Page 39

Twelve

I do not wish to look at one more piece of goods,” Sanchia said firmly as she turned away from the shop of a leather craftsman.

Lorenzo halted as he saw the determination on Sanchia’s face.

“Oh, very well. We’ve bought many lengths of fine fabric, the dressmaker has your measurements now, and she can work ’round the clock without you.

Still, I do not understand you in this. You are not behaving with the enthusiasm I thought you’d show, considering your former deprivation. ”

“I must be careful not to take too much,” she said soberly. “It would be foolish to become accustomed to riches that can never be mine.”

“How depressingly sensible. They could be yours if you’d be amenable.”

She shook her head, beginning to walk across the square toward her house. “I won’t stay here longer than I have to do so.”

“Why not? Mandara is a very pleasant place to live. Ask anyone. Lion has built many things of beauty, while he levies few taxes, and his laws are strict but fair. Lady Caterina makes sure the poor are fed and the sick are cared for.” He smiled.

“Why should you want to go back to Florence when Mandara can give you so much?”

“I may not go back to Florence. I don’t know where I’ll go, but I won’t stay here.” She met his gaze. “And you know why, Lorenzo.”

“None of us is really free, Sanchia.”

“I’d like to see if I could prove you wrong.

I don’t know anything but servitude and I’ll have to learn the way of freedom.

When I first awoke on the ship I thought everything was so clear and that I was strong enough to shift the world.

” She shook her head ruefully. “But now I realize it’s as if I have just been born and have to learn everything from the beginning. ”

“I would wait until Lion freed me before venturing into these realms of knowledge.”

“You know he won’t do so. I must free myself…when the opportunity arises.” She paused. “Why did Lion go to Florence?”

“Can’t you guess?”

“Caprino?”

Lorenzo nodded. “He can’t get his hands on Damari at present, so he’s settling for Caprino.”

She shivered. “Caprino is a dangerous man.”

“But so is Lion,” Lorenzo said calmly. “And Caprino will pose no problem for him. Don’t worry; if I’d thought otherwise I would have gone with him.”

Sanchia quickly averted her eyes. “Why should I worry?”

“You might ask yourself that question. The answer could—” He stopped and then smiled. “I believe you have visitors, Sanchia.”

Sanchia’s gaze followed Lorenzo’s to the two horses tied at the iron garden gate. “Lady Caterina?”

“I’m sure you can expect a call from her shortly, but that’s not her horse. If I’m not mistaken, your visitors are Marco and Bianca.”

Sanchia winced. Sweet Mary, she didn’t want to see Lion’s wife again. The very thought of Bianca brought a surge of unreasoning guilt mixed with an emotion even more incomprehensible and infinitely more base in nature. “What is she doing here?”

“Her charitable duty, no doubt.” Lorenzo took Sanchia’s elbow and propelled her forward through the shallow garden. “But I’m glad they decided to come. I believe you’ll find their visit very illuminating.”

“Illuminating?” Sanchia asked, puzzled.

Lorenzo opened the front door and stepped aside for her to precede him. “You have keen eyes, use them.”

“Sanchia!” Bianca rushed forward, a smile lighting her face. “I hope you don’t mind our visiting so soon. I wanted to go to the cathedral this morning and took the opportunity to bring you a strengthening herbal remedy.”

“No, of course I don’t mind.” Sanchia smiled tentatively. “But it really wasn’t necessary. I’m quite well now except for my hand.”

“Don’t tell her that, Sanchia.” Marco strolled into the hall from the direction of the salon. “She delights in concocting foul-tasting remedies for all who will condescend to swallow them.”

“It’s not foul-tasting,” Bianca protested. “I added honey to sweeten it. You aren’t kind, Marco.”

Marco smiled at her. “You’re kind enough for both of us.” He turned to Sanchia. “You look well, Sanchia. I think you’ll soon have no need for remedies.”

Marco’s beauty struck her anew as he came forward and bowed.

Dressed in a bright blue velvet jerkin and blue-and-white partihose he lit up the small hall with elegance and grace.

“Undoubtedly you don’t remember our last meeting in that cell at Solinari,” he said soberly.

“However, it’s one I’ll never forget. You were very brave, Sanchia.

I regret you were forced to suffer for our sake. ”

She shook her head. “I wasn’t brave. It’s not brave to endure what must be endured.” She smiled with an effort. “But I don’t like to think of that time. Did Rosa give you wine? I know nothing about fine wines, but Lorenzo brought a jug last evening and he says it is full of the very best.”

Marco shook his head. “We just arrived and cannot stay. Bianca spent hours at the cathedral in the confessional.” He shot Bianca a mischievous glance. “She was weighed down by her mountain of sins and required much absolution.”

Bianca made a face at him. “You would do well to go to confession yourself. You are puffed up with the sin of pride. Wasn’t it only yesterday you were boasting about the beauty of the painting you’re working on?”

“It wasn’t pride in my skill but in my subject,” he said softly. “Bianca, the beautiful.”

Bianca smiled radiantly at him. “You tease me. It is the painting that’s beautiful.” She tore her gaze away from him and turned to Sanchia. “You must see Marco’s work. He’s a splendid artist.”

“I look forward to it,” Sanchia said absently, as she looked from Bianca to Marco. They were like two radiant children, filled with the joy of life and with each other. “Are you sure you won’t stay and have a goblet of wine?”

Bianca shook her head. “I must return to the castle. It’s our day for visiting the sick.” She smiled gently. “Good day, Sanchia. Drink my remedy and you’ll soon be able to come to the castle and see Marco’s beautiful painting.”

Marco hesitated. “Will you assist Bianca onto her mount, Lorenzo? I’d like a word with Sanchia.”

“It would be my pleasure.” Lorenzo opened the door and bowed to Bianca. “If I give her service, perhaps she’ll be grateful enough to pray for the forgiveness of my sins.”

“God forgives all,” Bianca said. “Go to the priest and have him intercede for you.”

“I think God would listen more readily to the prayers of the beautiful Bianca. He is, after all, the originator of good taste.” Lorenzo’s fingers closed on Bianca’s elbow and urged her forward. “I’ll return shortly, Sanchia.”

Marco turned to Sanchia as soon as the door closed behind them. “You’re not planning on staying at Mandara?”

“No, I’ll leave as soon as possible.”

Marco nodded, relieved. “That would be best. If I can help in any way, please call on me.”

“I may ask for your help if it becomes necessary.”

“You understand I wouldn’t want to deprive you of safety or contentment, but Bianca is very innocent.”

“I understand.” She smiled warmly at him. “And I wouldn’t want to hurt her in any way. Believe me, Marco.”

“I do believe you.” He bowed and crossed the few feet to the door. “Thank you, Sanchia.”

A few minutes later Lorenzo entered the hall, closed the door and leaned back against it. “He asked you to go?”

“No, only if I planned to do so.” She met his gaze. “He wants to protect her from hurt or shame.” She paused. “He loves her?”

“Yes.”

“They’re quite beautiful together.”

“As exquisite as two dancing sunbeams.” He smiled. “And with a relationship just as substantial.”

Sanchia glanced away. “Does she love him, too?”

“Oh, yes, as much as she can love any man. She won’t admit it to herself, of course, for that would be a sin.

She’s loved Marco since she was brought here to Mandara to marry Lion.

They were drawn to each other at once and thrown together constantly as Lion was always away with his father fighting with their condotti. ”

“Lion knows?”

“Since the first time he came home from battle and saw them together. They were then as they are now.”

“Was he very angry?”

“No. Saddened. He loves Marco.”

She had seen the affection between the two brothers, but she couldn’t believe Lion would react without anger toward anyone who encroached on his property. “But Bianca is his wife. He would not—”

“Psyche,” Lorenzo interrupted. “You saw it that first moment. Pure, childlike. How do you think Psyche would respond to Lion? Bianca is as unsuited to Lion as a woman can be unsuited to a man. If she hadn’t been the daughter of a great house she would have gone into a convent.

Marco’s adoration suits her very well; he is her Cupid for his love is divine, pure. ”

“I don’t want to hear any more.” She moistened her lips with her tongue. “This isn’t my concern.”

“You will hear more because Lion is not one of Bianca’s saints; he’s my friend and I’ve grown tired of seeing him give all and get nothing in return.

” He went on bluntly, “Bianca is not only a Psyche; she’s a child who will never grow up.

There’s something wrong…She was only fourteen when she was wed and at first Lion thought her childishness natural, but she’s never changed.

She’s a child in a dream world playing at being a grown woman.

He gave Marco endless opportunities to cuckold him during those first years and would have happily accepted Marco’s child as his heir.

” He paused. “But then he realized that Bianca would never accept Marco as her lover. She doesn’t understand passion any more than a small child would, and Marco is so filled with tales of courtly love that he’d never try to teach her.

” He shook his head. “Incredible. So Lion stays away at Pisa and permits them to play like children here at Mandara.”

“Perhaps they’re all happy with the arrangement as it stands.”