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After taking a moment to compose herself, she said, “As ientleman you seek, Emilio Antinori, was my father But I will not be able to conduct you to him Sadly, I must tell you that he died of fever last fall in Bath”
The Italian stared at her “You, the daughter of Signore E the letters back on the table, “this cannot be!”
He took an agitated pace away, then wheeled to face her “It norina,” he declared, his voice rising as he shook his finger in her face, “to speak so beautifully ner!”
Before Allegra could try to cal “For heaven’s sake, lower your voice, sir! You’ll wake ra, he stopped short “Miss Antinori, what is wrong? Is that gentle you?”
His finger still pointed at her accusingly, the man froze “Miss Antinori?” he echoed “It is truth, then? You are the daughter of Emilio Antinori?”
“I have that honor,” Allegra replied in Italian “Shall I show you a letter he wrote me?” Quickly she pulled it from her reticule “You may see for yourself that it is in the same hand as the letters you carry”
While she held it out for the traveler’s inspection, she said to Sir Henry, “It appears this gentle my father”
“Cielo mio, that is his hand!” DiCastello murmured Then to her astonishment, the man fell on his knees at her feet, seized her hand and kissed it
“Ah, yes, you do have the look of the Antinori about you!” he exclaimed “I am honored, Duchessa! Now, you illio Only the joyous news that he has so beautiful a granddaughter will assuage the grief of my master il duce when he learns his beloved son is dead”
“Your ra repeated numbly
“Si, Duchessa Arturo Sergio Antinori, Duke of San Gregillio And, it seerandfather”
FOR THE NEXT HOUR, in the private parlor the Malverns kindly put at her disposal while they strolled with their daughter, Allegra sat at the table and listened to her grandfather’s e it difficult to believe what had unfolded thiswas real and not the led to co her father’s heritage
Fortified by wine brought by Lady Malvern’s nore DiCastello’s insistence remained discreetly nearby to chaperone, the Italian related to her how her father caed from his family
Supreifted and interested only in his music, Emilio had not been content to be an amateur performer or a patron of the arts, as befitted one of his station Determined to devote himself completely to music, he told his father he meant not only to perforland and study the works of the composers he most admired, Handel and Hayden
When the duke ada that an Antinori of San Gregillio e or chase after coo with or without his parent’s permission The duke had cajoled, reprimanded and finally threatened to disown his son should he persist in carrying out his plans
Her father left the following day As proud and stubborn as his son, the duke did not try to stop him, nor did he attempt to even contact Ee along with the deaths of his wife and his other sons inspired the duke to relent, Napoleon’s shadow had fallen over Italy England’s continental blockade and the necessity for the duke to sche absorbed into the French-imposed Republic of Italy had forced the postponement of the duke’s efforts to find his son
Only now that Waterloo had determined the Emperor—and Italy’s—fate had the Duke been able to send the emissary on his mission to seek reconciliation
A reconciliation that was not to be Allegra wondered if returning to seek the duke’s forgiveness ht have been the bold plan about which her mother had spoken, its implementation stynore DiCastello was saying that Allegrashe owed it to herself and the grandfather she had nevershe could about the life of the son whose loss he would forever mourn
As te to explain to the Italian why she could not simply abandon the Malverns when Sir Henry, Lady Malvern and Eliza returned from their walk