Chapter 5

Giorgia’s POV

I went outside the hall. I saw three women standing in the corridor, wearing expensive gowns and jewelry impossible to miss. I recognized them from the ballroom.

“So you’re Giorgia,” the one in the middle said, looking at me “I expected the children’s nanny to look different.”

“The children are ready for bed.”

“We weren’t asking about the children.” The woman beside her laughed softly. “She’s prettier than I expected.”

“How long have you worked here?” the third one asked.

“A little over a year.”

“And you serve at the banquet?”

“When I’m needed.”

“A servant carrying drinks around important guests.” Her expression tightened. “Especially around Lord Alessandro.”

My stomach tightened. “I was doing my job.”

A servant passed with a tray of wine. The woman reached for a glass, and her fingers suddenly loosened. Red wine splashed across the front of my dress.

“Oh,” she said sweetly. “How clumsy of me.”

They laughed. I reached for a cloth. “It’s fine.”

“You’re not angry?”

“I have work to finish.”

“She thinks she’s better than us,” one muttered behind me as I walked away.

A few minutes later, Mrs. Bianchi sent me back into the ballroom, the stain still visible across my dress. I ignored it.

I’d almost reached the far table when I felt someone watching me. Alessandro, near the fireplace, his attention fixed on me.

One of the women from the corridor approached him. “My lord.” She touched his arm. “Will you care to join us?”

“No.”

“I thought you might enjoy some company.”

“I don’t.”

Several conversations nearby fell quiet. She removed her hand. “I was only being polite.”

“Thank you.”

He turned away. She returned to her friends, humiliated, and their whispers started almost immediately. A servant glanced at my stained dress. Another looked toward Alessandro.

I understood what was happening. His attention had made me interesting. Being interesting in a room like this was dangerous.

When my duties finally ended, I went straight for my bag. The balm under my sleeve had almost faded completely. I couldn’t wait until morning.

I slipped through the servants’ entrance and stepped into the cold night air. For the first time all evening, I breathed freely.

Then I stopped.

Across the street stood a man. He was not dressed like a servant. Or was he waiting for a carriage. He was Watching me.

My fingers tightened around my bag. He didn’t move. Neither did I.

Then he smiled.

And somehow, that frightened me more.