Three

CAT PRETENDED NOT TO notice the looks of surprise on everyone's faces when they saw her joining them for breakfast.

I know, I know.

This was why she hadn't been able to answer in the affirmative when Sarica assumed they would only meet after breakfast.

This was Cat eating her words, after consistently turning down their invitations to dine with the Marchettis during 'special' occasions.

And one certainly couldn't get any more special than this, since it wasn't every year that a new Marchetti bride was joining the entire famiglia for breakfast the morning after her wedding.

The silence in the dining room remained unbroken even as Cat claimed the last unoccupied seat on the table.

All eyes were on her, but only one person's gaze mattered.

This is it.

She hadn't looked his way yet, not wanting to accidentally give things away.

You can do this, Cat.

She glanced at La Strega, and the crafty smile on the older woman's lips was not particularly encouraging. The matriarch was obviously relishing everyone's shock, and Cat had a feeling it would only get worse from here.

Lord, please make her behave!

To the good people of Boston, Signora Potenziana Marchetti was a woman of courage and honor, a woman who had earned her right to be the city's queen instead of being born into it. And while all of those things were indeed true—-

Oh, if only.

If only the good people of Boston also knew just how immature their beloved matriarch could be-—

"I have an announcement to make, and now seems a good time as any to make it."

Oh Lord, this is going to be bad, isn't it?

"But before anything else, I would like to welcome the newest member of our famiglia once again. Thank you for making do with my grandson, bambina ."

Phew!

It was not much of a reprieve, but Cat was just glad and relieved as the words led to banter and another passionate display of affection between the newlyweds. She started to relax and was about to reach for her cup of coffee when she heard the matriarch clear her throat.

"As for my other announcement..."

All thoughts of coffee fled her mind the moment La Strega turned to her.

This. Is. It.

"Cattleya here has asked for my permission to become Ezio's bride."

She saw Ezio jerk in the corner of her eye, and Cat didn't know what to think. It was so unlike him to betray his emotions like that, and...that was good? Or was it not?

"And I said yes."

All eyes swung to her yet again, and Cat was just thankful she had years of practice of wearing a mask.

Am I really doing the right thing here, God?

Because the way everyone was looking at her had Cat starting to doubt the things she once thought were certain and true.

I didn't hear You wrong, did I?

And even though she hadn't really expected Him to answer her, He did.

Because Ezio was suddenly looking straight at her, and his beautiful, dark gaze was still unreadable as ever.

Oh, thank You.

Just as the way she was only visible to him, he alone was unreadable to her, and that was all the answer she needed.

"Did I hear nonna correctly? Did you truly ask her to marry me?"

She didn't even hesitate, saying simply, "Yes."

He stared at her, and it was another one of those rare moments in which Ezio allowed everyone, herself included, to see what he was feeling.

He was incredulous, for one.

Infuriated even, surprisingly.

And then...

It was all gone.

The windows to his soul shuttered close, and it was almost as if she had only imagined what she had seen.

But I didn't. Right?

Ezio suddenly rose to his feet, and Cat's heart started pounding.

"If you would excuse us..."

There was nothing to read in his honey-smooth voice except for the firmness of his tone, which brooked no argument.

"I'd like to have a word with Cattleya in private."