Pulling my neck straight, I felt my blood warm. Not only wasn't Dario home, nor had I heard from him, but dinner was obviously served at least an hour ago with no concern for my attendance. I was upstairs. How hard would it have been for Contessa to come up and tell me dinner was ready?
Steeling my resolve, I took the plate, the one from the seat not at the head of the table, into the kitchen. Thankfully, this kitchen didn't have faux cabinets over all the appliances. I put the plate into the microwave and hit thirty seconds.
“s**t," I exclaimed as sparks within popped and an alarm overhead began to squeal. Opening the door, I reached for the plate, feeling the heat and for the first time, noticing the silver filigree on the edge of the china. “Well, s**t," I mumbled as I dropped the wa
