by Gian Bordin
Blushing, Lucia said softly: "Lady Lucrezia, I think I would love to have you as my sister-in-law."
Alas, that’s not to be.
"You are so mature," she continued, "not like that silly girl Niccolo was betrothed to two years ago, for I do not know what obscure reasons. The only thing in her favor was that she was of noble birth."
That silly girl is standing right in front of you, but then you’re right, I’m not that silly girl anymore. "I see. Why did the marriage not take place, if I may be so indiscreet as to ask?"
"Oh, it is no secret. Everybody in Siena knows. She is the reason my father lost his sight." And Lucia launched into the story of her father, how he lost his left eye, then his right, and his poor state of health ever since.
Later, she bemoaned the fact that she was still childless after three years of marriage. Not only did she long for a child, but she was also worried that her husband, whom she loved, might stray from the marital bed to beget a son elsewhere. To console herself, she read and reread the few books, written in the vernacular, her father owned. She had just finished La Commedia.
We could have become good friends, I guess, Chiara told herself.
Niccolo was the last to take leave and, on departing, repeated that he hoped to see her again soon.
* * *
"How could you flirt with Niccolo so blatantly?" questioned Orlando, after the door had closed behind Sanguanero.
"Have you forgotten that my goal is to snare him?"
"Chiara, you were perfect," exclaimed Alda. "I loved the way you paraded your bosom. He had the hardest time keeping his eyes off you, even after he left you with his sister. She was again wearing your necklace, wasn’t she?"
"Yes. I actually liked her. She was refreshingly frank, so different from her brother."
"She could have been your sister-in-law."
"She could have been my friend, but even if I had known her beforehand, the price would still have been too high… Friends, thank you for your help." She embraced each one and kissed Jacomo on the cheek. Blushing, he touched the spot with his fingers.
"Yes, it went well," said Orlando. "You know, Chiara, that three other families voiced strong interests in pursuing the matter further. I guess, I will have to front up to Casa Sanguanero shortly and present our proposal for a partnership as a condition for the marriage."
* * *
A message to that effect was delivered to them already the following morning. When Orlando returned from the meeting, he was beaming.
"I think they bought it, although they are a suspicious lot. They wanted to keep the documents, but I told them that they could only copy them and that I needed them back by tomorrow. I overheard Niccolo order their head clerk to check out the authenticity of the seals." He looked questioningly at Chiara. "Will they pass such a test?"
"I’m confident they will. Ser Stachos is a master forger. I’m more worried about the signatures. What if different people are currently in charge and this is known by their banking house here? But it’s out of our hands. We’ll just have to keep our fingers crossed. Anything else?"
"Yes, as we agreed, I told them that I had no authority to change the terms stipulated in the letter of the notary."
"If need be, you could agree that the entire shipment is consigned to them for sale against a commission on the Alberti share. I’m sure that they will jump on this opportunity to increase their profits."
"Chiara, you should go into business. There’s more money to be made than as a traveling player."
"But less fun and more worry."
"Most traveling players worry constantly where their next meal will come from."
"I’ve no intention of joining that group of no-hopers."
Orlando laughed. "You’ve been lucky so far."
"No, Orlando, I don’t leave luck to chance. I stay in control and make my own luck."
"She does, Orlando," cried Alda. "She really does."
* * *
The letters were returned Friday morning, together with an invitation for Signorina Alberti to attend a family reception at Casa Sanguanero on Saturday late afternoon. So the forgeries passed the test. She would set foot into Casa Sanguanero. The first step to retrieve the little book of poems.
After dinner that night when the servant woman and her husband had left the house, the troupe sat together to plan the next few days. Chiara was anxious that Alda, Pepe, Jacomo, and Veronica went back to Florence right away. She wanted them out of reach, should anything go wrong, but she still needed Orlando to initiate the negotiations for the marriage contract. However, she herself needed to be in Florence by Friday of the following week since they had another private performance for Phormio, this time in the city itself, but she could make it back in less than half a day, while Jacomo and Pepe would take at least two, possibly even three days to return to Florence with the donkey as the only draft animal. Although the others wanted to stay with her to the last moment, the force of her arguments finally convinced them to leave on Monday.
"And you Orlando will have to leave at the latest on Wednesday on a hired horse," said Chiara.
"Could he not also use the horse relay you organized?" queried Jacomo.
"You mean buying another three horses?" asked Pepe. "We don’t have time to set that up anymore."
"What an ingenious idea," cried Chiara. "Thank you, Jacomo."
The young man blushed deeply and everybody else looked perplexed.
"All we need is one additional horse, not three," explained Chiara. "If Orlando leaves a day or two before me and uses the relay, then by the time I need the horses, they’re rested again. Such a simple and clever idea."
"And we can also use the same scheme when I return to Siena to finalize the contract," exclaimed Orlando.
Later that evening, she gave Pepe the money to buy another horse.
* * *
Chiara was grateful that Alda again did a perfect job of getting her ready for the reception, particularly doing her hair, matching the Lucrezia look she had assumed. One of their biggest difficulties was Chiara’s limited wardrobe, but Alda had come to the rescue, with two outfits that were both reversible with different colors, giving her in fact a choice of four. Attachable decorations added to the variety. It needed the trained eye of a seamstress to see through the ploy.
As decorations for her broad belt, she had chosen four small throwing knives, which she had especially made in Florence. She wanted to be well armed. Jacomo accompanied her to the Sanguanero mansion on Via di Camollia, a brisk twenty-minute walk from Casato di sopra.
Lucia welcomed her with a warm smile: "Lady Lucrezia, I am glad that you could come and, just between us, I think so is Niccolo."
One of Casa Sanguanero’s servants showed Jacomo into the kitchen where he would wait for her. Chiara looked around as Lucia led her up a wide staircase into a big loggia. The ground floor and presumably the basement were used to store goods. A pleasant smell of spices and perfumed woods filled the air. She only saw two clerks counting or weighing bags. Had she hoped to see her sailor? She felt annoyed, but did not know whether it was from disappointment or from having hoped so in the first place.
The loggia had three large, glass-pane windows overlooking the street. The three storey buildings opposite allowed only subdued light to enter the narrow street. Four pillars supported the high ceiling, with patterned marble tiles creating a circular space in its center. A candelabrum in the form of a wheel hung from the ceiling, on which burned at least two dozen thick beeswax candles. Both the walls and the ceiling were white plaster. A dark, wooden bench ran along the wall under the windows. Except for a big vase, the hall had few other decorations, pleasing in its classical simplicity. I could have liked living here, was her immediate reaction.
"It is a very intimate receptions," whispered Lucia, as they stepped into the hall where no more than two dozen people talked in small groups. "Only our closest relatives and a few friends are here to meet you."
To check me out in person. She spotted Massimo Sanguanero in a high-backed chair at the edge of the circle near one of the pillars, the only person sitting. As Niccolo came to meet them, his first glance went to her bosom, before he bowed gallantly with a pleased smile. Chiara forced herself to respond.
"Here you are, Lady Lucrezia. It is a privilege to see you again."
She noticed Lucia’s ‘I told you so’ wink, wondering at the same time whether he always greeted everybody with ‘it’s a privilege’.
"Signor Sanguanero, the pleasure is mine," she replied, smiling, cultivating her southern accent, letting the actor assume her role. Pointing around with a sweep of one hand, she added: "What an enchanting hall, so simple and yet so beautiful in its purity."
"Signorina, you have a gift for words. Yes, my grandfather designed it and we have resisted all temptations to make it more ostentatious."
"Oh, that would ruin it. What exquisite vases!"
"You mean the amphoras? Yes, they are. If you permit, I wish to introduce you to my father first, before I let you admire them."
"Signore, it is only proper that I first meet Signor Sanguanero."
"Lady Lucrezia, please come."
He led her to the old man. She braced herself, surprised and alarmed by the revulsion gathering in her throat.
"Father, I would like to introduce Signorina Alberti de’ Morrone to you… My father, Signor Massimo Sanguanero."
"I am honored to meet you, Signor Sanguanero," she managed to say and realized at the same time that the southern accent was missing.
"Lady Lucrezia, since I cannot see you, I can only shake hands with you," he said, holding out his right hand. She forced herself to take it and almost ripped hers back at the touch. Her stomach wanted to revolt. It took all her will not to vomit. She briefly closed her eyes, and heard Lucia’s concerned question: "Lady Lucrezia, are you feeling ill?"
She caught herself, taking a deep breath, the actor being in charge again, the southern accent back. "Oh no. Thank you for your concern, Lady Lucia. I just felt overwhelmed by the thought of how horrible it must be to be deprived of one’s eyesight, to always have to depend on others."
"You are dead right, young woman. Every day I curse the girl who did it. May she rot in hell forever." His voice suddenly sounded guttural.
The girl you raped and intended to drown, but her face only expressed sympathy, as he finally released her hand.
"Oh father, please do not upset yourself now," begged Lucia, putting a hand on his shoulders.
He ignored her, addressing Chiara again. "Your voice sounds familiar. Have I met you before?"
She had not counted on the heightened sensitivity of a blind person to sound. "I do not think so, Signore. Not unless you have been at Palazzo Alberti in Naples while I was still a child."
"No, I never met your father. Lucia has sung your high praises. So I now want to hear from you what you look like."
"Gladly. I am half a head taller than your daughter, Signore. A plain face, brown eyes, high forehead, high cheek bones, long black hair plaited to the side of my head, and I think I am a bit too slim."
"Oh father, Lady Lucrezia is too modest," exclaimed Lucia. "She is a stunning woman and not only in her looks, but also her mind."
"Be quiet, daughter. You have said that several times already. I want to hear it from this young woman."
Lucia met Chiara’s gaze with an apology.
"Last time I was in Naples, I had not heard that your house had branched into commerce."
Quick Chiara, think of something! "Oh, I think it happened a few years back when I was still a child. Naturally, I do not understand much about it, nor does it interest me. But I was told that my father, God bless his soul, tried to keep the family name out of the affairs because my grandparents frowned on seeing his name associated with commerce. I think he worked mainly through Messer Adelphi dei Guantani. I forgot what it is called now."
"A trading corporation?" interjected Niccolo.
"Yes, I think that is it." She hoped that she was not undermining her case. "But then about three years ago he felt that being a merchant was gaining respectability even in Naples and decided to let our name be known. Alas, both my parents died in the plague."
"How sad," murmured Lucia. "But father, please excuse us. I think that our other guests are waiting to be introduced to Lady Lucrezia."
Chiara gave a silent sigh of relief, nodded to the old man and noticed her mistake, saying: "Signor Sanguanero, thank you for receiving me."
In fact, a half circle of people had formed around them, waiting expectantly. Chiara braved their scrutiny with smiles. Besides Lucia’s husband, whom she had already met twice, she recognized four other people that had attended one of the performances, but none of them seemed to connect her to I Magnifici.
After the introductions and the compulsory small talk, Niccolo took her aside. "Are you still interested in seeing the amphoras?"
"Certainly. In fact, I was waiting for you to keep your promise."
His face glowed with a mixture of pleasure and pompous pride, as he led her to one of the vases. "They are our most precious pieces of art. I’m told that they are of Greek origin."
Chiara studied the two feet tall vessel displayed on a marble base, trying to hide her increasing agitation. Black and dark-red geometric friezes decorated the neck and base of the beautifully proportioned form, its girth showing black figures of animals and humans on a pale ochre base. She closed her eyes for a moment and saw the same vase standing, one of two, in a corner of Castello Nisporto. Etruscan, her father had explained their origin. She clamped her teeth tightly and slowly breathed in, filling her lungs fully, calming the storm inside her. A quick glance to the other corner along the same wall confirmed that the vase displayed there was its twin.
"Is it not beautiful? … I see that for once you are lost for words."
"Indeed, I am, Signore. To say they are merely beautiful is an understatement. In fact, they are exquisite, priceless."
"You see, Niccolo, our guest is not long lost for words," chuckled Lucia.
"Lady Lucrezia, if our negotiations progress the way I would like them to, you may be able to admire these amphoras every day."
He showered her with a paternalistic smile. She had the urge to spit into his face, but instead bashfully lowered her head.
"These two form a pair," he said, pointing to the other vase at the adjacent corner. "That makes them even more valuable."
I want them back, cried her mind. "Are they family pieces?"
"You could say that. We recently brought them here from one of our other properties. Do you wish to see the other one also?"
"Oh yes, you would not want to deprive me of that pleasure."
After admiring both, they mingled again with the other guests. She even had to endure another exchange with the old man. She deliberately steered the conversation to books and mentioned that Lucia had praised his library.
"Useless to me now," he grunted.
"Signore, even to you it is useful. I would be surprised if your daughter does not read to you."
"Not enough." Then he called out "Lucia" and told her to show Chiara the library. Lucia led her into a lounge at the back of the hall, warmly lit by the late afternoon sun.
"What a pleasant room, so light. I prefer reading by daylight," Chiara exclaimed and then turned to one of the shelves next to the door, scanning the titles. She wanted to scream. Her father’s entire library. She became aware that her agitation was showing. "How exciting to have such a vast collection. I could easily lose myself in here and never wish to get out."
"Until that time comes, I would be happy to lend you some books while you are in Siena," Lucia said, chuckling.
"Would you really?"
"Yes, do you see one or two you would like to take along today?"
"Let me have a quick look."
She rapidly scanned the shelves, trying to find her little book of Latin poems. It was not there.
She would have spotted it immediately, but there were three other Latin tomes that her father had claimed were a rarity and unique. She picked them out. If she could not recover all the books, she wanted to save at least those three.
"May I borrow these?"
"I will have them sent to you."
"Thank you, but there is no need. My servant can carry them for me. Lady Lucia, you are so kind."
When she left, Lucia whispered into her ear: "I think you have won them over. Let’s hope the negotiations go well."
* * *
Early Monday morning, Alda, Pepe, Veronica and Jacomo left discreetly for Florence. Orlando visited Casa Sanguanero to stress the urgency of concluding the negotiations for the marriage contract in view of the need to get the galleys prepared in time for an early departure and to allow him to return to Naples as quickly as possible. He was told by Niccolo that a meeting with their notary had already been arranged for Tuesday afternoon to which he was invited.
He and Chiara again went over what aspects stipulated in the Naples notary’s letter could not be varied and which ones he could negotiate on.
His mien was worried when he returned from the meeting. "They seem to stall. I think they were somewhat stunned by the size of their share. Twenty thousand florins are a lot of money. Niccolo claims that they need several weeks to finalize the terms of the contract."
"One thing we can’t afford is to give them time to check us out. To be on the safe side, we’ve at most two months. I can understand that they may need time to raise the funds."
"I guess they may have to take out a loan with a merchant banker. But there’s more. They want to supply the goods for one galley themselves and only six thousand florins in the form of a letter of credit."
Why had she not thought herself that they might want something along that line? It seemed obvious that as merchants they wanted to be actively involved at both ends.
Orlando looked at her expectantly. "What do you say to that?"