The Carnelian Legacy (14 page)

“Impossible love. I can tell you a thing or two about that.”

The rain still hadn’t let up, and more water rushed down the gutters, overflowing and spilling over the sides. The hem of her skirt was already soaked.

“Arrie, why didn’t Darian mention Lady Matilda to me before? He told me that there weren’t any Fiore women he could marry to ascend the throne. Is that true, or was he just saying that?”

“I do not think it likely that he has deceived you, Marisa. However, if Darian had wanted to marry Lady Matilda, there would be nothing to stop him. Unless perhaps, if Savino were to chain his poor sister to the wall. But even then, Darian would find a way. He always does, you know.”

“Ughhh,” Marisa groaned, smacking her forehead. “So not only do I have to endure being around a guy I like but can never be with—I have to watch him while he courts little Miss Perfect. This is like senior year all over again. The only thing missing is the prom where I get dumped.”

“Now, Marisa, do cheer up. There are, after all, many other fish in the sea. Or so I’ve been told. You know that the Viscount da Roca admired you from the moment you arrived at the castle. He was attracted to your charm and beauty alone. That must offer you at least some assurance that you are quite capable of securing another man’s love?”

“I guess so,” she said, shrugging. “What do I know about love anyway? I’ve never even had a boyfriend for more than a couple of months. The guys I know back home aren’t worth the time or trouble.”

“Give yourself a little bit of credit, my dear. You are still very young. Sometime and somewhere, you shall meet the right person. He is out there, of that I am certain.”

“Believe me—I’m in no hurry to rush into a relationship,” she said quickly. “But what’s a girl to do with a guy like Darian? I can’t get him off my mind. You can’t turn feelings like that off and on like a faucet, you know.”

“Indeed, this is true. I will grant you that Darian Fiore is quite a remarkable specimen to be had. But you must simply find other distractions to get him off your mind.”

Arrie nudged her softly. “I assume that you’re aware of the formal ball this evening where plenty of eligible young noblemen shall be in attendance?”

“I don’t think that I can look at another guy as long as he’s standing right there. Everyone pales in comparison.”

“If I’m right, and I know I am, you’ll knock them all over in that pretty frock of yours. There will be plenty of dukes, lords, and barons to choose from, and by the end of the night, you’ll be chasing them all off with a sword. Perhaps you might even dance with your future spouse tonight, hmm?”

“Dance!” Marisa exclaimed. She jumped to her feet. “Oh, Arrie, the ball is this evening, and I don’t even know how to dance! I was team captain of our dance squad back home, but that was totally different. Do you think you can you teach me?”

He offered her a hand. “Come—let’s get out of this rain. It doesn’t appear as if it’s going to stop anytime soon.” Grabbing the archery equipment, they hurried back into the castle out of the rain.

Arrie put his finger to his lips, and she nodded as they passed a man polishing a statue in the hall. As they entered a large salon, he spotted a servant arranging some flowers on the table.

“Would you please be so kind as to leave us?” Arrie asked.

The maiden smiled shyly before closing the door. He led her to the dance floor and took Marisa’s hand, placing it on his forearm.

“Now we don’t have any music, so we’ll have to do without. It’s actually quite simple. First, I bow to you and you curtsey.” He bowed formally to her with his heels touching as Marisa curtseyed gracefully.

“Fine, that’s fine. Now, placing your left hand on my arm, you give me your hand, stepping one step backward with your right foot and I move forward with my left foot. One, two, three, four — good!

“Now, I turn you sideways with one hand, like this, and you move forward with your left foot, and I go back with my right foot. Perfect! Now raise your hand above your head and hold it against mine and we circle around. Well done—you do catch on easily!”

“Well, this is nothing like our halftime dances back home, but I think I’ve got the hang of it,” she said, giggling. Though Marisa was secretly hoping she wouldn’t have to dance at all, she knew that she probably couldn’t avoid it.

Arrie practiced with her for a full hour, and when she had all the steps down for three different dances, he suggested they both return to their rooms until the hunting party returned for lunch.

Marisa quickly grabbed his sleeve. “Arrie, please don’t say anything to Darian. I don’t want to complicate things between us. I know that he could never settle for someone like me. Will you please promise me?”

“Marisa, if you really do care, you should be honest with him. He deserves no less, even if his hands are tied as far as his own future is concerned.”

She stared at him, pleading with her eyes.

“All right, I promise,” he answered finally. “I won’t say anything, but you should still tell him how you feel.”

“No way!” she said, shaking her head. Arrie just shrugged as he left the salon and hurried down the corridor.

Marisa glanced both ways down the hall and tried to remember how to get back to her room. She walked down to her right, but when she wound up in an unfamiliar, darkened corridor, she was confused. She continued around the corner but, after realizing that it didn’t lead to the main hall, she double-backed around again and smacked right into Darian.

“Oh—” she exclaimed, her heart racing.

“My apologies, milady. I returned from the hunt early since the rain wouldn’t let up and there wasn’t much game to shoot at.” He smiled sheepishly at her as a maid approached them.

Darian quickly slipped her arm under his. “Allow me to escort you back to your room, Lady Marisa. You’ve just enough time to change before lunch.”

She smiled politely and nodded for the sake of the maid. He led her down the main hall and up the two flights of steps to the guest quarters. When they reached the door of her room, he opened it slightly but blocked her from entering.

“Will you be coming to dinner tonight?” he asked softly.

She nodded slowly, keeping her gaze lowered to the floor. He was hard to resist, but she didn’t want to encourage him in any way. One look into those dazzling eyes of his and she just might cave.

A smile played on his lips. “You are planning to attend the ball in my honor tonight, are you not?”

She hesitated slightly but nodded once again.

“Wonderful!” He grinned at her. “Then I shall see you at lunch, milady.” He stepped aside to allow her to enter, but not before he took her hand and kissed it.

Darian turned to leave and she watched his dark cloak billowing out behind him as he strode down the hall.

Superman,
she thought.
I’ve actually discovered Superman.

Her heart beat quickened as she closed the door and collapsed against it. Was it only flirting, or was he really interested in her?

She shook her head. Who was she kidding? An attractive, incredible man like that would never be interested in a plain Lois Lane like her. Superman didn’t exist. He was just a fictitious character in one of her brother’s graphic novels.

He wasn’t real.

The luncheon plates were heaped high with fruits and vegetables, salads with breads and meat and cheeses. Each guest had a shining bronze goblet filled with wine.

Marisa tried to concentrate on the two animated discussions taking place around the table, but finally gave up when she realized both of them were about the morning’s shooting party. She shifted her focus to the interaction between Darian and Lady Matilda. He refilled her water glass twice, and when she whispered something to him, he chuckled.

A sickening feeling squirmed in the pit of Marisa’s stomach, and she felt like a complete idiot. She lived in a world where couples chose each other based on mutual attraction, not like Carnelia where matches were predetermined based on rank, pedigree, and duty.

“Will you join us on our walk up to the falls, milady?” Savino asked, interrupting her thoughts. Startled, Marisa turned to him and nodded.

“And may I have the pleasure of escorting you there?”

She smiled shyly and nodded.

Savino pulled out the chair for her. “We shall meet in the courtyard in a quarter of an hour.”

The young viscount beamed at Marisa as he kissed her hand.

Fifteen minutes later, Marisa descended the stone steps to find Darian, Lady Matilda, Savino, Gaspar, and Arrie all assembled in the courtyard. Fortunately, the blue sky had reappeared after the morning thundershowers had moved on.

Marisa’s heart fluttered when she saw Darian’s striking figure leaning against the wall as he chatted with Arrie about something. Out of his usual armored uniform, he was dressed in tall riding boots, dark gray trousers, a fitted tunic, and a black cloak.

Matilda was beautiful in a dark green ensemble with fur edging, and somehow Marisa knew that there was just no competing with the vogue style of Lady da Rocha.

Savino had exchanged his dark, armored suit for the more suave, sophisticated look of a fitted blue tunic and cloak. Clearly, he was the sort of man who always dressed impeccably no matter what the occasion.

“Milady, shall we go?” he asked with a pleasant smile.

She nodded.

Savino took her hand and guided her down a back stairwell. They passed through an iron gate where they entered the forest directly behind the castle.

Trailing a few steps behind the host and his partner for the afternoon, Darian, Matilda, Arrie and Gaspar kept in tight formation as they chatted about trivial subjects.

The mid-afternoon walk through the alpine woods was a refreshing change from the decidedly somber mood of the castle. The familiar smell of fresh pine permeated Marisa’s soul and lifted her spirits. But as the party meandered up the path through the misty forest, the scenery reminded her of Oregon and she began to feel homesick once again.

Savino held Marisa’s hand as she climbed over fallen logs and helped her cross a small stream. Chattering enough for the two of them, he described his life of privilege in nauseating detail.

As he droned on about the responsibilities of ruling a country, she just nodded politely in even intervals before finally tuning him out altogether.

For the next hour, they continued to climb the steep mountain slope as the roar of the waterfall became louder. When they finally reached the base pool of the falls, Savino had to shout to be heard above the roar.

“Milady, might I have the honor of escorting you to the bridge to take in the magnificent view?” He offered her his arm and Marisa smiled in acknowledgement.

Complaining that the spray from the falls would soak her clothes and cause her to catch a chill, Matilda kept a considerable distance from the pool. Always the perfect gentleman, Darian remained at her side but eyed Savino carefully as he guided Marisa up the hill.

It was a steep, brisk hike up to the falls, and by the time they made it to the top, she was panting as she tried to catch her breath. They approached a wooden bridge that straddled the gorge where the upper runoff from the waterfall passed underneath.