birth parents have wedding pictures in here, and baby photos.”
Oh no. Tears leaked out. She curled her hands at her sides and willed away actually crying. No one would care for her if she did.
The car stopped in front of the estate. The driver stepped out with umbrellas and Rossie exited first, taking the handle offered as she said, “This house is nice.”
Clara didn’t care about umbrellas or how her hair would get wet. She stomped up the steps in her faded pink sneakers. “And it’s mine, so no one can tell me to ever get out.”
Rossie quickly caught up and strode next to her as Clara threw open the door. “Astorre told you to leave? What exactly happened?”
Astorre’s servants ran her house but she'd have to figure out a transition for that later. She hopped past the red velvet ropes that still hung but this time headed toward the back, where she spotted a kitchen area.
Her lips were parched which seemed funny. She should be filled with water as her ducts remained dry. She wanted water. She threw open the silver refrigerator and took out a pitcher of water. She went into cabinets and found glasses. Finally she was ready to talk so she said, “He-” But nothing came out as she poured.
What could she say? Love wasn’t her specialty? That seemed stupid. She handed Rossie a glass and stared into her friend’s concerned eyes.
Clara’s stomach twisted. She was about to tell her, but then there was a ring at the door. The museum would be permanently closed since she would live here, not that she expected the staff to understand that yet. She put the pitcher back in the fridge. Saved. “I have visitors.”
She turned around as two servants she recognized from her last visit entered the kitchen. Maybe Astorre had talked his sister and niece into leaving too. If they stayed here, she wouldn't be entirely alone She immediately hugged the girl to her and said, “Olivia, Sophia, I can have rooms set for you.”
Olivia and Rossie nodded at each other since they hadn't met and Olivia said, “No, we’re staying in our home--you need to come back.”
Clara pressed her hand on the kitchen counter. “I’m not wanted.”
Olivia pursed her lips and said, “That’s not true.”
“What happened?” Rossie asked.
“Rossie, this is Astorre’s sister, Olivia. Olivia, this is Rossie Di… Durnovo, the Lady of Normanni--she married Stephano.” Clara quickly introduced her friend, and wiped her eyes. Drat she was crying again as a storm grew outside, much like inside her. “Astorre doesn’t love me.”
Rossie rubbed her back, but Olivia lowered her head a little so she met her gaze and then once Clara blinked in her direction, Olivia said, “I think my brother loves you, which is why he told you to leave, especially after Sophia called him a beast.”
A bubble of hope shot through her veins, but she ignored the sense. Bubbles always burst and she’d never actually gotten what she wanted…she didn't know what to say.
