Page 39 of The Pureblood Princess
Still curious about Lady Delfino’s relationship with Vera, Nadia asks Theodore,Do you know what Lady Delfino was referring to? With my mother?
As far as I know, Theodore says as dessert is being served,Lady Delfino was being courted by your father before he met Vera.
“What?” Nadia turns to Theodore with surprise. He blinks at her, as do the others seated around the table, and she realizes with a start that she spoke aloud.
“I asked if you’d like macaroons, miss,” says a nearby footman, the serving dish and tongs held aloft.
“Oh, please.” Nadia sits back and allows him to serve the dessert, then offers him a subtle smile. He moves on without another word, and she’s careful to address Theodore in her head this time.She was courted by my father?
So far as I know.Theodore dips his macaroon into a glass of sweet wine, and watching the way the alcohol drips across the sugary treat makes Nadia wish she could lick the liquor from his fingers.
Straightening up, she glances at Lady Delfino, who has launched back into gossip surrounding one of her recent balls. Beside her, Brother Delfino seems perfectly at ease, content to listen to his wife and her many tales.
I wish I knew what she was like...
Theodore glances over at her.Who?
My mother.
Was she anything like Lady Delfino, with her loud laugh and boisterous personality? Or did something else catch her father’s eye and make him want to court her?
A touch of loneliness comes over Nadia, and she retreats inward, not partaking in the conversation for the rest of the meal.
After dinner, Lord Rosetti invites Theodore, Charlie, and Brother Delfino into his study, and to Nadia’s surprise, he asks her to accompany them. The rest of the family and Lady Delfino seem understandably bewildered; the menfolk’s after-dinner drinking and smoking is typically done away from the ladies in the house, and for Nadia to be invited along is surprising indeed.
Charlie and Contessa share a heated look, and he politely turns down the earl’s invitation. They depart to their bedchamber for the evening, and Lady Rosetti ushers everyone else into the drawing room for tea, though she glances back and seems to catch Lord Rosetti’s eye before disappearing around a corner.
“Come now,” Lord Rosetti says, leading the way toward his study.
Nadia follows the older men down the candlelit hallways, Theodore walking at her side. He reaches out briefly to touch her hand with his, then pulls away before they step into Lord Rosetti’s study.
The fireplace has been lit, and it burns low in the hearth, keeping the room warm and tossing orange-yellow light across the walls and furnishings.
“Sherry?” Lord Rosetti asks, and though Nadia keeps quiet when the men express interest, Lord Rosetti pours four glasses.
“I take it this was not simply a friendly dinner invitation,” Brother Delfino says as he accepts the glass of sherry with a polite nod.
“I’m afraid not.” Lord Rosetti hands Theodore and Nadia their glasses, then gestures for everyone to be seated.
Nadia takes a spot beside Theodore on the settee, feeling a bit flustered to have been invited into the men’s private space.
Brother Delfino sits back in his armchair with an air of comfort, crossing one leg over the other before taking a sip of sherry. “I figured so.” His gaze shifts to Nadia knowingly. “This is about the Magdalenas.”
“We have proof that they were murdered by the guild,” Lord Rosetti says, sitting forward in his chair. “Their only child was raised by the very hunter who ended Vera’s and Kirill’s lives.” He gestures at Nadia, and she sits up a tad straighter. “For years the brotherhood has turned a blind eye, but I can’t stand idly by any longer. Miss Magdalena is more proof than we ever should’ve needed, yet theystillrefuse to act.” His fist comes down hard on the arm of his chair, and Nadia starts, almost spilling her sherry. “You’re part of the brotherhood. You must be privy to information that’ll help us make sense of this lunacy.”
“You’re right, Niccolò.” Sighing, Brother Delfino runs a hand over his short black hair, and his gaze cuts to Nadia. “But if I’m to speak freely here, I must know it will never be spoken of outside this room.”
“You need not abase her, Delfino,” Theodore says, his voice sharp. “Miss Magdalena has every right to be here; it is her clan we’re discussing, after all.”
After a tense moment, Brother Delfino nods once. “Forgive me, Miss Magdalena.” He gives her a smile, though it doesn’t touch his eyes. “The brotherhood is not keen on disclosing their inner workings. If they were to discover I spoke with you on this topic, I’d be cast out, at the very least.”
“I understand your concern,” Nadia says gently, meeting his eyes with a soft gaze. “I can assure you that anything you say here will be kept here.”
Brother Delfino straightens his waistcoat, then looks to Lord Rosetti. “Years ago, when you first came to us with this, we were torn. A number of us wanted to look into the Magdalenas’ deaths, but we were overruled.”
“By whom?” Theodore sits forward abruptly, but Lord Rosetti holds up a hand to silence him.
“Let him finish, son.”
