Chapter 31

“Your daughter? That would make you—”

“Your grandmother.”

“My grandmother! Oh, my goodness, I can hardly believe it.” She looked at Maria, and said, “Are you a relative, also, Signora?”

“I am also your grandmother many generations removed,” Maria said.

Angelina was beside herself with joy. “This is the best wedding present I could possibly have, and I don’t even know who to thank.”

“Angelina,” the Duke said, “we’ve had people working on the mystery of your mother’s family for a long time. If you want someone to thank, thank Stefano.”

“Don’t look at me,” Stefano said. “Marco’s the one who convinced these ladies to talk to us.”

“Well, thank… thank you all,” Angelina said. “Thank you from the bottom of my heart. Come, Grandmother, let’s go out onto the terrace, and you can tell me about my mother—I was only three when she died, and I don’t remember anything about her.”

She took her grandmother by the hand and led her from the room.