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Fourteen

W hy have you come to see me?” Caterina Andreas leaned back in her thronelike chair before the fire. “You know you have no place at the castle. I don’t want you here.”

“Nor do I want to be here. We’ve discussed this all before.” Sanchia gazed coolly at Lion’s mother. “But I found it necessary to seek you out tonight for a reason I’m sure you’ll approve. I want to leave Mandara at once. Will you help me?”

Caterina gazed at her silently for a moment. “Why do you need my help?”

Sanchia laughed. “Why would you think? I’m your son’s slave and he will not permit me to leave him. Don’t you think I could use help?”

Caterina’s lips twisted. “Could you not whisper a plea for your freedom when he lies with you? I’ve heard a man is weak and pliable in his mistress’s hands in that moment.”

“I do not lie with him.” Sanchia added, “Yet.”

A flicker of interest crossed Caterina’s features. “He goes there every afternoon and does not come home until after nightfall and you claim he does not lie with you?”

“Yet,” Sanchia repeated. She moistened her lower lip. “But he…stirs me, and I won’t deceive you. If I don’t leave now, I do not know if I will be able to leave later.”

“I see.” Caterina studied Sanchia’s face. “Then we must be certain Lion doesn’t have the opportunity to ‘stir’ you again.”

“You’ll help me?”

Caterina nodded slowly. “I want you gone from here.”

“Lion has given orders to all the guards not to permit me to leave through any gate. Can you countermand his orders?”

“He’s gone that far?” Caterina looked surprised. “Indeed, you must be determined.”

“Can you do it?”

“No,” Caterina said. “Lion is lord of Mandara. If he were not in the city, I might be listened to by the captain of the guard, but not while he’s in residence.”

“Then can you find a way of helping me slip out of the city unbeknownst to him?”

“That’s a possibility.” Caterina frowned. “But it will take time to form a plan and make arrangements. A few days at least. Perhaps as long as a week.”

“It has to be now. No later than tomorrow.”

“I said it couldn’t be done. You must be—” Caterina broke off as she noticed the desperation in Sanchia’s expression. “Ah, he does stir you. Can you not withstand him for a few more days?”

“I don’t know,” Sanchia whispered.

“Let me think.” Caterina rested her head against the high back of the chair. “Sit down. Together we should be able to find an answer to this problem.”

Sanchia sat down on the stool Lion’s mother had indicated and folded her hands in her lap.

Her position was one of subservience and yet, curiously, she didn’t feel at all servile at this moment.

The silence between them was companionable and she felt a strong sense of kinship toward Caterina Andreas.

“Ah, I’ve thought of it.” Caterina leaned forward, her dark eyes gleaming in the firelight. “A solution that will suit us both very well and turn the good Messer Vasaro’s words back against himself.”

Sanchia frowned in puzzlement at the reference to Lorenzo, but leaned forward to listen eagerly as Caterina started to speak.

“Lion!”

About to go out the door, Lion turned at the sound of his mother’s voice. She was rushing down the stairs toward him.

“You mustn’t leave now. I’ll require your presence at supper tonight.” Caterina had reached the last step and paused with her beringed fingers resting lightly on the bannister. “We have guests and it would be rude to ignore them.”

“Guests?”

“Only a dozen or so. Messer Guido Ralzo and Fra di Bresgano, Lucretia Montagno and her daughter, Mona. Messer Della Rosa and his son who recently has returned from the university at Ferrara.”

Lion’s eyes narrowed suspiciously. “What are you at, mother? You take little pleasure in entertainments of this kind. I can’t remember the last occasion when you invited anyone to sup with us.”

“Then it’s time I did, isn’t it?” Caterina asked with a bland smile. “It’s my duty to the citizens of Mandara. And your duty, too, Lion.”

“I must go.”

“Yes, I know. We’ve seen little of you since you’ve come home.” Her tone sharpened. “Would it do you harm to sit at the table for one meal with your mother?”

Lion hesitated. “If you had let me know you had invited half the city of Mandara, I would have—”

“A dozen guests is not half the city.” She smiled faintly. “Though I’m planning a more festive entertainment in a week’s time to which we’ll invite five times the number. Naturally, since I’ve given you warning, you’ll be happy to attend.”

“We shall see.”

“Yes, we shall see.” Caterina moved forward and placed an affectionate hand on her son’s arm. “But I think you’ll be persuaded to play the host. I don’t ask a great deal of you, Lion.”

His expression softened as he looked down at her. “No, you ask very little. You rule Mandara much better than I.”

“Nonsense. I merely devote time and effort where it’s due. If you’d give up this playing at the building of boats and return where you belong, there is no telling what we could do with Mandara.”

“But why would you wish to improve on perfection?” Lorenzo asked as he descended the steps.

“Besides, what could you have here that you don’t have now?

If Mandara were larger and more powerful, you’d also have more poverty and corruption.

” He smiled as he stopped before Caterina and Lion.

“No, Lion is right, Lady Caterina. Mandara is truly blossoming under your benevolent rule.”

“There are times when I don’t feel at all benevolent,” she said turning to face Lorenzo. “And this is one of them, Messer Vasaro.”

“But I’m sure you’ll soon recover to become your usual gracious self.” Lorenzo bowed mockingly. “Run along, Lion. With a hostess so exquisite at the table, your presence would be superfluous.”

“No,” Caterina said through gritted teeth. “At least stay for supper, Lion. I will make no argument if you wish to leave afterward.”

Lorenzo looked at her with surprise. “Compromise? Now I wonder why you’re willing—”

“I’ll stay,” Lion interrupted impatiently. “But I’ll leave immediately after supper.”

“If you like.” Caterina’s hand squeezed Lion’s arm. “It will be delightful to have you with us for even a short time. Thank you, Lion.”

“As Lorenzo said, no one will notice I’m at the table but if it pleases you I’ll—”

Bianca’s excited laughter trilled from the landing. Lion’s gaze lifted to see Bianca rounding the curve of the stairwell. “Oh, Lion, is it not wonderful?” She called over her shoulder, “We’re having such a superb time, aren’t we?”

“A splendid time.”

Lion froze as his gaze traveled past Bianca to the woman now coming around the curve of the stairwell.

Sanchia paused for a moment on the stairs to look down and meet Lion’s stunned gaze. “My lord.” She nodded and then turned to Bianca, who was now affectionately linking her arm with Sanchia’s.

Lorenzo murmured an imprecation beneath his breath and then began to laugh softly.

“Is it not a lovely surprise, Lion?” Bianca pulled Sanchia swiftly down the stairs.

“Your mother put Sanchia in my dressing room so that I can watch over her until she’s completely healed and that sweet little Piero is in the chamber next to mine.

Sanchia and I have been chattering and making plans all afternoon. ”

“Lovely.” He stared intently at Sanchia’s face. “And yes, a complete surprise.”

Sanchia steadily returned his stare. “How could I refuse your mother’s kind invitation?”

“Yes, how could you?” Lorenzo asked. “We’ve just been discussing how charming Lady Caterina can be.”

“It’s time for Sanchia to be among people who can care for her properly.

” Caterina stepped forward and gently took Sanchia’s hurt hand in her own.

“Solitude is all very well, but she’ll be much better off here at the castle.

Since, unfortunately, Sanchia appears to have no last name, I’ve chosen to give her one.

I’ve informed my guests I have a young kinswoman here by the name of Sanchia Salmona.

Do remember that, won’t you, Lion? Now, come along, my dear, and I’ll introduce you to our guests.

I sent them to wander in my garden while it’s still light enough to see how beautiful it is. I’m very proud of my rose garden.”

“I’ll escort Sanchia, mother.” Lion’s face was impassive as he stepped forward. “Like the dutiful host you propose to make me.”

“I’ll come too.” Bianca smiled eagerly. “I’ll show you the arbor where Marco painted my portrait, Sanchia.”

“Yes, of course,” Caterina said, “you must show Sanchia everything, Bianca. We want to make certain she knows how welcome she is here.”

Lion darted his mother a cold glance. “Come along then, Bianca,” he said.

A smile lingered on Caterina’s face as she watched the three of them walk away from her.

“A bold move.”

Her gaze shifted to Lorenzo. “It was your suggestion that I invite her to the castle, remember?”

“Because I thought it would annoy you.” He grimaced. “And because I hadn’t thought out the full ramifications.”

“Neither had I until she came to see me.”

“Sanchia came to you? Interesting. Am I to assume this is a concerted foray?”

“Yes.”

“You know, of course, that this move has an element of risk? You’re placing Sanchia constantly within Lion’s reach.”

“Extremely well chaperoned by Bianca, Marco, myself, and some dozen house guests.”

“Ah, you didn’t mention your guests would be staying at the castle.”

“Perhaps I forgot.” She looked innocently at him. “Why should I not rejoice in Lion’s homecoming by celebrating with a few friends?”

“No reason whatever.”

She made a face as she started to follow the others to the garden. “At least you could have the sensibility to behave as though you are properly dismayed and annoyed with me.”

“I’m not annoyed. I revel in your cleverness and ingenuity.” He fell into step with her. “I was wondering when you were going to make a move to correct the situation to your own satisfaction. You’ve been entirely too meek and retiring of late.”