Right. Evie had first dibs on Lucio and as a teenager, spoke about him every day to deliberately torment her. Amy had always stayed silent and let her sister have her way, but this time, her parents had sworn to back her up and keep Evieaway.
Someone knocked at the door to her bedroom. Amy stared at both of them as Lucio wouldn't knock. "Could that be myparents?"
"Probably. They’ve been waiting to speak to you since your arrival yesterday, and then again thismorning."
She didn’t regret yesterday. "We were only slightly delayed. The drive through the mountain hit a snag as a tourist bus went off road. Lucio went to help, but that was only twenty minutes offschedule."
"They wanted yesterday," Reneeclarified.
Kristin and Renee finished their tea as a servant answered Lucio’s door. Amy heard her mother's sigh and stood, her knee bumping the table. Her nerves were awreck.
Renee rose as well, dragging Kristin up with her. "We'll leave you all alone to catch up. It was lovely to chat withyou."
Then both of the princesses reached out and hugged her. Amy assumed it was their American attitude but thanked them both. If she could have convinced them to stay, she would have, but she got the feeling that they’d already formed an unfavorable opinion about herfolks.
A servant brought her parents to the balcony as the princesses left. A uniformed young woman changed the tea cups and cleaned the table. Amy pointed for them to both sit and they did so. Her mother’s gray hair was now chestnut brown and almost matched her father’s perfectly. They must have used the same bottle, but then she’d expect them to look spruced up as they were guests in a royal palace. A fresh pot of tea was placed on the table, and Amy scooted her chair further in. "Mother. Father. I heard Evie is here aswell."
Her mother picked up a small scone and placed it on her plate. "We'll ensure she doesn't ruin yourwedding."
Her heart hammered in her chest. This time, she had her parents and Lucio's promise, but the image of Evie kissing Lucio at the table beside her in the library replayed in her mind. Now that she'd kissed Lucio, she understood his appeal, which made her want him evenmore.
Evie could be major trouble, but Amy picked up her cup, had another sip and let the tea help bolster her courage. "And my potential happiness after thewedding?"
Again, her mother spoke, as if she was the family spokesman. "That's entirely your choice, dear, though we hope you live forever in love and happiness withLucio."
Good. They were all on the same page. She picked up her tea cup. "You swore to give me time alone with Lucio. I wasn't expecting Evie here thisfast."
Her father chimed in as the bedroom door opened. "We didn't think she'd be here either, but Evie believes you'll marry quickly and wanted to be here forit."
Amy understood better than her parents. Evie might not want to say it, but she didn't want Amy to marry Lucio, who waited now at the bedroom door. Amy looked into the haunted brown eyes of her fiancé, and prayed her sister made no trouble for either ofthem.
"Can you please excuse us? I need to speak toLucio."
Her parents both stood as Amy walked into the bedroom and reached for Lucio’s hands. Whatever caused that look in his gaze, she'd help him. If they had any chance at a future, they had to work together. As his fingers closed around her hand, she felt more secure. They had to have theirshot.
11
Lucio waiteduntil Amy’s parents left the bedroom. His parents’ discussion was still fresh in his mind anyhow, but Amy seemed quiet and more pensive. He guided her by hand to sit on the balcony again. He’d have a cup of tea and give her time to unwind and open up again. She slid back into her seat and he took the seat besideher.
Amy poured him a cup. "Your parents found youquickly."
"Evie is here." She said by way of answer as she placed the tea pot in the middle of the table without looking athim.
Her sister wasn't half as interesting as she was to him. Clearly his teenaged brain was soaked with misplaced hormones. He covered her hand with his and leaned closer. "I told you I went to see her before you—I felt nothing. Evie shouldn't be aproblem."
"She isn’t." Her gaze went up toward him and she blinked, "Lucio, what's the matter? I can tell something iswrong."
The subject change seemed dramatic. Perhaps he wasn't the only one who was shell-shocked from this morning’s adventures. He took a deep breath and decided to share with her. "I told you that Marco dismantled the bombs in the old guardhouse."
She leaned closer and their shoulders touched. "Yes, so whathappened?"
To explain, she needed a little history. He sat straight, released her hand and stared into his tea cup. "My brothers and I used that guard house as a retreat away from our parents, where we'd unwind withoutsupervision."
She picked up her tea and sipped. "That's interesting, but shouldn't beupsetting."
He steeled his body against a possible threat, which was extremely unlikely considering the heightened security. "Whoever set up the bombs torched our living room. Yes, it's just furniture, but it was personal to us. And," he shrugged, "they left anote."
Her face drained of color and her voice softened. "What did the notesay?"
