between his daughter and Valiant Cordassci,
Signore
di Sponda di Fiume.”
“Oh, he will!” Louisa burst out. “My mama taught me that I should never ask for anything unless I truly wanted it. ‘Think before you ask, Louisa,’ she would say. ‘A man does not enjoy being constantly impugned by the women in his life for one silly thing or another. But he does enjoy giving. Your papa will be generous to you—I know, for he is to me. Ask your father only for your heart’s desire.’ Valiant is my heart’s desire. I have asked him for only one other thing in my life. My mare, Bella.”
Duke Titus smiled. A sweet maid, he thought, but a better match for Valiant than for my son. “We shall begin arranging your departure on the morrow. I hope you can be back in time for Rafaello and Francesca’s wedding in December.”
December? Francesca grew pale. The duke was certainly wasting no time.
Duke Titus now spoke to her and to his son. “I welcome you to the Cesare family, Francesca Pietro d’Angelo. If the choice had been mine to make, I probably would have chosen you myself for Rafaello. As I have said, we will plan your wedding for December. The day after, you and Rafaello will receive the ducal crowns, and I will gratefully retire, leaving the business of governance to my son.” He smiled. “By this time next year I hope you will be close to gifting me with a grandchild, my daughter.”
Rafaello winced at his father’s words. He didn’t have to see Francesca’s face to know the old man was terrifying her with this talk of crowns and heirs.
“I am pleased to receive your approval,” Francesca said quietly. She even managed to give the duke a weak smile.
“
Padre
,” Rafaello interjected, “I think Francesca and Louisa are exhausted by the excitement of this day. Will you excuse us to escort them to their apartments and into the care of their women?”
“Ahh, I am a thoughtless old man,” Duke Titus said. “You have made me a very happy man, my son. Yes! Yes! Go!
Buona notte
, my young friends!”
They left him, Valiant and Louisa chattering excitedly to each other about how long it would take them to return to Genoa and if they should travel quickly and leave her baggage train to follow at a more leisurely pace.
“Take my father’s men-at-arms. The di Medici soldiers will want to return to Florence quickly,” Francesca said. “I’ll send two of my own with them so they may carry any messages the duke wishes to send to my father.”
“I accept,” Valiant said. The hired men-at-arms who came with Louisa were sent back immediately, and it was agreed in advance that if she was not chosen, Terreno Boscoso would arrange for Louisa’s protection on her return.
They had reached the corridor where the three girls were being housed. From inside Aceline’s rooms they could hear weeping and items being shattered, along with shrieks of outrage. At Louisa’s door Valiant bent to kiss his beloved good night while Rafaello and Francesca passed by, reaching her apartments next.
“Good night,” he said. “We will talk on the morrow.” He didn’t kiss her.
“Yes,” she agreed, relieved. “Good night, Rafaello.” Then she quickly turned to go inside and face her servants, whom she knew would be celebrating her victory.
Chapter 5
S he leaned against the door as it closed behind her and drew a deep breath. How on earth had this happened? Why had Rafaello chosen her instead of Aceline? Was it simply because she was the only choice left to him? Louisa was in love with another. He did not like Aceline, although with her noble blood the French girl had been an excellent candidate for a duke’s son. Yet it was she, Francesca, who had barely given him the time of day, nor had she encouraged his intentions. It had to be because she was the only one left. How lovely! He didn’t love her. She was just convenient. There were days like right now when she wished she were a little girl chasing after Bianca
Signore
di Sponda di Fiume.”
“Oh, he will!” Louisa burst out. “My mama taught me that I should never ask for anything unless I truly wanted it. ‘Think before you ask, Louisa,’ she would say. ‘A man does not enjoy being constantly impugned by the women in his life for one silly thing or another. But he does enjoy giving. Your papa will be generous to you—I know, for he is to me. Ask your father only for your heart’s desire.’ Valiant is my heart’s desire. I have asked him for only one other thing in my life. My mare, Bella.”
Duke Titus smiled. A sweet maid, he thought, but a better match for Valiant than for my son. “We shall begin arranging your departure on the morrow. I hope you can be back in time for Rafaello and Francesca’s wedding in December.”
December? Francesca grew pale. The duke was certainly wasting no time.
Duke Titus now spoke to her and to his son. “I welcome you to the Cesare family, Francesca Pietro d’Angelo. If the choice had been mine to make, I probably would have chosen you myself for Rafaello. As I have said, we will plan your wedding for December. The day after, you and Rafaello will receive the ducal crowns, and I will gratefully retire, leaving the business of governance to my son.” He smiled. “By this time next year I hope you will be close to gifting me with a grandchild, my daughter.”
Rafaello winced at his father’s words. He didn’t have to see Francesca’s face to know the old man was terrifying her with this talk of crowns and heirs.
“I am pleased to receive your approval,” Francesca said quietly. She even managed to give the duke a weak smile.
“
Padre
,” Rafaello interjected, “I think Francesca and Louisa are exhausted by the excitement of this day. Will you excuse us to escort them to their apartments and into the care of their women?”
“Ahh, I am a thoughtless old man,” Duke Titus said. “You have made me a very happy man, my son. Yes! Yes! Go!
Buona notte
, my young friends!”
They left him, Valiant and Louisa chattering excitedly to each other about how long it would take them to return to Genoa and if they should travel quickly and leave her baggage train to follow at a more leisurely pace.
“Take my father’s men-at-arms. The di Medici soldiers will want to return to Florence quickly,” Francesca said. “I’ll send two of my own with them so they may carry any messages the duke wishes to send to my father.”
“I accept,” Valiant said. The hired men-at-arms who came with Louisa were sent back immediately, and it was agreed in advance that if she was not chosen, Terreno Boscoso would arrange for Louisa’s protection on her return.
They had reached the corridor where the three girls were being housed. From inside Aceline’s rooms they could hear weeping and items being shattered, along with shrieks of outrage. At Louisa’s door Valiant bent to kiss his beloved good night while Rafaello and Francesca passed by, reaching her apartments next.
“Good night,” he said. “We will talk on the morrow.” He didn’t kiss her.
“Yes,” she agreed, relieved. “Good night, Rafaello.” Then she quickly turned to go inside and face her servants, whom she knew would be celebrating her victory.
Chapter 5
S he leaned against the door as it closed behind her and drew a deep breath. How on earth had this happened? Why had Rafaello chosen her instead of Aceline? Was it simply because she was the only choice left to him? Louisa was in love with another. He did not like Aceline, although with her noble blood the French girl had been an excellent candidate for a duke’s son. Yet it was she, Francesca, who had barely given him the time of day, nor had she encouraged his intentions. It had to be because she was the only one left. How lovely! He didn’t love her. She was just convenient. There were days like right now when she wished she were a little girl chasing after Bianca
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