This Novella has one illustration per chapter - some are quite sensual!
Be warned, for Conte Lodovico de' Medici, is a man given to coarse language. I hasten to add, this not an erotic story, it is a sensual romance!
Premise:
“...It would be unforgiveable for
him to break his oath...”
Presented with a dreadful and
frightening fait accompli, the
Contessa de’ Medici is ordered to commit to a shameful act to beget an heir to
her husband’s fortune. In defiance of the laws of the church and the sanctity
of marriage, her husband has determined only one direct de’ Medici bloodline is
acceptable. Fearful she can never lure her husband’s chosen man to her bed, she
seeks to deceive him. But war comes to Italy, scandal rocks the foundations of
the nearby village, dark secrets are unveiled, and Portia is finally blessed
with true love.
One
~
Italy: September 1796.
~
She spied him standing peering out
through the arched window; the swish of her glorious silk skirts announcing her
presence as she entered his domain. Tension in Lodovico’s bearing was tangible
for one so self-assured, and so very handsome. He was the epitome of a true
aristocrat; attired in dark blue silk frock coat with embroidered silver thread,
pale blue pantaloons, and lace at his cuffs. He was also the man she could have
loved with all her heart, not merely accepting of her fate, but perfection of
marriage was never meant to be. To all intents and purposes he was one of the
most desirable men to grace salons and ballrooms, but he was not as others
imagined him. Already ill at ease when summoned to his suite she sensed a day
of reckoning; sensed he was plotting her demise.
“You wished my attendance, immediate of summons, thus I beg
pardon, for I am inappropriately dressed for audience with you.”
When he turned she feared the worst, his furrowed brow implied
frustrations and ill humour. “The time has come for confession, Portia.”
He paused, a pained expression, something she had never
witnessed before, thus she braved the moment: “Who is to confess, for I have
nothing weighing on my conscience.”
“Albeit our marriage was agreed by contract, I left you in
no doubt on the wedding eve our marriage would never become a romantic affair.
Despite your undoubted hope love would blossom in due course I have never lied
to you. Mere familial affection was all that could develop for my part.”
This was the Lodovico she knew so well; the cold, the
insensitive, the cruel of tongue, the man other women lauded as beautiful, the
man who bowed with grace and flair to female adoration, the man who would sneak
away, not in company with one of the many glittering chits or dames who fawned
over him, he was a man who whored in ways most women would recoil from in
disgust.
“It pains me to confess Portia, for whilst I have never
desired you as a husband or lover should, time and time again I have fucked you
to no avail. Am I correct in thinking there is no news for me, that you are barren
still? I need an heir Portia, and if you cannot fulfil that role then the
marriage will be annulled. You must swear to an affidavit you refused my loving
attentions, and I, in all loving kindness did not force myself upon you.”
She dared not agree to the notion. If she committed to such
a terrible lie her brothers would kill Lodovico, aristocrat or no aristocrat:
it was their way. “How then could I, in all honesty, declare I am pure to
another man who may ask for my hand in marriage? You stole my virginity.”
A smile flickered, his dark eyes glittering as though
recalling that precise marital act. “I had a notion you would be less than
compliant to that arrangement. Nor can I say I wish to engage in all the pomp
of another wedding, a wedding in which my bride may not be near as pleasing as
you in beauty, nor of amenable countenance when my dark passion is revealed.”
He twitched the lower frill of his neck cloth, the diamond pin
sparkling. One eyebrow arched, his dark handsomeness and smouldering brown eyes
utterly breath stealing.
“There are three solutions, annulment, murder, or another
means in which you will remain here, as my wife, and retain your title. God
willing you will bear a son, a son of the blood. Anything less than a de’ Medici, will be unacceptable,
therefore your selecting a lover at will is out of the question.” He stepped forward, cupped her left cheek and gently
caressed it with his thumb as never before. “Not only do you have proof to
thwart annulment if you choose to do so, I would rather not soil my hands with
a bloody deed of murder most foul.” Leaning forward, fragrance of jasmine
permeated as he kissed where his thumb had caressed. “I am truly fond of you in
my own way, and would grieve your loss Aside from that, I fear it is I who may
be at fault in the delicate, or should I say; the vigorous matter of man
spilling viable seed?”
Was he that averse to the begetting of another wife? “Whom
do you wish me to lie abed with, for that is what you are proposing, is it
not?”
“But of course, and Vincenzo is of the same direct
bloodline.”
“He will never agree to it.”
Laughter befell him: “Not if I asked him outright; that is
true. But my sweet Portia, you damn near charm every man you have encountered
since becoming that of my wife.” He cast a smile, a chilled remote smile she
knew so well. “I am loath to admit fucking you is a pleasurable experience in
itself, when you dress as I dictate; though sorely lacking the spice of third
party pleasure by your hands. Therefore I am obliged to engage another to
fulfil that task.”
The hurt of his rejection welled and it should not since she
had cast notions of love aside long ago. But tears nonetheless began stinging
her lower eyelids, her thoughts reeling, as on that first day when he had
insisted she wear silk pantaloons and dress as a boy page.
She could not contemplate seduction of Vincenzo. It was too
much to ask. “You may as well strangle me, here and now, for I cannot foresee
your brother succumbing to illicit tease of any kind. Besides, I have never set
eyes on him, nor he of me, and we may dislike one another.”
My tastes are somewhat obscene in pleasure, my lovely, and
not for the company of a sweet girl as you are. Be assured Vincenzo was once a
virile young man given to hedonistic pleasures of the flesh with ladies. I
wager you will be far from disappointed on meeting him. He has oft claimed
within letters, to the effect his abode in Naples is pleasing, but there are times
he wishes he could dispense with the pomp and the entourage who hound his heels
wherever he goes. I therefore dispatched a letter in reference to my venturing
to Venice for several months. It seemed as good a time as any to invite him to
take a sabbatical from duties in the knowledge he is to leave his post and
return to Roma shortly. Such occurs when Papal edict must be obeyed, and so
thrilled was Vincenzo to partake of solitude in the villa of his birth en
route, he will be arriving in a day or so. I failed to mention my beautiful
wife would also be here, but once he is aware of your presence he will settle
in companionship with you. And you must seek pastoral guidance from him and in
doing so seduce his mind. Seduction of his body will follow, for I too will
leave a letter for him, one to be opened four days after his arrival.”
“You cannot ask this of me; or of Vincenzo. It would be
unforgiveable for him to break his oath.”
Lodovico threw his hands in the air, his lace cuffs
fluttering in like to doves wings whilst he gestured in theatrical show of
looking to the heavens. “Against the Almighty’s
edict, my brother was a veritable stud in his youth, afore he— No I cannot
bring myself to mention his foolhardiness which led him to seek retreat from
the grand salons of Italy.” Hands lowered to his hips, Lodovico laughed. “The
papal office he now graces with false fervour is as far removed from the
passionate womaniser he once was, as I am one of God’s children.”
“But you are; we are all God’s children.”
“Not I, Portia, not I; for I am damned to dwell in hell when
my time comes, as Father Angelo predicted; that is, if I am fortunate enough to
escape being dragged to the fires of Hades beforehand, the greater hell of
which my brother will surely have a hand in if he truly has sold his soul to
the church.”
“Does not your analogy of eternal purgatory tell you how
wrong it would be if I were to lie abed with your brother? Presupposing I could
ever tempt him to oblige your plan. Think of him and think of what you are
asking.”
“I have thought of nothing else for months, and it is the
best way to resolve the dilemma facing us. For we cannot deny it is you, or it
is me who cannot provide the necessary heir. You have to do this Portia, for
both our sakes. If you fall with child I beget the heir I need, and I shall
love you as the mother of the child. If you fail me, then it is the end for
us.”
“Can we try it one more time?”
He reached out and cupped her face with both hands. “It is
too late, for I will be away from here by sun up on the morrow.” To her utter
astonishment he lowered his head and kissed her lips. “Charm him with enticing
gowns and portray me as dark as I am.” Lodovico relinquished his hold upon her,
stepped back, and chuckled. “He is what he is, and beneath his cassock lies a
golden chalice, I know it for sure, the evidence is six years of age.”
“He has a child?”
“He knows not of the boy’s existence. Another man was
claimed the father by the mother.”
“A boy; but what if I give birth to a girl?”
“Then Vincenzo will oblige you again, else I shall call him
out to account for his devilry.”
“But that would mean his banishment from Holy Roman office,
and the two of you would be forced to engage in a dual.”
“He will succumb if you touch his heart with the knowledge that
if you fail to provide me with a son I will be rid of you most foul. He will
not doubt your word. Vincenzo knows perfectly well I am a cold-hearted bastard
though he denies it as best he can.”
“Not so very cold, in that you are prepared to accept a son
from his loins and claim it as yours.”
“Perché ti sono affeziomato,” whispered Lodovico, in placing
a kiss to her brow.
“You have always been gentle with me, that I cannot deny,
your coldness your shield to prevent my falling in love you, as I surely would
have.”
“Have you not, a little?” He shrugged, tugged at his lace
cuff. “No, no, why would you, with a heartless husband such as this debauched
male?” He laughed. “Our learned priest, Father Angelo, looks at me with a
considered eye, sure in mind I am the devil incarnate. Alas, to his chagrin,
his cleansing ways failed in my case. Be warned he is the very same man of the
cloth who warned Vincenzo his lustful ways would be his end, unless he sought a
penitent life to redeem his soul.”
“Was he so lustful Father Angelo felt it pertinent to save
him?”
“Vincenzo fell ill with a terrible fever, and it was thought
he would die. Father Angelo paid visit to perform the sacraments of the Anointing of the Sick. The next day the
fever broke and Vincenzo refused to accommodate those already mourning his
passing. Several days later Father Angelo told my brother lust had brought
about his ill health; and of course, God had granted him life, a life in which
he must repay in service to the church and abandon women. Part in fear the
fever would return, and like as not snatch him away to the fire pits of hell
for his licentiousness, my brother avowed to mend his ways. Mother encouraged
him and forgave him his sins, whilst I indulged in greater sins.”
“Your edict will turn me into a temptress, and how am I to
seek forgiveness if Vincenzo succumbs to my charms?”
“He will absolve your guilt in the name of God, the all
forgiving of an innocent wife forced to oblige a wicked husband. Aside from
which, you will undoubtedly fall in love with him.”
“Why would I?
“You will see soon enough. Now, be off with you, for I am
expecting a visitor shortly.”
As she hitched up the front of her gown, turned, and walked
through the doorway her mind began whirling in a maelstrom of emotions; the
polished reflective marble floor thus displaying her dainty feet and ankles.
Could she truly tempt Vincenzo, and what if she fell in love with him?
Thoroughly entertaining story. Enjoyed it.
ReplyDeleteGood to hear. Thank you! I enjoyed writing it because it was bit different from the norm. ;)
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