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“Welcome to the Inn at Pistoia!” he said, opening his arms grandly. “I am Signore Garda, owner and proprietor. How can I be of service to you?”
Alec was not the least bit impressed by his simpering. “My wife and I require a room for the night,” he said gruffly and handed the man some coin. “And I’ve a boy who needs to keep his cart and horse in your stable.”
The innkeeper wasn’t put off by Alec’s short response. “Splendid, sir. I’m happy to inform you that the finest room in the inn is available. The views are magnificent. Some even say they are the greatest in all of Pistoia.”
Alec did not return his smile. “How fortunate for us. We’ll be fine as long as the bed is decent.”
The innkeeper nodded eagerly. “Oh, yes, sir. In fact, the bed is one of thelargestin the city. It used to belong to the Rospigliosi family during the Renaissance. And, since we cater to so many English visitors here, let me assure you that we offerallthe latest amenities.”
Alec arched a brow. “I’ve no doubt.”
Lottie tugged on his elbow. Now was not the time to be sardonic. He turned toward her but kept his gaze on her hand. “Please,” she whispered, then hesitated. “If it’s too costly to get Lorenzo his own room, I can—”
Alec shot her a scowl as he dug deeper into his pocket and thrust some more coins at the innkeeper. “We will needtworooms.” Then he glanced at Lottie and lowered his voice. “The boy will stay with me.”
There. A room to herself. Why didn’t she feel relieved?
The innkeeper shook his head with an admirable display of remorse. “I’m terribly sorry, sir, but there is only one room left. There are cots available in the stables, though,” he offered with a hopeful note in his voice. He did not want to lose their business.
Alec let out a frustrated sigh and began to tap his foot. The low light of the inn cast deep shadows on his face, making him look utterly exhausted. Or perhaps he simplywas. Her guilt returned. Who knew how long he had been on the road. And all because of her. Lottie had the sudden urge to place her hand on his cheek and stroke away the tension there.
Instead, she leaned toward him and lowered her voice. “I’m sure you’re right that Lorenzo will be fine in the stables.”
But her words only seemed to upset him further. Alec pinched the bridge of his nose. “No, it’s not—you aren’twrong…” He trailed off and shook his head helplessly. “Never mind.” Then he addressed the innkeeper. “We’ll take the room. And the cot.”
The man’s grin returned. “Perfetto. Here is the key. Your room is on the top floor.” He gestured toward the staircase. “I’ll have your luggage brought up straightaway.”
Alec took the heavy brass key. “Send a supper tray as well. And a tub with plenty of hot water. I’ve a mind to indulge in a fewamenitiesthis evening.”
Lottie followed him toward the staircase. Dining alone in their room and having a bath? She lowered her voice. “The tub isn’t necessary. I can wait until tomorrow.”
“I didn’t order it only for your sake.” He clapped the arm of his jacket and a puff of road dust came off. “Come. I want to see the ‘greatest view in Pistoia’ before dark.”
As they made their way toward the staircase, two men were descending, engrossed in a conversation that would pass as a vicious argument in England. One caught a glimpse of Lottie as they approached and shot her a wide grin. He was missing several teeth and the ones that remained were in bad shape. The other man, sporting a set of bedraggled black whiskers, did the same. “Buona sera, Signora,” he said with a grand bow. The courtly gesture would have been more effective if he weren’t covered head to toe in road dust.
Lottie instinctively drew back. Alec’s arm came around her waist and he pulled her close to his side, but she was rather grateful for this display of possessiveness. The men didn’t even try to hide their leers as they stepped closer. One gestured to her and said something that sounded complimentary to Alec in that joking tone men always use with one another. Lottie didn’t know a word, and yet she understood enough.
Men had shouted things at her nearly every day since her arrival in Italy. She didn’t like it, and one particularly aggressive flower seller had almost sent Mrs. Wetherby into a fit of the vapors on the Ponte Vecchio, but ultimately it was harmless. Lottie had experienced much worse behavior in London ballrooms from men who believed themselves to be highly civilized gentlemen.
Alec’s hold on her tightened. He did not respond, nor did he return the man’s grin.
The silence stretched between the four of them until it became painfully obvious that he would not engage at all. The larger of the pair’s face twisted in an ugly frown and he let loose a string of vicious Italian. Her shoulders tightened at the blows she expected Alec to unleash—men had dueled to the death over much less—but his only reaction was a slight tensing of his brow. The men hurled a few more words at him, which were met with the same grim silence until they gave up and walked away, already chattering on as if the confrontation had never happened.
Lottie hadn’t realized she was holding her breath.
“Come along.” Alec didn’t even give them a backward glance as he released her and headed up the stairs. The loss of his comforting hold was immediate. That she even noticed was particularly vexing.
“You should have joked back with them,” Lottie hissed when she managed to find her tongue. “They seemed very angry.”
He looked amused. “I assure you, I’ve been in far worse situations.”
By then they had reached the top floor. Alec stopped in front of the only door and fingered the edge of the key. “Besides, I wasn’t going to laugh along with those bastards,” he said softly.
Now she was curious. “What did they say?”
He watched her a moment. “They mostly discussed the various animals I was born of and what I could do with them.” He flashed her a smirk and Lottie let out a breath of laughter. Then Alec turned to the door and slid the key into the lock. “They managed to get one thing right, though,” he added as he pushed the door open. “Youarevery beautiful.”
Alec stepped into the room without waiting to see Lottie’s reaction. He would have readily said the same thing to any other woman during any other mission. Acting as the charming, carefree rogue had served him very well over the years. And it would do so once again.
