Chapter 35 #2
“You what?” Randy glanced around, as if he feared they might have been overheard. “Were you mad?”
“Probably,” David admitted. “But I don’t regret it, and I don’t believe she does, either.”
“What did you do?”
“Well, she was limping into dinner last night, so I... I might have massaged her feet.” He took a steadying breath. “Her naked feet,” he added in a whisper. “I particularly liked her toes. The one next to her big toe is longer and—”
“Oh, my God!” Randy interrupted. “Who are you, and what have you done with my cousin?”
David gave a start. “Don’t you massage Diana’s feet?”
Randy blinked. Twice. “On occasion, but... we are married.” His brows suddenly furrowed. “Wait. Does this mean...?” He let the query trail off when he noticed Diana waving at him. He forced a grin and waved back, blowing her a kiss.
“I am considering it. I arranged for a pair of half-boots to be made for her. To better fit her feet,” David explained. “After I bought a betrothal ring. Which reminds me...”
“You’re going to propose?” The look of disbelief Randy displayed was almost comical.
David sighed. “I... I haven’t yet decided, but I wanted to replace the ring I allowed Lady Jane to keep.”
“You do know she cannot accept the shoes,” Randy said, not making it a question.
“No one has to know from where she got them,” David argued. He nodded in the direction of the three ladies still ensconced on the blanket. “But I don’t want her suffering because her aunts insist she join us on all these tours.”
Crossing his arms over his chest, Randy regarded his cousin with a critical eye. “I’m not sure if you know this, but I remember thinking at the start of this Grand Tour that you were going to be in trouble all the time.”
David blinked. “Oh. Because I’m amiable and handsome and all the ladies fall prostrate at my feet?”
Randy chuckled. “Something like that,” he admitted. He sobered. “You realize she may not wish to leave her home. To leave...” He waved a hand to indicate Rome. “All this for a life in Oxfordshire?”
“London,” David stated. “I won’t be living in Oxfordshire any longer. I told Father I was going to see to learning the business of the marquessate when we return.”
Nodding his understanding, Randy said, “I may be joining you there in a few years,” he said.
“I’m counting on it,” David replied. He glanced around the interior of the Colosseum. “Are you up for another level?”
“I am if you are.”
The two set off in search of another set of stairs.
“What were you about to say earlier?” Randy asked. When David directed a questioning look at him, he added, “‘Which reminds me...”
Nearly breathless, they made their way to another belvedere terrace and glanced out. “I met Lady Armenia’s beau this morning at the jewelry shop.”
“I didn’t know she had one.”
“He’s an American. Owns a textiles firm.”
Randy furrowed his brows. “The gentleman with whom she was dancing at the ball? I think she only danced the one time,” he said. “Do you think he’s after her fortune?”
David shook his head. “No,” he whispered, his gaze on his mind’s eye. “He reminded me of Father, when he talks about Mother,” he murmured. “Bought her a gold band with a huge ruby and some diamonds.”
Whistling softly, Randy chuckled. “That must have cost a fortune.”
“Indeed. Two fortunes. I hope she says ‘yes’, for his sake.”
“When will you propose?”
David chuckled softly. “I’ve only just decided I like her,” he said on a sigh.
“You wouldn’t have massaged her feet if you didn’t, you dolt,” Randy countered happily.
They moved away from the arched opening and stared down at the oval below. The floor was long gone, and the evidence of the underground tunnels and passageways supporting gladiatorial combat were visible despite having been partially filled in with dirt over the centuries.
“Um...” Randy said, stepping backwards until his back was pressed against the stone wall of the top tier.
“What is it?” David asked.
“I, uh, might be, uh...”
David noted how pale his cousin suddenly appeared. “Scared of heights?” he guessed.
Randy nodded.
“Oh. Well, do you think you could turn around and face the stairs as you go down?”
“That worked for the Red Pyramid,” Randy replied in a quiet voice.
“You climbed the Red Pyramid?” David asked in surprise.
Randy nodded. “With Diana. We only went up fifty feet, but...” He gingerly set a booted foot down on the top step and turned to face David. “Could you go first? Maybe… provide some direction?”
Chuckling softly, David did his cousin’s bidding for the top two concourses. Once they reached the first level, Randy faced the interior and easily skipped down the last set of stairs to join the rest of their party out on the lawn.
Diana held up her completed sketch, and he leaned over and kissed her on the forehead.
“I thought you were scared of heights,” she said in a quiet voice.
“I am,” he acknowledged. “But I wanted to see you.”
She grinned and allowed him to help her to her feet.
“Bounder,” she accused, tucking her sketchbook back into her satchel. “What’s next?”
Will waved a hand to indicate the Forum. “All the rest of it,” he said. He led the way as everyone followed.
At the end of the procession, David, who had passed off the guidebook to Tom, stood between Armenia and Vittoria. It took all his self-control not to inform the two of what he knew was in their futures.
Marriage proposals.