Page 47 of Miss Wylde and the Wynd

“Because of the marble?”

“No. He had first traveled to France but then the Revolution came about and he did not feel at all safe.”

“Because he was Irish?” Damian supposed that anybody was in danger for various reasons, though the argument the French people had was with their aristocracy.

“Partially. Not all Englishmen were trusted. Even though my father was Irish and not English, he still was not French and he feared what may become of him if it was learned that he was also the third and youngest son of an earl, so he left Paris and traveled to Italy.”

Damian pulled back. He had not expected Georgie’s grandfather to be titled, let alone carry the same rank as his brother. But a third son is offered far more opportunities than the heir, which would have allowed him to pursue architecture.

“After leaving France, Father traveled through Italy studying the architecture and then art in the various cities before he came to Carrera to attend the Accademia di Belle Arti to study sculpture and architecture.”

The school was not unfamiliar to him because his brother, Jules, had mentioned it once because it was where he wanted to study and have near-immediate access to marble, but their father had forbidden Jules from even considering the option. His father hadn’t allowed any of them to have a choice and Damian, along with his four brothers, had done what was expected.

Well, except for Jules. He may not have gone to school, but he did purchase a commission and became a foot soldier.

“While attending the school, he would often visit Accetta Panetteria, which was opened by my great-grandfather and now run by my grandfather and where Father met my mother, fell in love, and remained.” She chuckled. “He always knew that he was not going to be the next Christopher Wren and when he met my mother, decided that he did not even want to try.”

Damian could not imagine what it would be like to meet someone and want to be with them so badly that plans and dreams were so easily set aside. So much so that the man remained in Italy instead of returning to his family in Ireland.

It was beyond his comprehension.

“How often did he return to Ireland for a visit?” he asked.

“Father never returned. But my uncles visited. Just not my grandfather.”

“Is it because he did not approve?” He could well understand the displeasure of an earl if his son married a baker’s daughter.

“So long as my father was happy, so too were my grandparents. The opportunity never arose but many letters have been exchanged.”

Just as he writes regularly to his family no longer living in England.

“That isn’t to say there have not been arguments between my father and Italian grandfather.” She laughed. “Father wants Accetta Panetteria to become Accetta Panetteria and Pasticceria. He had often visited La Maison Stohrer when he was in Paris and has been trying to convince grandfather to hire a pastry cook.”

“Is there a Pasticceria in Carrera?”

“No, and there should be,” she answered. “Father also remembered visiting Caffe’ Florian in Venice, a coffee house, and thought we could become that as well, or all three in one, but Grandfather insists that being a panetteria is enough.”

“As you are near a school for artists and architects, one would think that a coffee house would be visited quite frequently.”

“That was my father’s argument, but my grandfather is quite stubborn.” A smile pulled at her lips, almost daring him to point out that she was rather stubborn herself, but he did not.

“I wish I could have met my Irish grandfather but he passed four years ago, my grandmother before that. It is Uncle Patrick who is now Earl of Clontarf.

“Where in Ireland is he from?” Damian may recognize English, Scottish, and Irish titles, and he had heard of Clontarf, but that did not mean he recalled where each family seat was located. He cared only about Wyndview Hall.

“Outside Tullamore, Ireland.” She sighed. “If given the opportunity, I would like to visit where my father was born and raised, and visit with my uncles, their wives, and meet cousins but it is unlikely to happen.”

“Is there any reason why you and Grace, after she is found, cannot pay a call on your family before you return to Italy? It would certainly be more convenient and the distance not so far from Liverpool,” he suggested. “It is certainly closer than Carrera.”

She tilted her head and offered a sad smile. “I likely would not be able to afford such an indulgence and fear that I will have just enough to book passage to Italy.” She smiled. “I should also thank you for purchasing passage on the mail coaches and providing a place for me to sleep so that I do not have to spend my limited funds.”

He truly did not mind and they were in this predicament because of a sailor he had employed. “You are welcome.”

“I will do my best to repay the debt.”

“That is not necessary, Georgie.” He was wealthy with an income that grew quarterly because he rarely spent on himself.

The cost of passage on mail coaches and then for Georgie and her sister to return to Italy would not even be noticed, which made him consider, for the briefest moment, if he might not arrange for her and her sister to travel to Ireland before returning home so that she could visit with family.