Chapter 24

• ‘Oh, Leo, it’s wonderful!’ she breathed.
• Leo slowed the boat to manoeuvre it into its mooring beneath the house, before turning to help Astoriaella step onto the paved walkway that led to a staircase up into the main part of the palace.
• ‘Could you bring tea up to the drawing-room, Edoardo?’ he asked his manservant as the other man came into the spacious hallway to greet them. Leo kept his amusement contained as the elderly man showed none of the surprise he was probably feeling at the return of his employer in the middle of the afternoon, with a beautiful redhead secured firmly at his side, and he kept a light hold on Astoriaella’s arm.