Chiara – Revenge and Triumph (39 page)

When he was finished, he asked Orlando: "Messer da Quaranta, is this in accordance with the wishes of Casa Alberti de’ Morrone?"

"Yes, Messer Faranese."

The notary nodded several times and then pointed to the other two scrolls on the table: "These are exact copies of what I have just read, as attested by me. Do you wish to inspect them?"

"No, Sir. I would not commit such an insult. I have complete trust in you."

"Then will you confirm this agreement by placing your signature and the seal of Casa Alberti de’ Morrone on all three documents, as the authorized legal representative of that house?"

Orlando nodded.

The notary continued: "And after your signature, Signor Sanguanero will do the same, and then I will attest having witnessed your signing."

"Before doing that, I would like to ask some points of clarification," interjected Chiara in the vernacular. All three men looked at her alarmed. The notary cleared his throat as if he wanted to intervene, but she stared him down, and he lowered his gaze to the parchments. "The letter by the illustrious Signor Arringhi da Catenaia stated three conditions the prospective groom had to satisfy, namely that he had to be the legitimate son of a notable merchant house, that he had to be of good health, and that he had to be willing to lend his commercial experience to Casa Alberti until my brother will be capable to assume a leading role." She nodded warmly to Niccolo. "I can vouch for the first two myself. They are amply satisfied. However, the marriage contract says nothing about the third. Am I correct to assume that this aspect will be the subject of a separate agreement?"

Niccolo’s chuckle gave away his relief. "Indeed, Lady Lucrezia, that is the case. It has already been prepared and approved by Messer da Quaranta. I must congratulate you for your astuteness. Quite unexpected from a young woman. May we now proceed to the signing with your blessing?"

"I am eagerly awaiting that solemn act, Signor Sanguanero," she replied, giving him one of her charming smiles.

When she got ready to leave, it was Niccolo’s turn to surprise her.

"Lady Lucrezia, please indulge me for a while longer. I intended to send a token of my admiration for your beauty to Casato di sopra, but it would give me enormous pleasure if I could place it into your hand in person."

Her curiosity raised, she took the little black wooden box he offered her, and admired the delicately inlaid cover.

"Will you open it for me?" Niccolo encouraged her.

She opened the lid and almost cried out, just managing to give it a twist of awed surprise. Her mother’s gold diamond ring lay on red velvet, its stone reflecting the light of the oil lamp on the wall.

"I see that you are pleased and for once lost for words."

She needed to gain time, to recover. At that moment she would give herself away if she met his gaze. She took out the ring and slowly put it on the ring finger of her right hand, willing her pulse to slow. She raised the hand, admiring the brilliance of the diamond, and only then felt safe to look at him, the actor in charge again, producing a delighted smile.

"It is exquisite. Thank you with all my heart, Signore. I will treasure it. It will remind me of you, whenever my eyes fall on it." She bowed deeply.

He was beaming.

She looked at the ring again, the devil in her rising. "Am I right to think that this is Moorish workmanship?"

"Yes, Spanish, in fact. How did you know?"

"My mother had a similar ring, and I always admired it when I was a child. I was told that it came from the south of Spain. But unfortunately, it got stolen." Her gaze returned to the ring. "How precious, Signore!"
For once, I can stick to the truth,
she mused silently.

"I am honored that you appreciate my token of admiration for your beauty."

Oh, you ignorant fool
, but her eyes only revealed grateful pleasure.

* * * 

"Chiara, I guess you didn’t expect to get an expensive gift," Orlando said, as they walked back to Casato di sopra. "He’s generous."

She raised her right hand again. "I said my mother had a ring like this and that it got stolen. This is my mother’s ring that he stole from me on the Santa Caterina."

"Really? … Now I understand. The surprise I saw on your face wasn’t pleasure to receive such an expensive ring, but that it was your mother’s."

"Yes, I came close to losing it then."

"But you recovered fast… What irony! He unknowingly gives back the very ring he stole from you… In fact, it’s too funny. At least, you have it again."

"Yes, you’re right. I should see its funny side rather than getting worked up over it. Thank you, Orlando."

They walked along in silence for a while.

"You really got them both flustered, though, before the signing. I admit, even I was startled."

"I could not resist upstaging these pompous fools."

"It’s amazing how, no matter what the situation, you wrestle control to yourself and make it look so natural."

"That isn’t fair, Orlando. I don’t always take control."

"My apologies. No, you don’t, but I still have to witness an occasion where it was not obvious that it was within your reach to do so, even if you didn’t. Please, accept it as a compliment, not as a reproach."

She simply smiled. Sometimes it even seemed to her to be this way. "Now all that’s left is to wait two weeks. It’s essential that you’re back in Siena to accept that letter of credit, but there’s no need for you to be here until then. So I suggest that you go back to Florence tomorrow. I’ll follow later in the week for our performance of
Phormio
— you know I really like that play — and then return to Siena again right away. I want to remain on good terms with Lucia."
And figure out how I can take possession of my little book of poems.
"And it may also be prudent to keep my ears to the ground, just in case Casa Sanguanero hears something from Naples. I wouldn’t want you to front up to take possession of the letter of credit, only to be arrested as a crook."

"You’re so considerate," he replied, his voice laced with sarcasm.

She stopped in mid-stride. "Orlando, do you have any doubts that I care for you and don’t want to risk getting you into trouble? … Because if this is so, I want you to quit your role right now."

"I’m sorry, Chiara, I didn’t mean it. It just slipped out. Maybe the stress of the whole affair is affecting me more than I thought. I’ve never known you to be other than caring and generous toward your fellow players."

"It’s all right. I believe you." She started walking again. "But once we have the funds, there will be no need for you to ever return to Siena."

"Nor for you."

"Not as Lady Lucrezia, but as a novice priest. There are still one or two things that I want to accomplish here before I Magnifici consider what to do next, where to spend the winter safe and with some enjoyment."

"What things?"

"I shouldn’t tell you because you just think it’s another of those crazy ideas. One way to get back my land on Elba is to claim that Casa Sanguanero forged the documents my father signed."

"But their notary has retained a copy —"

"So I’ll have to deprive him of that proof, and then it’s their word against mine."

He shook his head. "You’re the most devious person I know —"

"— but at the same time also caring and generous —"

"— and attractive and intelligent —"

"I thought you weren’t trying to woo me, Orlando."

"No, I’m not, but the temptation is great. You’re everything that I would seek in a woman."

"You’re making me blush."

"But I’m also sensible enough to know that you are out of my reach."

16

Florence, Siena, middle of September 1349

Although the marriage contract had been signed and Niccolo had presented me with my mother’s diamond ring — not knowing that he gave it back to its rightful owner — I was still not allowing a feeling of euphoria to take over my mind. It was another two weeks before I would have tangible proof of victory in the form of a letter of credit on a Siena banking house for half of their share. In the meantime, the life of I Magnifici offered welcome relief from the necessity to make friendly appearances with Lady Lucia where I suffered through afternoons of idle talk and gossip with her women friends, doing needlework — something that has never appealed to me and I had only forced upon myself to please my grandmother — all to allay any suspicions from Casa Sanguanero.

Everything seemed to be going to plan. They honored their pledge and I got the document giving Casa Alberti de’ Morone the right to draw the staggering sum of ten thousand florins.

Looking back I now sometimes wonder what possessed me then, how I closed my eyes to the fact that I lowered myself to the level of a crook, that I closed my eyes to the inevitable consequences springing from my need for revenge, that I endangered not only myself but also the people that had become my family.

* * * 

When Chiara arrived back in Florence, Alda greeted her with: "We’ve been invited by Casa Medici to give another performance of
Phormio
. Didn’t we give our first performance of it to them?"

"Yes, with Lorenzo and Maria."
Two years ago already?
"They were such beautiful people."

"You miss them?"

"Sometimes."

"I do too… Casa Medici — I thought that you would want me to accept. Shouldn’t I have?"

Chiara hugged her. "You did right, Alda… It’s good to be with you again." She relished the woman’s solid forms against hers, a wave of love suffusing her body.

"I missed you too."

"We all did," said Veronica, entering the kitchen.

"And how is my little sister?" asked Chiara, embracing the girl.

"Worried about you. I’ll be so glad when all this is over."

"We’re almost there. The most difficult part is behind us."

Just then Orlando and Pepe entered. She let go of Veronica and entered into Pepe’s outstretched hands.

"Hello, my favorite bear," she exclaimed and kissed both his cheeks.

He blushed. "Had a good ride? Is Jacomo looking after the horse?"

She nodded. "Is everything ready for tonight?"

"Yes," replied Orlando. "Did you hear about Casa Medici?
Phormio
has become the favorite play in Florence."

"It’s my favorite too."

"You know it is such a change to be part of I Magnifici. No more silly little skits —"

"But some of them are fun too," interrupted Alda.

"True, it’s fun to improvise and find new twists, but nothing compares to the tension and excitement of a serious play —"

"Except watching Pepe’s knives fly toward me, but then you wouldn’t know that." Chiara looked up to Pepe, who beamed.

"No, I don’t, nor do I care to find out. You know, when I saw you stand at the board the first time without the metal mask and Pepe getting ready to throw, I almost rushed forward to stop him."

"Oh, I’ve no illusion it’s Chiara’s daring that draws the people, rather than my skill," chuckled Pepe, hugging her to his shoulder again.

* * * 

After the performance, Averardo di Bicci, the head Casa Medici, took Chiara aside from the other guests and handed her a delicately embroidered purse.

"How exquisite! So thoughtful! Thank you, Signor di Bicci," she exclaimed, bowing to him.

"Signorina, I am in your debt for such a splendid performance and it pleases me that you like this token of appreciation." His expression turned conspiratorial. "My informants tell me that you are a descendant of Casa da Narni of Elba. Is that correct?"

"Yes, Signore."
Who could have told him?

"In fact, according to Lord d’Appiano, you are Lady Chiara, the girl supposed to tie the bonds with the Casa Sanguanero branch of the Baglione and accused of blinding its head, Massimo Sanguanero."

Chiara could not help blushing and tried to hide it behind a smile. "If the most honorable Lord d’Appiano says so, what else is left for me but to plead guilty on all three counts?"

Her ready admission seemed to take the wind out of his sails. He inclined his head a bit to the right, searching her eyes. After a pause he said: "Naturally, we are all curious to know why and how. The official story seems rather dubious."

"It is, Signore, but no woman would want to reveal what happened on that ship."

Again he searched her eyes for a while. "How old were you then?"

"Does a woman ever admit her age?"

He laughed. "No, when young they add years, when older they subtract them. I also heard that you translated
Phormio
from its original Latin version."

"No originals exist anymore, only copies rewritten hundreds of years later, Signore."

"For a woman, you are well educated."

"Education is one of my main weapons."

He smiled. "Yes, Lord d’Appiano said that you are a woman of many facets and secrets."

"It appears that my secrets have the vexing tendency to come out. What else did Lord d’Appiano reveal about me, if I may be so rash to ask?"

"He told me to look after you and keep you out of trouble."

"Did he? That sounds more like a request Contessa d’Appiano would make, but then I think Lord d’Appiano would do almost anything that she asks him to do."

"Nothing seems to escape you, Signorina. It is true, it was Lady Maria who asked for it when I saw her about two months ago. It is always a pleasure to see her."

"She in an impressive lady." Chiara lifted the purse. "And from the weight of this lovely purse I also guess that Lady Maria impressed upon you that I Magnifici are worth more than the thirty florins Casa Buondelmonti paid."

He exploded laughing, holding his sides. For a short moment Chiara was afraid for him. People turned to look.

"Indeed, she did," he managed to splutter between laughs. He caught his breath. "And I am glad she did. How could I allow having Casa Medici accused of being as stingy as Buondelmonti?" He had another bout of laughter. "You seem to know Lady Maria well."