Page 47 of Forbidden Noble
Rossie scooted closer like they were negotiating something. “Then why turn down my offer? It would have given you independence.”
Running a wedding business meant believing in happily-ever-after. Clara wasn’t qualified. She finished her glass and poured them both a second round. “Because I always screw everything up and ruin good companies. I couldn’t do that to your legacy.”
Astorre was the only one who'd never flinched when he heard her pert answers, as if he agreed with her, even when she’d messed up when she cut to the heart of why Max had come to the castle. She gulped more wine. Rossie said, “If you don’t go back to Astorre, I think you screw up your own happily-ever-after.”
The lights flickered outside. “I don’t matter.” She patted her breastbone.
Rossie put her glass down on the floor and reached for her hand. “Yes, you do. You matter a lot, and in staying here you deny Astorre his happily-ever-after too.”
That would only be true if he loved her. He’d never said so. She took a deep breath and said, “He told me to leave.”
Thunder rolled past and Rossie whispered, “If what his sister said is true then he just needs to see that he’ll never be his father. And then he’s yours, forever.”
Astorre wasn’t violent though. He couldn’t think that. Butifthat was true, maybe she wasn’t a total lost cause. He had her heart and always would. She closed her eyes and quietly said, “So you think leaving was stupid.”
Rossie picked up her wine and sipped it. Clara bravely met Rossie's gaze, knowing she'd see the truth. Rossie said, “There is no stupid. The question is, do you think you’ll be happy here, in this house, alone?”
The lights flickered again and the room went completely black, except for the lightning. No one could see outside in the fog and rain that poured down like buckets were being tossed at them from a fire brigade. “The storm is getting worse. We’re both stuck here until the storm lessens.”
“Then pour the wine,” Rossie said, and the lights flickered on again.
Clara was used to rain and storms and she loved them. But most people didn’t revel in the dark. They were like Rossie, happy and free to love.
But if Olivia had been right about Astorre, maybe it was possible Clara was wrong. She needed to figure out her next move, fast. If she believed…
Chapter 17
Astorre heard the thunder and lightning outside but it didn’t matter.
Clara was safe at her family estate.
His sister had followed her so he was alone now, just as he'd planned.
The dark skies and stark castle didn’t help with his adrenaline rush. He went over paperwork. Organized his office. Made a list of what needed to be done around the castle first.
Something in his veins still stirred him and his mind buzzed.
He went to the gym for a solid hour but that didn’t help. After he finished, he took a fast shower. Outside the storm sounded worse. He wondered if this would be his life from now on. He’d never live anywhere else again. Was that the cause of his restlessness?
Part of him craved a drink so he’d block out his life. But that never worked in the past, and pain was good. Pain meant he’d not hurt Clara.
Maybe he’d go crazy faster now. His heart raced so it was possible.
He chose tea rather than whiskey and faced his past. Astorre brought his cup to the library, just as his mother would have done every day, including the day she’d died.
He ran his fingers along the volumes of books on the shelves. Classics to non-fiction. His mother’s first daily task was filing the returned books that she’d lent out to people in the castle.
She considered herself the family librarian and researcher. She could explain to anyone how the people of Montelino Bay kept the castle safe in World War Two or during the crusades when the British had mistaken Avce for the middle east. Nothing about his mother had been anything but sweet and kind.
Clara was like her in that.
He picked up a children’s book about bedtime. He would never forget how she’d read to him before sleep. The door opened and for a second he hoped that Clara had come back.
His arms ached to hold her, but his sister’s dark hair was visible first and then she fully entered the library. He put the children’s book back and Olivia closed the door. “Astorre.”
The car to take her to Clara’s had gone a while ago and the storm sounded worse now. He faced the books as he said, “I thought you’d left me too.”
She placed her hand on his shoulder. Once he turned around to face her, she said, “Yeah, we’re not going anywhere now.”
