way her mother spoke left Serafina in no doubt that she had often repeated the words to herself. Bettina met her daughter’s gaze. “I was just thinking on how you have grown in these past few months.”
Serafina could not help but release tears. “Never did I imagine that the world could hold such sorrow.”
“Or joy,” her mother admonished. “Never forget that.”
“No, Mama. You are right. Or joy .”
Serafina was startled to hear her father say, “The Vienna royals are involved in the slave trade.”
“Papa, I did not know you were there.”
Bettina obviously did not share her daughter’s surprise, for she merely said, “Would you care for coffee, husband?”
“Half a cup, perhaps.”
She rose to fetch a cup and saucer. “Join us, dear.”
“Thank you.” He seated himself at the head of the table. “I did not want to disturb your conversation, but I could not help but listen.”
“I have no secrets from you, Papa.” The contrast her simple statement made to the previous summer, when she had lived for a secret love, one that tore their family apart, almost reduced her to tears.
“There, there. None of that. We are here, we are together, and as your mother has said, you have indeed grown.” Alessandro patted his daughter’s hand, then continued to the two women, “The Hapsburgs have no direct holdings in Africa. But they are partnered with their Belgian cousins.”
“And the Portuguese,” her mother added, pouring her husband a cup of coffee. “In Africa and Brazil both.”
A thought struck her. “The legate, Prince Fritz-Heinrich?”
“His family partners with others whose empire is based upon sugar and slaves. He accepted this posting so as to keep an eye on their American buyers,” Alessandro said, stirring in sugar. “As vile a business as ever there was.”
Serafina recalled the confrontation with the legate. “I meant no harm to your concerns, Father.”
“Slavery has never been a concern of mine, nor of any on the merchant council. I have made sure of that.” He sipped his coffee. “I am proud of you, daughter.”
Her mother asked, “Are you bored here, Serafina?”
“How could I be, Mama? I am here with you!”
“It is a valid question,” Alessandro said. “You have played a role in mighty deeds. You have traveled and you have matured. Yet here in Washington you have remained hidden away in the back rooms of the legate’s manor.”
“I have used the time to sketch and draw,” Serafina said. She heard more than the question. She heard the tone in which they spoke to her. As a beloved daughter, yes. But also as an adult. She gave the question the attention it deserved. Serafina had no idea what she wanted or did not want, which was very odd, for previously she had been a headstrong and independent young lady. Just now, she was content to remain at her parents’ side. “All I have thought of up to now is being with you both again. And healing. And restoring our family.”
Bettina gripped her daughter’s hands with both of hers, sharing a long look with her husband. But before she could speak, the front door crashed back and they heard Mary cry, “Miss Gavi!”
“In the kitchen.”
The young maid who had accompanied her from London came rushing back, followed by Gerald Rivens. Her eyes were as wild as her hair. “I have terrible news!”
Chapter 6
They were still deep in worry and discussion when Falconer returned. That is, Serafina’s father and mother were talking. Serafina had little to say. Gerald Rivens was naturally silent. Alessandro Gavi paced while his wife alternated between checking on the meal and wringing her hands in a most Italian fashion. Mary stood by the back window alongside Rivens while she took tentative sips from her cup.
Her parents were clearly displeased when Falconer appeared with a stranger in tow. It took Serafina a moment to recognize the newcomer as the young man from the hotel lobby. After Falconer had introduced him
Serafina could not help but release tears. “Never did I imagine that the world could hold such sorrow.”
“Or joy,” her mother admonished. “Never forget that.”
“No, Mama. You are right. Or joy .”
Serafina was startled to hear her father say, “The Vienna royals are involved in the slave trade.”
“Papa, I did not know you were there.”
Bettina obviously did not share her daughter’s surprise, for she merely said, “Would you care for coffee, husband?”
“Half a cup, perhaps.”
She rose to fetch a cup and saucer. “Join us, dear.”
“Thank you.” He seated himself at the head of the table. “I did not want to disturb your conversation, but I could not help but listen.”
“I have no secrets from you, Papa.” The contrast her simple statement made to the previous summer, when she had lived for a secret love, one that tore their family apart, almost reduced her to tears.
“There, there. None of that. We are here, we are together, and as your mother has said, you have indeed grown.” Alessandro patted his daughter’s hand, then continued to the two women, “The Hapsburgs have no direct holdings in Africa. But they are partnered with their Belgian cousins.”
“And the Portuguese,” her mother added, pouring her husband a cup of coffee. “In Africa and Brazil both.”
A thought struck her. “The legate, Prince Fritz-Heinrich?”
“His family partners with others whose empire is based upon sugar and slaves. He accepted this posting so as to keep an eye on their American buyers,” Alessandro said, stirring in sugar. “As vile a business as ever there was.”
Serafina recalled the confrontation with the legate. “I meant no harm to your concerns, Father.”
“Slavery has never been a concern of mine, nor of any on the merchant council. I have made sure of that.” He sipped his coffee. “I am proud of you, daughter.”
Her mother asked, “Are you bored here, Serafina?”
“How could I be, Mama? I am here with you!”
“It is a valid question,” Alessandro said. “You have played a role in mighty deeds. You have traveled and you have matured. Yet here in Washington you have remained hidden away in the back rooms of the legate’s manor.”
“I have used the time to sketch and draw,” Serafina said. She heard more than the question. She heard the tone in which they spoke to her. As a beloved daughter, yes. But also as an adult. She gave the question the attention it deserved. Serafina had no idea what she wanted or did not want, which was very odd, for previously she had been a headstrong and independent young lady. Just now, she was content to remain at her parents’ side. “All I have thought of up to now is being with you both again. And healing. And restoring our family.”
Bettina gripped her daughter’s hands with both of hers, sharing a long look with her husband. But before she could speak, the front door crashed back and they heard Mary cry, “Miss Gavi!”
“In the kitchen.”
The young maid who had accompanied her from London came rushing back, followed by Gerald Rivens. Her eyes were as wild as her hair. “I have terrible news!”
Chapter 6
They were still deep in worry and discussion when Falconer returned. That is, Serafina’s father and mother were talking. Serafina had little to say. Gerald Rivens was naturally silent. Alessandro Gavi paced while his wife alternated between checking on the meal and wringing her hands in a most Italian fashion. Mary stood by the back window alongside Rivens while she took tentative sips from her cup.
Her parents were clearly displeased when Falconer appeared with a stranger in tow. It took Serafina a moment to recognize the newcomer as the young man from the hotel lobby. After Falconer had introduced him
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