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“Are you all right?” he asked.
She nodded. “Is your…friend still here?”
“He just left.” Alec sat down beside her and stared at the floor. “But he’ll be back.”
Goodness, how tired he looked. Lottie had the urge to stroke away the tension from his brow, but that insurmountable wall seemed to separate them once again, now built of more secrets than she could count. “He’s an agent, isn’t he?”
“Yes. We often work together.” Alec turned to her. “And it appears that my presence is required at Signore Cardinelli’s this evening after all,” he said with marked displeasure.
“Oh, is that so?” Lottie said, feigning wide-eyed innocence.
Alec frowned, not at all fooled. “Don’t think this gives you the chance to play detective. You’re only coming because I doubt I’ll be admitted without you.” Lottie smiled but Alec’s frown only deepened. “You’ll stay away from Cardinelli. Give me your word.”
“I will,” she reluctantly agreed. “And what will you be doing while I’m busynottalking to the signore?”
He slanted his gaze to the window. “It’s better the less you know,” he said coolly. “But I…I won’t be myself tonight. Do you understand?”
Lottie pressed her lips together. That could mean all sorts of things.
For once, Alec didn’t try to hide his feelings. But she couldn’t tell which troubled him: fearing for her safety, or what she might think of him after this evening.
All the more important that she show him her mettle. And that she could accept him, no matter his past.
“Yes. Perhaps I’ll finally be able to see thischarmI’ve heard so much about.” She then placed her hand on top of his and gave it a reassuring pat. “Don’t you worry about me.”
Alec let out a soft breath. “I do, though,” he murmured, while staring at their hands. “How can I not?” Then he glanced up. All she could hear now was the crushing vulnerability that laced through every word, the uncertainty behind every gesture.
Lottie’s smile faded as his eyes were drawn to her mouth. They darkened just as they did in the hall, right before she had nearly kissed him. Her stomach tightened with anticipation, emphasizing the hollow ache inside her, but as she began to lean toward him, Alec tore his hand away from hers and stood. “Your trunk is still downstairs. I’ll bring it up,” he said briskly. “And I’ll see about having someone come to help you dress. Nico’s aunt has aspirations to become a lady’s maid. She might enjoy the chance to practice on you.” Lottie shook her head to protest, but he held up a hand and forced a smile. “I insist. If we must descend upon Venetian society tonight, we can at least do so in a grand fashion.” Then he turned on his heel and left the room.
A little while later, Alec returned with Lottie’s trunk and a pretty, dark-haired young woman.
“This is Valentina. She will help you.”
The young woman grinned and clasped Lottie’s hand in both of hers. “I am so happy to meet you, signora.”
“Please, call me Lottie. My, your English is excellent.” Then she turned to Alec. “I see you’ve kept yourself busy, Professor.”
Color suffused his cheeks as he turned away. “You can use this room,” he said as he led them into the bedroom next to his own. Most of the furniture was also covered in dust sheets, but Alec pulled a few off, revealing a gilt dressing table and a matching full-length mirror even finer than the desk in his room. Valentina pulled over a chair and immediately began to unpack her beauty instruments, but Alec seemed riveted by a silver-plated brush, comb, and hand mirror that rested on the tabletop.
Lottie’s heart twisted as another realization hit her: Alec hadn’t bought this dilapidated palazzo; he had inherited it. From his parents.
And this must have been his mother’s room.
Alec reached out and grazed the handle of the brush with his little finger. “Use whatever you need.” Then he glanced over and Lottie nearly lost her breath. He looked just as lonely, just as lost, as he had on the first day they met all those years ago.
“Thank you.”
He gave her a short nod. “I have to see to a few things before this evening. But I leave you in Valentina’s most excellent care. You can trust her. With anything,” he stressed.
“I’m sure,” Lottie murmured, confused by his sudden gravity.
Alec then cast another longing glance at the dressing table before he left. Lottie stared after him, wishing for all the world she could ease his pain. But it would take far more than a plate of custard tarts this time.
“Come sit,” Valentina said with an engaging smile.
Indeed, the young woman was thrilled to have the chance to practice her skills and must have thanked Lottie a dozen times over. After two days of travel, Lottie’s hair was a wretched mess. She tried to apologize to Valentina, but the girl waved her hand. “Not to worry. I will help.” She then loosened Lottie’s pathetic excuse for a Psyche knot and began to gently comb through her hair. At Lottie’s urging, she chattered happily about her desire to become a lady’s maid abroad.
“You don’t want to stay here in Venice?”
