The Angel of Soriano: A Renaissance Romance (7 page)

“Hush. You should be thankful. Harlots like this keep a man healthy and virile for his wife.”

Harlot?
Aurelia considered taking her knife to the old bitch. Then she thought better. Bernardo was engaged to this horrid woman’s granddaughter. Perhaps they all deserved each other. She dressed in the heavy wool dress while Lucella snickered.

Truly hot enough to faint and with long hem dragging along the floor for miles, she remembered to thank them before departing. Then she grabbed Fulvio’s arm as he laughed heartily.

“This is not funny.” She hissed and tugged on the heavy wool scratching her neck. “’Tis so heavy I can barely walk.”

“By morning, I’ll make sure you have something more suitable.” He contemplated her lips and for a moment she thought he might kiss her.

“Why? Why do this for me?” She tilted her head and tried to read the expression on his face. Did he care for her, as well?

“Don’t you know?” His dark gaze met her eyes as they wandered back the way they’d come.

She shook her head, no.

“My friend cares very deeply for you and I take care of all his needs.” Suddenly he looked away from her, frowning.

“That’s all I am? A need?” She reached out and touched the rough stubble of his beard.

He nodded. “What else could you be? He’s engaged, Aurelia. You needed to know even though I risk my friendship to Bernardo as well as my livelihood by saying so. Lucella’s from a very wealthy family with connections in the Spanish court. I don’t tell you this to hurt you but you need to know what position you will be in, if you continue with this infatuation.”

Perhaps Fulvio was right. She sighed. “I know. My only choice is Bernardo’s mistress.”

“When he comes to your bedroom tonight...” He put a finger over her lips when she started to disagree. “Don’t argue, for I’m sure he will. You must decide what you want. He’ll not force you but he will be compelling.”

Compelling? What an odd word for lust. Her heart raced as she recalled the Spaniard’s kisses in Rome and his hard want against her behind as they rode into Soriano.

Fulvio said that his master would come in the dark for her. Should she warn Pino? Stefano? Or should she enjoy what little joy life had to offer? At the ripe old age of twenty, she’d never marry. Certainly not after what happened in Vignanello.

Should she die and never know what it felt to have a man inside her?

She was still pondering what to do in the torchlight as Fulvio walked her, Pino, and his sons down the dark street. He pointed out the stables to the left, and the long building that was the garrisons. “That’s where I’ll be if you need me.”

Another few feet down, he led them under an arch and up two flights of stairs. Inside, four chambers were dug like caves into the rock. Each room was big enough for one bed, a table, and a small hearth.

Uncle Pino put her in the back-most room with his two sons guarding the room at the front.

Well, that was that. So much for a visit from Bernardo. She hastened out of the heavy gown, bent over, and climbed on hands and knees into the soffit. Suddenly, she understood why these were considered guest rooms. The cave walls were warm and wonderful. The bed, deep and soft. She yawned as the small fireplace crackled. Other than in Bernardo’s arms on the way to Soriano, she hadn’t slept for almost two days.

When she left this world, she dreamed of his mouth on hers, kissing in a most delightful way.

Suddenly, she woke, and he was there in person. His hand shot gently over her mouth, stifling her shout. “Mmph.”

“Shush.” He smirked and put a miniature lamp down on the stone floor, next to her mattress.

“How did you get in here?” Giant black shadows flickered on the tufa walls. Embers glowed from the fireplace and sparkled in his merry eyes. He glanced over his shoulder to where the cave narrowed by her feet. What had been a wooden wall was now a gaping black hole. Cool musty air blew out from it.

Her head almost touched the ceiling when she scooted up on her elbows. “Fulvio said you would come.”

“Fulvio should learn to keep his mouth shut.” His breath was warm on her neck and smelled of red wine.

He lay her back down, tucked her close and she turned so as to see his face. “You shouldn’t be here. You have a fiancé.”

His eyes crinkled and his lips turned up in the corners. “If I didn’t have her, would you allow me to stay?”

“No. Of course not!”

“Then, by your reasoning, she does not matter.” His brows lifted.

“Wait...” She tried to follow his logic but it was impossible. He not only took up the space in her bed, he invaded her mind as well.

He grinned wickedly and yet gently tucked her blanket around her, staying on the outside. “I vow on my honor, I’ll not touch you unless you ask. I just want to know what you couldn’t say outside my father’s chambers.”

A heavy sigh exhaled from deep within her. “You must give me more time to investigate.”

The smile left his face.

Shivering under the blankets, she continued, “I have my suspicions about the meal. I believe the meat was bad but there may be more.”

“What more?” His face turned positively grim and his body tensed.

“I need my books before I say. I’ve never encountered this, only read about it.”

He grabbed her hand. “Encountered what, Aurelia?”

“What I need to study.”
Is he purposefully being daft?

He groaned. “Fine. I’ll make sure you have what you need. Then you will tell me all. Tomorrow morning. First thing. Where do I find these books?”

She propped back up onto her elbows. “Everything I need was in my father’s house. I would guess that no one would know their worth. I’ll need the whole library brought here to me.”

“If I do so, you’ll tell me your suspicions?” His jaw ticked and eyes narrowed.

She couldn’t help but put a palm to the rough stubble. “Of course. Didn’t I just say so? But not until I’m certain.”

He shook his head as if she were the one being difficult and kissed her hand. “Very well. Now you shall talk more to me. I insist as I have been so patient.”

“About what?” She pushed her pillow over so to share.

Him being here, lying beside her, was so very sinful, and yet it felt so right.
How can that be?

His head turned and his soft lips caressed hers. “First. What happened after I left you in Vignanello?”

She thought hard on how much to tell him. He might start a war if he knew. Best to make light of it.

Before she could get out a word, the impatient man tugged on a short lock. “You might start with what happened to your hair? Why did Pierpaolo cut it?”

She gave him a sly smile. “I was responsible for that. How else would I look like a boy?”

His brows creased “Why di—”

“Thank you. I like it, too. I kept the braid. I can pin it back on when needed. And honestly it’s so much easier this way. I may never grow it long again. Some noble women even shave their heads completely although that seems a bit mu—”

“Your husband might have something to say about that.” He rolled his eyes.

Her plan seemed to be working. His body relaxed beside her and his neck muscles stopped pulsing from where his jaw clenched too tightly.

“I don’t think I’m destined to have one of those. A husband, I mean.” She couldn’t help but place a small kiss on his lips at the astonished look.

“You would become a nu-?”

She smirked. “God’s heavenly saints, no. I think I may just pretend to be a young man and go to a university.”

His handsome features scrunched up in disbelief. “Come now. That’s a bit farfetched even for you. You are far too pretty to—”

“You think so? Perhaps if I were to break it more...” She touched her injured nose and wiggled it.

“Aurelia, don’t jest about that.” He pulled her hand away and kissed her injury.

She gave a giggle. “It’s the breasts, isn’t it? Too large to keep bound. I can hardly breathe like that. But it did fool the farmer.”

“What farm—”

Shit
. When would she learn to stop while winning?

“Ah...The one with the donkey cart that took me most of the way to Pino Aggi’s. You see. I couldn’t walk anymore because I almost broke my ankle by jumping down the castle wall. Actually, I didn’t jump. I used the wool hose, but I didn’t make knots. That was my mistake right there. If I had tied knots... yes. That would’ve done it. Next time, I’ll tie knots in my man’s hose when climbing down a castle wall.”

He shook his head and touched her side. “Did you hurt your ribs on the fall, as well as your mind?”

“Errr...Not quite. That’s quite another story. You see. I refused to admit I was a witch. I mean, in all sensibility, why would anyone admit that? Especially if one overheard that the inquisitor was on his way from Rome. So you can see why my stubbornness might infuriate Pierpaolo into kicking me. I think he would’ve done worse but for his mistress, who called out for him to have sex—”

“My head is spinning.”

“Are you ill? I can ask Pino’s sons to...”

Bernardo paled. “God’s blood. Quiet. They’ll tear me to shreds.”

She laughed and he kissed her. “You’re impossible.”

“No. I’m very possible. Even probable.”

He got serious. “Aurelia. Promise me never to go back to Vignanello.”

“I won’t. Pino and Mia will let me stay in their home. I truly am well versed in herbs and plants and medicine. People will pay for what I know.”

“But, what if you’re caught?”

“Doing what?”

“Healing.”

“So?”

“God’s Blood. They
will
think you a witch. Unlike Naples, this countryside is less tolerant. You should... I don’t know...do needlework and raise children.

“Mmm. Children without sex. I would profess to be another virgin mother of God?”

“I would marry you, if I could.” He pouted.

“Ah,
now
we’re back to that topic again. Tell me. How in God’s name did you end up engage—”

“Dowry. A very large dowry.” He closed his eyes and his brows creased as if in pain.

“Ouch.”

“Si.”

“And yet you’re still not married?”

“My father insists that Lucella have her menses before we wed. An heir, you know.” He opened his dark eyes and stared at her lips.

She grinned at bit evilly. “There’s some herbs in Pino’s garden that may help. There’s Chaste tree berries, Cinnamon bar—”

“No. Absolutely not. You will not. Cannot. Do not.” His eyes went wide and for a moment he seemed in a panic, more like a boy than a grown man.

She giggled so hard he put the pillow over her head to smother the sound. When he took it off, he kissed her with a flavor that was gentle, smiling, and warm. She closed her eyes and tingled to her toes, like enjoying the first warm day of spring.

His tongue tickled her eyelids until she opened them.

“Aurelia. You make my heart light. For the first time in my life, I find joy in the world.”

Even under the blankets, she could feel his hard lust pressing against her stomach. “Bernardo.” His name became a prayer on her lips.

She remembered Fulvio’s warning.
Compelling.
That didn’t even begin to describe what was happening. All rational thoughts flew out her mind. Lying on her side, she reached one hand into the dark locks behind his head and pulled his lips to hers. His kisses grew fevered, his tongue wild, and he moaned as he rocked against her.

He reached his hand between them, untied her garment at the neck and pulled it down to her waist, trapping her arms. Breathing hard, he stared at her purple spotted chest.

“He did this to you? I will stab him for each one of these.” He kissed each bruise with gentle lips.

She arched up for more and moaned “Could we not talk about Pierpaolo right this minute?”

His tongue flicked out, lovingly caressing her right breast.

“I’m uneven.” She arched the other one toward his mouth.

He gave a deep chuckle and lavished attention to the left. Then gently he tugged her out of her nightgown until she lay naked before him.

He hissed out a breathy noise. “
Mio Dio.
You are so
bellissima
. So beautiful. A holy angel. You will let me touch you intimately?

What was he asking? She nodded. Would he know her innocence?

His hands slid between her legs and she rocked against him, needing something so bad she swore she might burst.

“Si. Si. Sweetness. That’s what you must do.”

A finger found where she ached the most and he whispered in her ear. “Push against me. Find your heavenly bliss.”

She did as she was told and suddenly she reached the peak of a mountain. Stars and colors flashed under her closed lids, and a joy of belonging that she’d never known encompassed her very soul. When her eyes opened, he was beaming at her.