Page 78 of Where Wild Hearts Dance
The five of them form a human barrier between the lawn and the terrace. But, fortunately, Trilby delicately pushes her way through to envelope each of us in a warm, relieved hug.
“I’m so glad you’re here,” she murmurs into my ear.
“I didn’t expect there to be so many people.” The terrace is thick with the scent of expensive perfume and cologne.
She pulls back and rolls her eyes toward Allegra. “Bigextended family,” she says through a smile.
Just as Trilby wraps her arms around our aunt, two of the women approach us.
“Trilby?”
My sister looks around and beams politely at the older woman. “Yes?”
“I’m Bianca, Cristiano’s aunt—his mother’s side.”
“Oh!” Trilby gives Bianca’s hand a soft shake. “It’swonderful to finally meet you. Cristiano has told me lots about you and your family. Is Isabella h?—”
“Hi!” The younger woman, who looks a little closer to Trilby’s age, steps forward. “I’m Isabella. We’ve connected on Insta but, wow, you’re even prettier in the flesh.”
I glance sideways just in time to see a soft blush creep up my sister’s cheeks. “Thank you. And so are you,” she smiles.
“How are the wedding plans coming along? I hear the hotel is absolutely gorgeous.”
“Oh it is,” Trilby gushes. “Our sister Sera is doing her hospitality training there. I hear your wedding to Augie’s nephew was beautiful. I was hoping to get a few tips from you.”
While Trilby and Isabella talk weddings, Allegra turns to Cristiano’s aunt. It seems the good natured banter stopped at Trilby and Cristiano’s cousin—the atmosphere that has suddenly descended over the two aunts is decidedly frosty.
I make an excuse about needing a glass of water and leave them to their differences.
After Bambi and I have dissected the outfit choices of nearly every guest, Bambi heads off to find Allegra and Trilby takes her place.
“Who’s that?” I ask, nodding toward a woman who seems to have caught Papa’s attention. She’s around Allegra’s age with long dark hair softly curled and a beautiful figure wrapped in a conservatively tailored dress.
Trilby’s gaze narrows. “That’s Nicolò’s mother.”
“She and Papa seem to be getting along.” My voice is flat because I don’t know how to feel about the idea of Papa ‘getting along’ with any woman after Mama. “Is she married?”
“She’s widowed,” Trilby enunciates carefully.
We both watch as Nicolò’s mother says something that must be funny because Papa’s face lights up and he shakes his head. My chest aches as I grapple with the turmoil of emotions the sight has stirred up in me.
Trilby turns back to me with a sigh and slides her fingers around my hand. “It’s nice that someone can make him smile.”
I swallow and give a brief nod. Of course I want Papa to be happy—I just wasn’t expecting another woman to come on the scene. I know I’m getting ahead of myself; they’ve only just met. I shake the concern from my shoulders and straighten.
“I’m going to go freshen up.”
“Sure,” she smiles. “Come find me when you’re done.”
I arch a brow. “Isn’t this your opportunity to get to know your new in-laws?”
She chews on her bottom lip. “Fine. Then comerescueme in thirty.”
“Gotcha.” I give her a wink and wind my way through various relatives-to-be and into the house.
My mind must be someplace else because as I walk through the double doors to the entrance hall, I don’t seea figure coming the other way until I’ve crashed against its chest.
A deep, rasping voice wraps around my ears. “I thought looking through gaps in doors was your thing, Castellano. How did you not see me coming?”
