by Lora Thomas
When the door closed, Madelena sank to the bed. “I am so sorry about this, Oliver. I never meant for my father to find us, and now you must face Signora Henshaw’s temper.”
Oliver took a seat on the bed beside her. “Don’t worry about it. I was angry at first, but when you did not show yourself to your father, and after your convincing argument, I realized that you truly did not mean for any of this to happen.”
Madelena leaned over and bumped her shoulder against Oliver’s. “Well, that is not entirely true. I did want us to…well, you know.”
Oliver’s mouth twitched, causing a dimple to appear on his left cheek. “And I will be happy to oblige you again, should the need arise.”
Madelena gasped. “Oliver! That is highly inappropriate.”
Both looked at each other and began to laugh.
“Well, I see that you have made up,” Geneva said from the doorway. She entered and carried over a plain brown dress. “I thought it best to use one of my maids’ dresses. Makes you seem like part of the help.”
“Thank you.”
Geneva turned her attention to Oliver and stared.
“What?”
“She needs to dress.”
“And?”
“And I will not allow you to stay in here while she does so. You might have aided in her fall from grace, but I was not home at the time and will not allow you to dishonor her again.”
“But—”
“Out!”
“Fine,” Oliver said. He stood and left the room, followed by Geneva.
Madelena quickly dressed and descended the steps. She found the maid and left out the door in her disguise.
She felt like running down the walkway from the house. The maid with her, Izabella, was older and appeared kind. She locked arms with Madelena to keep their pace slow.
“Just act naturally, my dear,” Izabella said.
“I can’t. I am not certain if you realize what is happening—”
“I know everything that happens in that household. I was aware when you arrived and was aware of what transpired. I am also aware of who you are. Your secret is safe. I would never do anything to cause hardship to befall the Henshaws.”
“Thank you,” Madelena replied. However, she could not shake the feeling that Izabella was hiding something.
“Now, you walk with me to the market. It will look less suspicious this way…you know, in case your father is having the house watched.”
“Good idea.”
Once at the market, the women parted ways. Madelena made her way to a small park to hide until two. At the designated time, she traveled to the baker’s and found a large box containing her dress. Tucking the box under her arm, she made her way to her home. Standing at the front gates, she took a deep breath for courage. Passing Ramsey and Eula, she spoke.
“Wish me luck.”
The goats continued nibbling on the grass, all unaware of the events about to unfold.
Chapter Twelve
Madelena entered her home, fully expecting to find everyone there but was taken aback when no one was in the music room or her father’s study. She began to climb the stairs when a noise captured her attention. Placing the dress box upon the steps, she turned and entered the kitchen.
“Signorina Madelena!” the housemaid, Joan, said when she saw Madelena in the doorway, tears misting her eyes. “We were all so worried when you did not return. Where have you been? Are you well?”
“I am fine. Where is everyone?”
“They are out searching for you.”
Madelena snorted. “I seriously doubt that. Mama is probably praying for my death. My sisters are hoping that I am lost forever. The only one concerned for me is Papa.”
“That is not true, signorina!” Joan insisted. “Your mother is frantic with worry.”
“My mother is only concerned because I have ruined her plans for my life. When she returns, inform her that I am in my room.”
Madelena turned and approached the stairs. After collecting the box, she climbed the steps to her room. Placing the box upon the bed, she removed the lid and gasped upon seeing the flowers Oliver had purchased for her lying on the top. A note was beside the flowers.
“I thought you might like these to remember your night.” It was signed by only the letter “O.”
A smile tugged her lips. Oliver remembered. A tightness filled her chest as she brought the note to her chest.
“Thank you,” she whispered, bringing the note to her lips for a kiss. She tucked the letter into the bedside table and placed the flowers in a pitcher of water. Removing the dress from the box, she hung it up to allow the wrinkles to fall out. Sitting down upon the bed, she kicked off her shoes. A yawn left her, causing a gritty feeling to come to her eyes. Her hands came to her eyes and rubbed. When she lowered them, a startled gasp left her when she noticed her mother staring at her from the doorway. The glint to Sandra’s eyes was terrifying. It reminded Madelena of a rabid beast.
“Where have you been?” Sandra snapped, glaring at Madelena.
It was now or never. She had to stand up to her mother and make her see that she was her own woman and would not marry Drakos. “Out.”
“With whom?”
Madelena gave a defiant shrug.
“With whom?” Sandra said this time with more force.
Madelena raised her chin and squared her shoulders, clamping her mouth shut, the words refusing to leave.
“You told me you were going with that friend of yours, Mae. When it was discovered that you did not return home last night, I paid a visit to your little friend and imagine my surprise when Signora Valenti told me you left them to meet your father—a statement he denies. Do you think to ruin your reputation by carousing all night? No matter. Signore Drakos’s representative will be here tomorrow along with his midwife to check—”
“There’s nothing to check.”
“Pardon?”
“There is nothing to check.”
“You little harlot!” Sandra screamed, her face red with anger. “Your behavior affects the marriages of my daughters. They cannot find a suitor with you in the house, and now you have tainted your reputation. It will reflect upon them! You are a hindrance to my sweet, sweet girls finding proper suitors.” Her scornful gaze ran over Madelena. “No matter. Arrangements can be made for your purity check validity. A properly placed bribe.”
“No.”
“No?” Sandra repeated with force.
“That is right. I will not go through with that blasted purity check. I can assure you I am no longer a virgin. I have the bloodstains upon my thighs to prove it. And when Drakos’s midwife comes to examine me, I will tell her the same. She will find nothing for there is nothing there to find.”
“You ungrateful whore! You have been nothing but a hindrance—"
“I am not a hindrance! The reason you claim I am is because my sisters cannot find a husband. When in fact it is not me but them. They are horrid, sniveling shrews. All of you are. I am nothing but a pawn in your life. A pawn to increase your station in this world. You have never treated me like my sisters. I dare to say that you would never pair Angela or Flora with someone as vile as Drakos. And you always listen to Marie and Bella and their opinions. You have never treated me like my sisters. Never treated me like your daughter.”
“Because you are not my daughter! You never have been!”
Madelena’s mouth parted as tears stung her eyes. She knew her mother hated her but to hear her denounce her? It was too much to bear.
“I knew you hated me but to declare I am not your child because I refuse—”
“You are not a child of my loins! You are the bastard of your father’s whore, and he forced me to take you on as though you were one of my own. I suckled you at my breast with my dear Angela and wanted to strangle you each second. Every time I look at you, I see your father’s whore. Every time you speak, I hear that whore. Every time he purchases you something, I can see him purchasing items for
the woman he loved more than me.”
“You lie!”
“I do not lie. You are the bastard daughter of Antonio and his quadroon whore Francesca Demachi.”
Madelena stared at her mother, words not forming over the lump in her throat.
“You wonder why I hate you. I hate you for you are a constant reminder of the woman I despised more than the devil himself. Do you think I want you to have a better life than my angels? I want you to suffer as I have. The sooner I rid myself of you, the sooner I will no longer see the spitting image of the woman who ruined my life.”
Sandra removed a key from her neck and placed it in the outside lock on the door.
“What are you doing?” Madelena yelled as she leapt from the bed. It was too late for Sandra had already closed the door and locked it from the outside. Madelena could hear Sandra order the servant on the other side.
“She is not to leave her chambers, and no one is to open this door but me. Understand?”
“But Signora Russo—”
“No one!”
“As you command,” the servant answered.
“You can’t do this to me!” Madelena pounded on the door and shook the knob. “Mama!” She rattled the door again. “Mama! Sandra!”
When no one answered, Madelena collapsed on the floor in front of the door. The sobs in her chest refusing to leave. What was happening? She was not the daughter of Antonio and Sandra but the daughter of a woman named Francesca. A woman she knew nothing about. Was her mother still alive? Why had Francesca given her up? Where was she now?
Placing her cheek upon the door, the tears stinging her eyes refused to flow. She knew her mother hated her. But to hear the words? It was like a knife to her chest. She had longed to be loved by her mother. She had longed to be accepted. And now to learn that Sandra truly hated her and always would? To learn that your entire life was a lie? It was too much. Her breaths came out in short rapid pants. She would not give Sandra the pleasure of hearing her wails. Placing a fist in her mouth, she attempted to muffle the sounds, but it was not enough. She stood and walked to the bed. Lying down, she placed the pillow over her face as her sobs came, and by that time, she did not care who heard. Perhaps, her father would come home and hear her, take her from this place, and she would never see Sandra or the others for the rest of her life. Then again, mayhap she would sprout wings and fly. Nothing would stop the pain.
She now knew why her father so willingly complied with Sandra’s iron fist over the household. It was to keep her quiet about Madelena’s true parentage. That had to be the reason. Why else would he allow Sandra to purchase all those extravagant dresses for her sisters? Why else would he let Sandra treat her so poorly? It was to buy her silence.
Now that Madelena knew, would her father still allow Sandra to treat her so harshly? It was a question that would have to wait until later for presently Madelena wanted to cry, and so she did.
Antonio’s horse carried him quickly back to his house. He came just as soon as his butler, William, found him and told him that Madelena was home. He handed the horse’s reins to the groom and raced into the back of the house.
“Madelena!” he called.
The kitchen maid jumped out of his way as he passed through the kitchen.
“Madelena!” he called again, looking in the drawing room. He approached the steps. He had one foot on the bottom step when he heard Sandra speak.
“I locked that little whore in her room.”
Antonio whipped around to face his wife. “What did you call her?”
A vindictive sneer pulled her lips. “A whore. Just like her mother. She told me herself. She laid with a strange man last night to spite me.”
Antonio’s backhand took Sandra by surprise. Her hand came to her stinging cheek.
“Madelena is no whore, and you will never speak of her in such a fashion again.”
“You hit me!”
“I will do so again if you disrespect her.”
“You lay another hand upon me, and I will tell all who will listen of her heritage.” A feigned looked of surprise came to her. “I may have let it slip to a few people already, Madelena included.”
Antonio clenched his fists to his side. “What did you do?”
Sandra gave a maniacal laugh.
Antonio fisted a handful of her hair, causing her to whimper in pain. “Sandra!”
“I told that little slut who she really was. She thought to ruin my girls! My angels! She will not do so. She will marry Drakos, and she will never leave her room until her wedding day.”
“You have overstepped your bounds, Sandra.”
“No, I have not. You do not know what I have had to live with these past twenty-one years. I have had to look at Francesca’s image for twenty-one years. Her exact image. It is no wonder why you love Madelena more than any other thing in this world for she looks like the woman you betrayed me for. Betrayed your own wife for!”
“And if I had it to do all over again, I would have never married you. I should have forsaken my honor and let your reputation be ruined.”
“You could have. Then your father would have disowned you and your inheritance would have been given to some charity. And I could have also told the Cardinal that you were fornicating with a woman who was not your wife. Your punishment would have been just as severe as mine.”
Damn her! She had him. If Cardinal Vico discovered that Antonio had been seeking sexual satisfaction out of the sanctity of marriage, he would have been arrested. And if it were discovered that he had continued the affair after his marriage, he would have been hung, and Madelena would have been taken away. Given to an orphanage and would have most likely died.
“Yet, you laid with others prior to our marriage as well, Sandra. I believe you became with child out of wedlock.”
“There is no poof. Only your lies.”
Damn her! She was correct for she lost the child only three days after their vows. Or so she claimed. Antonio wondered if she truly had been with child.
The evil glint in Sandra’s eyes let Antonio know she knew she had him. Vico turned a blind eye to many of Antonio’s activities—all for the church…not that the Pope knew—yet he would never allow fornication to go unpunished for it did not benefit the church.
“Release me,” Sandra spat.
Antonio tightened his grip on Sandra’s hair and then thrust her head against the doorframe. Sandra fell limply to the floor, still conscious but unable to stand. Spying the chain with the key upon Sandra, Antonio ripped it from her neck and turned to the steps.
“If you release her, I will tell everyone who will listen about her actions and who she truly is.”
Antonio’s face was set in hard, angry lines. He hated Sandra with every fiber of his being. Hated that he was forced to marry that woman. Hated that he had sired children with her. His job gave him discretion on disposing of troublesome individuals. Perhaps, he would place Sandra in that category. Then again, if what she spoke was true and there were others around who knew, then eliminating Sandra would only create more hardships for Madelena. He decided not to justify Sandra with an answer. Instead, he climbed the steps two at a time to Madelena’s room.
Standing outside the door, he could hear her sobs and a tightness formed in his chest. He loved Madelena more than life itself. She was his precious child. The child from the woman he loved more than anything.
Placing the key in the lock, he opened the door and found Madelena lying on her bed, her back to the door.
“Madelena,” he softly spoke.
She did not turn. He watched as her shoulders continued to shake. Approaching the bed, he sat down by her and touched her arm.
“Madelena.”
She did not speak as she rolled over to face him, tears staining her cheeks. Her mouth opened, but nothing came out.
“I am so sorry, Madelena,” Antonio spoke, gently stroking her hair. “I never meant for you to find out this way.”
“Is it true?” Made
lena managed to ask, her voice straining.
“What did she tell you?”
“That my mother was your mistress?”
Antonio pressed his lips together as he wiped away the tears from her face. “Yes. Her name was something odd. Nayo? Niya? Something to that effect. She hated that name and all that it represented. After I purchased her, she asked me to choose a name. So she became Francesca Demachi. She was a concubine for some sultan in Morocco. He came to Italy on holiday and brought several of his slaves with him.”
“She was one?”
Antonio nodded. “Yes. My father was hosting them, and that was how I met Francesca. I fell in love with her the instant I saw her.” His eyes took on a faraway look. Blinking several times, he focused on Madelena. “You look so much like her that it pains me at times to see you.” A deep, ragged breath left him.
“The sultan was growing tired of some of the women he brought with him and was looking discretely for buyers.”
“You purchased my mother?”
He nodded. “At the time, I was lacking the funds to purchase her. Father would not hear of me buying a slave. I had heard a rumor that Cardinal Vico needed assistance on a sensitive issue. I approached him and began working for him.”
“The cardinal?”
“Yes. Peace comes at a price, and the Pope has many enemies. Vico hired me to eliminate those enemies and to make certain that no issues arose in Rome.”
Madelena’s face dropped. “You are his hired killer?”
Antonio’s face became blank. “I did what I did to acquire the money needed for Francesca. I am not proud of what I did or the people I harmed, but I would do so again. They were bad people, Madelena. You must know this. They were trying to harm the Pope. Vico discovered this and wanted to make certain that the Pope remained safe and ignorant of the plot against him. So he hired me. If I were caught, nothing would lead back to the church. Once I had employment that would give me the funds to buy Francesca, I informed the sultan. He wanted the money then. I made a bargain with him. Yet things happened and I was forced to marry Sandra.”
Madelena’s brows were drawn. “You did not willingly marry her?”