Harlequin Historical October 2014 - Box Set 2 of 2: Zachary Black: Duke of Debauchery\Betrayed by His Kiss\Falling for Her Captor by Carole Mortimer

Author:Carole Mortimer
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2014-10-15T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Nine

The palazzo was silent as Isabella slipped out of her chamber into the corridor. It was deep into the night, but candles were lit in the sconces, casting their glow into the mysterious darkness. Their hiss and flicker seemed to be the only life in the perfect stillness of the house.

Caterina had retired after the party, her face white and strained with fatigue, and the servants disappeared after bringing Isabella her supper. Matteo had never come home at all. The last Isabella saw of him was when he reeled away from the Prato with his equally wine-besotted friends, singing a bawdy song.

Isabella knew she should sleep as well. It had been such a long day, filled with sunshine and wine and such a wild swirl of emotions. She hadn’t seen Orlando again, even though she had searched for him through the dancers and the games. Even though she could not forget his kiss, the way it made her feel, so wild and exultant, so full of longing.

As if she had been searching and searching for so long, looking for that one perfect moment, and then it was upon her. It had been so right. But now it was gone, leaving her confused and alone once again.

So, aye, she should be sleeping. Forgetting everything in dreams. But she couldn’t lie still, couldn’t quiet her thoughts. The spring night was warm and her chamber felt too close. She remembered Mena telling her about a large terrace on the top floor of the palazzo. A large, shaded landing where the family could watch processions on the street below, or where the servants could hide for a bit of purloined wine. Isabella thought maybe she could sit there for a time, find some fresh air and watch the city that had so beguiled her.

She had quickly tugged on one of her simple dresses from home and left her hair loose, freed from its elaborate braids and curls. The fine silks and jewels from the party were left behind. She wrapped a thin shawl around her shoulders as she made her way up the narrow back staircase. She encountered no one. It felt as if the house was indeed deserted.

She found the landing off a small antechamber at the top of the house. Her shoes clicked on the flagstone floor as she tiptoed over to lean on the railing and study the street below. Unlike the palazzo, Florence was not completely silent for the night. In the distance, she could hear the echo of music and light once again flickered in the house across the square.

Isabella leaned down to rest her chin on her palm, closing her eyes as she let the night wash over her. She thought of Orlando, the way his hands felt as she danced with him, his kiss. She had never imagined a kiss could feel like that...

A sudden, sharp crack made her eyes fly open, startled. She stood up straight just in time to see a flare of fireworks shoot over the tiled roofs of the city.

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