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“Am I missing something here?” Nico looked confused.
The older man moved toward her. “The last time I saw you and your sisters, you were just young girls. It must have been fifteen years ago.” He smiled. “The older one rode like the wind.”
Fausta smiled back. “I just told Nico I remember coming here. You’re Duca Enzo Frascatti of Piedmont, the local magistrate of the area. You’re the good friend of Prince Lorenzo, my father’s cousin!”
Nico stared at her in wonder.
“Indeed I am. Lorenzo and I are the best of friends. He’s the one who advised me to buy a new Sanfratellano stallion from the king’s stables in Vallefiore. To think your sister is now the new king’s wife! It’s a small world, my dear.”
“It certainly is. I’m thrilled to meet you again after all this time.”
Enzo reached for her hand and kissed the back of it. “This is a joyous day. Come inside and we’ll all catch up. My wife, Pippa, and I have lunch waiting for you. She’s in a wheelchair and not doing that well, but she’s always eager for the next visit from our Nicolo.”
Fausta’s gaze fused with Nico’s. She could tell he was bursting with questions. So was she!
Nico grabbed his medical bag. Together they followed Enzo inside. He walked them through to the main dining room of the sumptuous castello Fausta remembered, where his wife sat in her wheelchair at the table. Nico led her around.
“Pippa? Do you remember Princess Fausta? She’s the person I brought with me today.”
The white-haired older woman studied Fausta out of eyes dimmed by the years. “You were a precious little girl who loved all the animals. My how you’ve grown up into a beautiful woman.”
Fausta blushed. “Thank you, Duchessa. It’s so kind of you to have us for lunch.”
“Nonsense. Nico is like a son to us. Why don’t you be seated so we can talk.”
Nico held a chair for Fausta. After they sat down, the staff served them lunch.
The duca raised his wineglass. “This is a very happy day. I’d like to make a toast to our Nicolo and the princess. To your health and other things.”
After they’d sipped their wine, Pippa eyed Fausta. “When our grandson died, Nico came into our lives and brought us happiness. Did he tell you we wanted to adopt him?” Fausta’s eyes met Nico’s for a moment. Everyone loved him. “But he was so stubborn, he wouldn’t hear of it.”
Except that Fausta knew the real reason. Nico’s origins had made him feel unworthy of love.
CHAPTER FOUR
THIS OUTING HADN’T turned out as Nico had expected. Fausta fit in seamlessly with Enzo and Pippa. They were all of the same world.
Except for having been born to an unknown man and woman who gave him life, Nico had been beholden to the nuns at the orphanage, the farmer and the duca for being allowed to thrive on this earth. Even though he was now a doctor and could earn his daily bread from here on out, Fausta’s father was still pressuring her to marry a prince. It didn’t matter to him that his daughter had been dating Nico.
For the rest of lunch he talked about his
practice and answered their questions about how he and Fausta had met at the hospital. Afterward he gave Enzo and Pippa a physical before he and Fausta left to drive back to Domodossola. Her bodyguard’s car followed at a distance.
She turned to him. “Are you able to tell me what happened to Pippa?”
“Last year she fell in the shower and broke her hip. The fall injured both knees and she’s in a lot of pain.”
Fausta decided she shouldn’t ask about Enzo.
“What would they do without your help? You can tell they love you so much.”
Nico flashed her a glance. “The feeling’s mutual. Luckily their married children live close by and take them to Turin to see their regular doctor when it’s necessary. I like to look after them because I love them.”
“They’re lovely people.”
“I know they enjoyed your company and remember your visit years ago. Did you see the way Enzo beamed when he saw you?”
She nodded. “But Angelo was so kind too. Imagine him and his wife taking you to their hearts! It’s a wonderful thing they did for you. Their generosity makes you believe in the goodness of the human spirit.”
