Francesca (3 page)

She nodded her agreement.

“Would not a lovely white mare be suitable?” Orianna ventured, hoping as she spoke that her suggestion would not prove cause for argument.

“It is a lovely thought,
Madre
, but I am not docile and neither should my horse be,” Francesca answered in a nonconfrontational tone.

“Do you have a preference among the priests?” her father asked her.

“Bonamico is too old for such a journey,” his daughter answered. “Father Silvio is the youngest among them. He could make the journey easily and he is most amusing.” She turned to her mother. “Will you obtain the two nuns from the convent of Santa Maria del Fiore,
Madre
? I’m certain the Reverend Mother knows which of her sisters would be suitable.” Francesca gave her mother a small smile. “Hopefully they will not be too dull,” she concluded.

“Then you will go?” Orianna asked nervously.

“Of course I will go,
Madre.
A summer away in a new place will hopefully be entertaining, and I can return in the autumn.”

“
If
I find the young man unsuitable,
cara
,” her father reminded her.

“Of course he is unsuitable if his father has to send away in order to find a wife for him,” Francesca said, laughing. “He will be a tall gawk of a boy with pimples who will stutter. It will be amusing, and my new clothing and jewelry are a good incentive for me to go. You are thoughtful,
Padre,
to allow me this respite away from Florence and family. Perhaps I shall never marry,” Francesca told her parents.

Madre di Dios,
Orianna thought to herself. This child of mine has a very hard heart. How on earth did it happen? She must marry or enter a convent. There is no other life for a respectable maiden of good family.

“If I do not, then perhaps I shall become a courtesan,” Francesca added.

Orianna grew pale and swayed in her chair.

“Do not distress your
madre
,” Giovanni Pietro d’Angelo said sternly to his daughter. “And know that I do not find such thoughts becoming of you. You have agreed you will go to Terreno Boscoso. I accept your word in this matter. Tomorrow I shall go to Lorenzo di Medici and tell him. He will be pleased at the honor you bring to us all.”

Francesca said nothing more. Her interests lay in all the wonderful things her father had promised her if she would spend her summer in this duchy. She insisted that her horses be chosen first. She wanted to become accustomed to their gait and to their personalities before she embarked on the long journey she would take to Terreno Boscoso. She wanted to have saddles and bridles made that suited them.

Informing the merchant who sold the finest horseflesh of his needs, Giovanni Pietro d’Angelo made arrangements for a private showing of the animals for his daughter. It was extremely unusual for the wife or daughters of a wealthy or highborn gentleman to appear in public. They went several days later to an indoor marketplace, where the beasts would be displayed. Arriving in a curtained litter they entered the showroom and were greeted by the very effusive merchant who bustled forward to welcome them.

“I am honored you have chosen my establishment,” the horse seller said.

“Lorenzo himself recommended your merchandise,” the silk merchant replied.

“Yes, yes, I supply many of the mounts he stables, Maestro Pietro d’Angelo,” came the answer. “Now, I have picked several horses for your most honorable daughter to choose among.” He turned and called, “Bring a seat for the young
signorina
,” and a boy ran forth with a small chair for Francesca.

She sat down, her glance modestly lowered, for she knew what was expected of her in public. She would behave as she had been taught.

The horse seller snapped his fingers, and at once a parade of young blackamoors came forth, each leading a beautiful animal. “Each of these creatures is well mannered,
signorina,
” he told her, “and well trained as well.” He snapped his fingers again and one by one the grooms led their animals forward, walking them about so she might gain a better view of them. “Each comes with its own groom as part of the price. They are slaves, so other than feeding them and keeping them clothed, there is no additional expense.”

“We will want two horses,” Giovanni Pietro d’Angelo said. “Is it necessary to take two grooms?”

“It is better,
maestro
, for each horse has been raised with its keeper, who is aware of its every foible and character,” the horse seller explained.

“I see, I see,” was the silk merchant’s response. Then he turned to his daughter. “Do you see anything you like?” he asked her.

“The white with the black mane and tail is most striking,” she remarked.

“You have a sharp eye,
signorina
.”

“And the bay with the dark brown mane and tail,” Francesca said.

“Another excellent choice,” the horse seller enthused.

Ignoring him, Francesca got up and walked over to where the white gelding stood quietly. She stroked his nose gently, allowing him to sniff her. She whispered to him, “Will you be mine, my beauty?”

The horse nickered softly and stamped his hoof gently.

“He says he would be pleased to be yours,” the small black groom murmured to her softly. “He says he will serve you well,
signorina
.”

Francesca smiled. “You speak with him?” she asked.

“Yes,
signorina
,” came the shy reply.

“I will take this one,
Padre
,” Francesca said to her father. Then she walked to where the bay stood, greeting him as she had the white. “And you, my handsome one. Are you ready to join your fate to mine too?”

The bay looked her directly in the eye and then he nodded slowly up and down, never breaking eye contact with her.

Francesca clapped her hands delightedly. “Did you see that,
Padre
? This clever beast answered my question. I must have him as well!” She turned back to the groom holding the bay. “What is your name?”

“I am called Ib,
signorina
.”

She looked to the groom holding the white.

“I am Adon,
signorina
,” he answered her.

“I must have both horses and their grooms,
Padre.
My animals must be happy and they cannot be without their familiar companions.”

Giovanni Pietro d’Angelo smiled and agreed. It had been quite a while since he had seen Francesca enthusiastic and happy over anything. She must remain this way if they were to get her successfully on the road to Terreno Boscoso. Her show of greediness actually delighted him, and he could well afford the cost, he thought as he negotiated the price with the horse seller, took out his purse, and paid. “I will ask you to send them to my own stables on the morrow,” he said.

“It shall be done,
Maestro
, as you instruct.”

As they returned to the palazzo Giovanni grumbled to his daughter, “Those two black extravagances you have wheedled me into taking will have to have suitable wardrobes. I can guarantee they will be sent to us in rags. You are becoming a great expense to me.”

“But I am so happy,
Padre
,” she said with a mischievous grin.

“You are happy with new clothing and all the accoutrements that go with a young girl who might wed in several months,” he said.

“Or who will return to you,
Padre
. This boy may find me not to his taste at all. He may decide one of the other two maidens is far more suitable to take for a wife,” Francesca told him. And I shall see that he does, she thought to herself. I have no intention of remaining in some rural duchy away from my family, even if they do irritate me.

He looked sharply at her, but Francesca’s green eyes were delicately lowered. He could only imagine what she was thinking. God help them all if she was returned to them. He must pray more diligently. Like most men he remembered to pray only when he found himself in a situation that he was unable to handle by himself. But he did attend Mass more than most men. Hopefully that would count in his favor with God.

Francesca wanted to help pick the fabrics that would be used in her new wardrobe. Disappointed but taking direction from her husband’s behavior, Orianna said she would go to the convent of Santa Maria del Fiore and request two nuns who would serve as Francesca’s chaperones while she was in Terreno Boscoso. “I am certain two of the nuns can be spared.”

“Do not let the Reverend Mother palm off two old ladies on you,” Francesca said. “I will have no patience with them, for they will complain the entire journey about their aches and pains. It is too long an expedition for such elders to make.”

Orianna had to admit that her daughter was correct, although she had hoped to send Francesca with two stern older women who would keep her daughter’s behavior as it should be. She wasn’t surprised to have her cousin, the Reverend Mother Baptista, agree with Francesca’s assessment.

“It’s too long a time for any of my elders to be away from their home. Do you even know how long it will be before you return my sisters to me, Orianna?”

Orianna shook her head. “Francesca leaves at the end of May. It will be a good month or more before she reaches Terreno Boscoso. She will remain at least for several months, until Duke Titus’s heir picks his bride from among the three maidens who have been sent for. Lorenzo believes the duke’s son cannot fail to fall in love with my daughter, but we cannot be certain.”

“Yes,” Reverend Mother Baptista said, “especially given Francesca’s reputation for discrimination when dealing with her suitors. I heard she said the Torrelli boy resembled a rat. Is it so?”

“Yes,” Orianna said, openly mortified. “You are well informed, cousin.”

Reverend Mother Baptista laughed a short sharp laugh. “I think I should rather like the girl,” she remarked. “Too bad she doesn’t have a calling, but let us get to your problem. I have thought about your request ever since you wrote to me, Orianna. I believe I have two young nuns who would be very suitable traveling companions and chaperones for your daughter. One has already taken her final vows. The other has not. I did not believe she was quite ready. This foray into the world may help her decide if she would really join her life to ours forever.” Reaching out, she rang a small bell on the table next to her chair. “Fetch Sister Maria Annunziata and Sister Maria Benigna,” she told the answering postulant, who nodded silently and scurried off.

“Annunziata is the elder and quite sensible. Benigna is gentler, and perhaps a bit shy. Together they will keep Francesca’s behavior as it should be and see that she says her daily devotions. You’re sending one of your priests?”

“Silvio, the younger of the three. The other two are too old to make such a trip.”

“Do you expect to get her back?” the nun asked candidly.

“It would be a miracle if he chose her and she agreed. If that should happen, Francesca will return your nuns and our priest along with our men-at-arms. If she is not chosen, then the return journey will be made in mid-autumn,” Orianna said.

The door to Reverend Mother Baptista’s privy chamber opened, and two nuns entered, bowing to their mistress.

“You sent for us,
Madre
?” the taller of the two said, coming to stand before her.

“Yes, Annunziata. I need you, my daughters, to accompany my cousin’s daughter a long distance to a duchy called Terreno Boscoso, which is to the north and west of Milano. The party you travel with will be a safe one. A priest will also accompany the young
signorina
, along with servants. The duke of Terreno Boscoso has sent for three maidens, from which his heir will choose a wife. You must remain with the
signorina
until that choice is made. It will take several months. If my cousin’s daughter is chosen to be the bride, I will want you to remain with her until the marriage is celebrated. If she is not, then you will all return home this autumn. You are both young enough to make such an arduous journey and return. This will give you, Benigna, the opportunity to decide if you would really live your life here with us at Santa Maria del Fiore, or go elsewhere out into the world.”

“I would rather remain here,
Madre
,” the younger nun said quickly. “I would take my life vows now.”

“God has directed that you face this great temptation a final time, Benigna,” the Reverend Mother said. “I know you can overcome your fears, and make the right decision by the time you return.”

“We will supply these good women with additional clothing and horses to ride. Mules would be too slow, and the trip will be long,” Orianna said. “It is agreed upon, then, cousin?” She pressed a plump purse into the nun’s hand.

“It is agreed,” Reverend Mother Baptista said serenely. “When would you have me send these two to you, Orianna?”

“Let them remain with you until it is time. We will pass this convent on our way out of the city. They can join Francesca’s caravan then. Until then let them be comfortable within their own surroundings,” the silk merchant’s wife answered.

“You are kind,” came the reply.

Orianna returned home satisfied. Finding Francesca in the garden she said, “Have you had a busy day selecting your fabrics? May I see your choices?”

“Oh
, Madre
,” exclaimed Lucianna, her third daughter. “Her choices are simply splendid. I hope when I marry I may have the privilege of choosing the materials from which my trousseau will be made.”

Orianna smiled and caressed Lucianna’s red-gold hair.

“She will be easy,” Francesca said, amused. “She likes everything. Yes, of course,
Madre
, come and see my choices.”

They went to the household storerooms, where the fabric chosen had been laid aside. Orianna was very impressed by Francesca’s good taste, and she had not stinted herself, the mother noted of her daughter. There were silks and silk brocades of every hue. There were velvets, both cloth of gold and cloth of silver. There were lace and furs and several small dishes of beads for trimming, along with a great number of spools of thread in many colors.

“We will send for the shoemaker and the glove makers,” Orianna said.