He seemed to be waiting for a response.
“Every House has secrets,” Marco replied carefully. “You know more’n—more than a few things that neither the Valdosta nor the Dell’este could be proud of. You can trust me, Petro.”
Now Petro turned, though he was still nothing more than a sable shape to Marco. “Well. I will admit I have been toying with this notion for a while, but—I didn’t quite know how to phrase this delicately, yet I also did not want you to have any deceptions about what I was going to offer. Angelina told you, she says, that she’s—”
“Expecting,” Marco supplied.
“And who the father is.” Petro coughed. “We are in something of a dilemma. It just isn’t done for a Case Vecchie daughter to have an—unacknowledged child. Yet we can hardly look to Caesare Aldanto as a husband. It would seem best for Angelina to make a marriage, but frankly, there wasn’t anyone she wanted to confide in—really, no one she truly didn’t find repugnant even for a titular husband.” He paused, significantly. “Until today.”
Marco was considerably less of a fool than he had been half a year ago, but this was still a shock.
“You mean—” He gulped. “You mean me.”
“It would be of great benefit to Dorma,” Petro admitted frankly. “A marriage with Valdosta would get us out of an awkward situation—and not incidentally, give us a chance to negotiate for a better access to Ferrara’s steel trade.” His voice was wry. “I do have to think first of Dorma as a whole before I think of Angelina—but if I can benefit both . . .”
Marco fought for solid ground. “Was this Angelina’s idea, not yours?”
Petro tapped his chest. “I suggested it after she told me about this afternoon. She seemed to welcome the idea. She does like you, Marco—and so do I. I’d be quite pleased to have you further tied to my House.”
Marco was floundering. He could have Angelina Dorma, the girl he’d once dreamed of—and if he kept his mouth shut, she’d continue to blame Caesare for her mother’s addiction. That would, eventually, break the hold Caesare had on her heart. Which would please Maria, and maybe Caesare too. It would save the Casa Dorma from a potentially damning scandal. Marco could read between Petro’s careful words. Finding a husband for Angelina that wouldn’t drag the family down was going to be hard, to say nothing of expensive. And he, Marco Valdosta, owed the Dorma. For protection as much as advancement. He owed Caesare. He owed Maria too.
But what about Kat? His heart felt like it would break.
Dell’este honor.
He’d followed the dictates of his heart before. The result had been disaster.
Dell’este honor demanded payback. And he might be in love with Kat . . . yet he still had no idea if she was in love with him.
More than anything, at that moment, Marco wanted to talk to Kat. Desperately. But he had no idea how to reach her before their appointment on Thursday. He didn’t know where she lived—even her last name.
Everything hurt.
He was almost gasping like a fish out of water, now. His mind, reeling, tried to find a point of solidity somewhere. The only one which came was—
Honor. Family honor.
Marco had a feeling that if he saw Kat again, family honor might just crumble. But honor demanded that he did see her. Didn’t it?
“Milord—three things,” he said carefully, choosing his words and somehow managing not to stammer. “The first is—I need to think about this. There’s someone—never mind. I’d like to get out of the House for a while.”
His mind slipped into a medical track, seeking comfort in the familiar. “For your mother . . . I’ll suggest a few things that I know of to Doctor Rigannio. But while he’s trying them, it might be a good idea anyway if Milady Rosanna wouldn’t be in a position to see me.”
Petro nodded. “Certainly. I didn’t expect an immediate answer. But please keep in mind . . . Marriage can’t wait too long, Marco. Angelina’s three months pregnant already. Closer to four months, I suspect. As for the other, a place away from my mother could be arranged—but not back with Aldanto. Did you have anything in mind?”