Chapter 13
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
“Giovanni, have my wife sent to me.”
Giovanni looked up from his work, transcribing letters for his master and frowned.
“Now, sir?”
“Yes, please.”
Giovanni rose, passed a message to the maid, and turned to see his master reading a letter with his classic furrowed brow.
Silas had been incredibly tense in the last few weeks, ever since Anna had taken her first journey to her mother’s and Silas had received the news about Willy Dugby.
That monster weighed on his master’s mind, especially as there was no additional news.
There was a quiet knock at the door and Giovanni opened it without being asked. Anna stood nervously on the other side. Giovanni couldn’t help but smile at her. She was a sweet woman, always friendly, and her gentle beauty raised the spirit of every room.
“How is he today?” Anna whispered, a slight measure of tension in her melodious voice. Giovanni wasn’t the only one in the house to notice Silas’ declining mood.
“Come al solito,” Giovanni murmured, shrugging his shoulders.
The same as usual. In the last week, Giovanni and Anna had begun to utilize Anna’s knowledge of Italian when they wanted to communicate about Silas without the other servants hearing.
It was certainly making life easier for Giovanni, who naturally communicated better in his native tongue.
Anna nodded in understanding and Giovanni stepped aside to let her in, announcing loudly: “Your wife, sir.”
Silas looked up, and Giovanni noticed the instant softening of his face when he saw Anna.
He saw the lust there, too. It was something Giovanni would never understand; it made no sense to him why his master, one of the most attractive eligible gentlemen in London – one who was not exactly known for his chastity - had not yet bedded his delightful wife.
Of course, Giovanni was not privy to the details of their marital bed.
Still, everyone in Fallenbrook, excluding Beatrice, who was oblivious to such things, knew that the master of the house only visited his wife’s bed for emotional comfort, not physical.
Giovanni believed nothing would settle his master’s anxiety like the comfort of a woman, but Silas had not visited any of the London gentlemen’s clubs since being married.
Giovanni shook his head. No Italian man would voluntarily suffer this way.
Silas held the letter up to Anna. “We have been invited to a ball.”
“Oh, lovely.” Anna paused. “Would you like to go?”
Giovanni moved quietly past Anna to sit at his desk.
His master hadn’t dismissed him so, clearly, he still needed his ears or input in some way.
Sometimes, however, Giovanni felt like Silas kept him around as a personal chaperone for him and his wife.
It was not a role he relished; there were too many longing looks between the couple to be reasonably borne.
Coming from a hot-headed Italian family, Giovanni could not understand how a couple could barely communicate and be happy.
“I will endure it if it will help Beatrice succeed in society. If it is a waste of time, then I see no reason to suffer a public ball.”
A public ball. Giovanni groaned inwardly. Holy Mother, preserve them! It would be a nightmare to manage security at such an event.
“May I see the invitation?”
Anna perused it. A frown appeared between her brows.
Giovanni watched Silas. He noticed how his master gently pulled a seat back and let Anna sit wordlessly down on it, her eyes still focused on the letter so that she didn’t notice the way Silas’ hand rested gently on her back as he leaned over her shoulder.
Giovanni smirked. The man had never been more smitten.
“What do you think?” Silas asked.
“Hmm.” Anna turned the page over, her eyes skimming the last paragraph. “This is The Marchioness of Loudwater’s daughter’s ball. They are a deeply influential London family. There is every chance that the Prince Regent may even attend.”
“He won’t,” Silas muttered. “He hates a public ball.”
Anna raised her eyebrows. Clearly, she had just had her suspicion that Silas was a close acquaintance of the future King of England confirmed.
“Even if he does not appear, the possibility of his appearance will make it the event of the season.”
“So, she should attend?” Silas sat back in his leather chair, running his hand through his hair. “Is she ready?”
Anna bit her lip. “I believe Beatrice would grace any ballroom.”
“Then why do you look so unsure?”
Anna shook her head. “I have to be honest, Silas. I am not sure Beatrice should be introduced at this time.”
“Oh? When you first met her, you felt that a debut in the summer was entirely appropriate.”
Giovanni noticed the tension in his master’s voice and immediately looked down at his letters. Silas would not want to feel watched for this part of the conversation.
“Beatrice is very young for her age,” Anna said slowly, as if she was aware that this was a dangerous topic. “She is innocent. It was one the things I love the most about her.”
“I agree,” Silas said.
“Well, you will understand my hesitancy then. Any introduction into society naturally involves corruption.”
“You were not corrupted,” Silas spoke softly.
Anna smiled sadly. “One can keep their values well enough, but the Beau Monde hardens a person. It makes them create a veneer of steel around their feelings that cannot be cracked. Innocence is lost. I do not want that for Beatrice, at least not right now. Do you?”
There was silence. Giovanni looked up warily, hoping that Anna’s brutal truths hadn’t enraged Silas. Instead, he was surprised to see that Silas looked thoughtful, considering her words.
“No,” Silas spoke eventually, and Giovanni could tell he was forcing the words out. “But it must happen, and the sooner, the better.”
“Why?” Anna frowned. “She could easily come out next year, perhaps after I have had more time to prepare her. Why must it be now?”
“Because I say so!”
Giovanni raised his eyebrows at Silas’ sharp tone. His master caught his expression and sighed, rubbing his forehead. Anna looked hurt but sat with her back rigid and her eyes fixed on her husband. There was the veneer of steel she spoke of, Giovanni thought.
“I wish I did not have to go into this with you, but it seems I must.” Silas sighed.
“If you want me to endorse your plans to your sister, then I suggest you do,” Anna said coldly.
“As much as I despise the idea of Beatrice losing her innocence, I worry for her.”
“You have more than enough resources to maintain her.”
“I do not worry for her situation, I worry for her reputation.” Silas closed his eyes and leaned back in his chair.
“You know that I do not come from money. The truth is that we come from nothing, and no amount of accumulated wealth can make a family noble. I have tempered the distaste of society with force and fear, but I want more for her than that.”
“What do you mean?”
“Bearing my name all her life will only hold her back.” Silas’ eyes were bleak. “If she finds a reputable husband, then she will be free of my name and everything that comes with it. Klane is not a name that incites attachment.”
Silas spoke with more honesty than Giovanni had ever heard.
He could see how much it pained his master to say these things aloud, and how he steeled himself for Anna’s reaction.
Rightly, Anna could lash out, and display understandable anger that whilst Silas was trying to protect Beatrice from his name, he had bought Anna into marriage and forced his name upon her and any children they would bear. The outburst never came.
“A lady is more than her father’s or brother’s reputation.” Anna’s voice was surprisingly gentle. Silas’ eyebrows rose in shock. “You are more than your reputation. It does not matter what people say.”
“It does,” Silas said firmly. “Besides, it is not just rumors that follow those who hold the Klane name. There are other… dangers.”
Giovanni thought of Willy Dugby, the cruel and awful slave trader Silas had exposed.
He thought of the threats Dugby had made against Silas Klane’s life the last time they had met face to face.
Giovanni thought of the secret darkness in Silas’ past that he had never spoken of, not even to his lieutenant and best friend.
Anna knew none of this, and yet, as she considered Silas carefully.
Giovanni felt as if she was sensing all the danger and pain she couldn’t understand.
“If it’s what you think is best, then I will trust you.” She nodded slowly and stood up. “We shall attend the ball. All together. I will work hard to prepare Beatrice, and you will help, too.”
“How?”
Silas looked perplexed that Anna had accepted everything he said so quickly. Giovanni didn’t often see his master on the back foot. He couldn’t help but smirk a little.
“If your reputation is a danger to her advancement, then you must try your best to cast doubt on it.” She handed the invitation back to Silas. “You must try, please, to be charming.”
“Charming?”
Giovanni almost burst out laughing at his master’s disgusted expression. Anna laughed, too.
“Yes, charming, husband!” She grinned at his fierce frown. “I know that you are more than capable. Giovanni can help you practice, he is very charming! All Italians are.”
Giovanni grinned at Anna but then saw his master’s glowering expression and shrugged helplessly. Silas shook his head as if they were all conspiring against him.
“Very well, I shall try.” He glowered. “Go and tell Beatrice.”
“Of course.” Anna turned to leave the room but stopped at the door, smiling cheekily. “Remember - charming! Affascinante!”
“Affascinante!” Giovanni lifted his hand in the eternal Italian gesture, grinning at Anna widely.
“Out!” Silas barked and the two men sat in silence, listening to Anna’s giggle as she retreated down the hallway. Then Silas turned to his friend. “Can we do it?” he asked plainly.
Giovanni knew what he meant and nodded. “I think so. Our men are very discreet. We can dress the bodyguards as guests.”
“Make it so.” Silas nodded glumly. Then, he suddenly glared at his friend with brooding eyes. “My wife thinks you are charming!” he accused.
“Yes, sir.” Giovanni laughed. “But in my defense, she thinks you are charming, too. Just only to her.”
“Well, there is no one else worth being charming to,” Silas muttered, returning to his work.
“Indeed, sir.” Giovanni bit his lip, trying to hide his amusement. He had never seen a man more of a fool in love.