<div class="floatleft">(http://i.imgur.com/KVXM2r1.jpg)</div>The young lady raced through the courtyard of the villa she knew as home, to where the strips of covered gauze so bright played their games within the afternoon breeze, breaking the power of the noon day sun from scorching those who reclined upon the divans in luxury. Music spread like the sunshine outwards across the gardens and the mazes, for it was the senses that were meant to be inspired there.  There were always those in attendance, taking refreshment while they bantered on subjects that ranged from religion to philosophy, from science to art and all the shades of conversation between. And those conversations had been the textbooks she had learned from.<br/><br/>Angelic creature the girl was indeed, those curls the color of sunset streaming behind her, as her eyes, pools the color of the countryside in full spring bloom danced with their own brand of  mischief. She paused at the fountain with its bubbling song to toss but one blossom from the bouquet had been sent for to toss it within the cool water that sang its constant song to all who paused to hear it as it had for her through out her youth. A  small prayer was offered from lips, one so sacred she dare not give it in clear words for to do so might make it disappear into vapor before it had chance to become real.<br/><br/>A snap of a fan behind her announced another persons presence and without turning, the girl knew exactly who it was.<br/><br/>The snap of that fan had triggered the change of bodies position not just in how it was presented but in how it was carried. With but the simple sound that echoed against the stone that surrounded them,  the young lady assumed the posture that was expected of her shoulders brought back, chin raised, spine elongated by the subtle stretch of muscles and use of the core. It was not enough, of course, there was the setting of lips, those plush pillows locked into a gentle smile which must be faint as a breeze on a humid night, the way the eyes must divert from direct gaze sliding instead in supplication to the side and downwards until addressed directly.<br/><br/>Then and only if the situation called for it, the brightness and animation of youth could and would return, the tender sweetness of sugared figs and springtime could be unleashed to entice the one she hunted or craved.  Those flowers within her hand were unclenched and instead hung loose within the supple curve of slender fingers polished and buffed until they shimmered like jewels she was not yet allowed to wear. With her hair loose and falling in those waves of auburn kissed amber framing the divine features of face and  set with the wide set power of those eyes, she was exquisite. The crushed pearls that accented in highlight the youth of her features and the berry juice that barely stained satin lips only added to the illusion of angelic descent.<br/><br/>The dark haired woman, even more beautiful in her older age then she had been in her youth, clicked that fan against the side of her gown as she laughed, the sound deep and rich. Cecilia was clever and more educated then most who attended her salons in leggings and breeches and this delighted them which meant they returned night after night, party after party. And that laugh of hers, well, it did wonders for a bruised ego. Her renown was not what it once was, but she was well established and answered to no man.<strong>"Are you absolutely positive you are prepared, Letta?"</strong><br/><br/>The concern in her voice was not for the aptitude of the girl before her, oh no, it was for the fact that once introductions were made, there would be no chance of reclamation for the one she had raised since birth. Oh, Zia Cecilia had taken in her dead sisters bastard with no regrets and trained her to eclipse own fame. The babe had been fathered by a  Cardinal whose aspirations had meant many a boon or bounty to be called in through out the years for the retired  cortigiana who claimed his child as her own.<br/><br/>It was the girl, who with that pose and poise,  slipped forwards in her slippered feet to reach her hand upwards to stroke the fingertips against her Aunts beloved cheek.<strong> "My entire childhood has been the melody of "Letta, that will not do: turn about and proceed again!" or "Oh, anima mia, no, this is not how to entice, remember to believe the lie, remember to gift love and receive with each gesture, even if the motion is spiteful, let them believe it is because of love.." </strong>Even her Aunt had to laugh at the girls clever mimicry of her, even the animations of those features shifted to parrot with a graceful ease. Clever monkey that the girl was, it wasn't shocking she was capable of such.<br/><strong><br/>   " I have spent more time in scrolls and lessons then most noble born. My fingers have bled upon strings, my feet have blistered with dance, and my voice has ached for nothing more then honey and hot tea to erase the pain of singing those damned scales. You, my dearest Zia, have done naught but prepare me for this moment and now as it crests upon my horizon , you ask me if I am prepared? I know no other way. I cannot rationalize any other path for myself that will lead me to where I wish to be. So yes. With all of my heart, I am prepared." </strong>The way those words tumbled from her lips as she dropped her hand and gave a stunning smile along with a rather rakish wink.<br/><br/><strong>"Besides if I am forced to discuss Epicurus but once more with Horatio I will be forced to shove quill into my ear to avoid having to listen to his droning. "</strong>Her Zia laughed as she brushed a kiss to the girls forehead, a last minute touch of sweeping the curls behind one ear and sliding flower from fingertips to that sacred place, giving the youth a charming sweetness that would serve her well.<br/><br/><strong>   "Come then, darling one. Let me make your formal introduction to our little corner of society and give you a few soft pointers of how to address the Barone. He can be slightly tricky but I do believe you have the key to unlock his..heart.' </strong>Cecilia took her nieces arm and began that slower walk towards the gathering of those who made the city a brighter place, a vivid jewel of the Empire. Each step was one of ceremony and intent, both of the women secure in their place and art, both of them hoping for the girls star to rise to the heavens.  For only there could she be free of the yoke of those made from the Earth.<br/><br/><div align="center">****************************************************** </div><br/><br/>Nicoletta Moncenigo had changed in so many ways from the flowing locked innocent who had captured the Barone as patron and benefactor for a time, more years ago then she cared to remember. And yet, there were softer points of the woman, where she still paused at fountain to give prayers and led her to cloak herself to give alms to those who needed such.  Her exploits and adventures were what they were, legends and myths with grains of truth and some of them were propagated by her own deft little tongue when it amused her to do so.  Indeed, her birth father must have held some sway, for her destiny seemed luckiest. How many could claim the heights that she had in the time she had and more to point, have managed a love match that suited so?<br/><br/>Today however, was not a day for reflection, introspection or her writing. Oh, no, today was one of those cherished delights, meant to be savored with her Beloved.  For the better part of a decade, this routine had been repeated and if Nicoletta had her way, it would be so repeated for decades more. Of course, it was for the businesses, but how it made his eyes twinkle ever so brightly as he judged and gauged  those who would come into their service in one form or another, made her own heart swell. Up or down, in or out, it was a rather wicked thing to hold the fate of those who were brought forth within the palm of hand. She dined lightly upon their resplendent fare, favoring the sips of the wine that sweetened the experience as she reclined in relaxation upon her chair.  Nicoletta would never deny that Alessandro had a gift, mysterious as it was, to quickly judge and weigh the worth of those who came before them. In truth, it was one of the reasons that their ventures were so successful.<br/><br/>In a form, had the same strange gift not been used when he collected her things and appointed her to his home, opening ventures and arrangements that not only gifted her independence and security but ensured that their arrangement was no clipping of her wings.<br/><br/>Within his company, she was but herself, unguarded and unjaded without guile or pretense. The better part of a decade of happiness had brought him that. She did not mask under the pretense of what he 'wished' to see reflected in her eyes because he was not patron. He was her choice. Until the introduction of the small beauty, the one called Serafina, she had been at ease. Graceful in her attention to his selections, laughing when it amused her, savoring his reactions to them as if because they came from him, they carried more worth.<br/><br/>But with that hiss of breath between teeth at his words she reverted slightly, out of instinct. Beautiful doll like creature, the expression upon her face showing her above the riff raff, anointed with the opulence that adorned that overly curved form, accenting those places that made men weak and women yearn.  The paleness of those blue silks only added to highlight the way her body changed its position, rising from the languid recline that showed her amusement to reflect her shifting mood.<br/><br/>Jealousy was not an emotion that the Matron allowed herself to feel. It was wasted upon those of their kind and make, a useless passion when the other passions far more decadent to experience. Her thoughts were her own, as she inclined her head lightly to her Lovers gaze, indeed managing a smile for the poor man leading the little angel away, if for no other reason then the fact he appeared unsure if he had heard his Masters orders correctly.<br/><br/>Slender digits reached outwards, pouring her glass full once more of the dark red wine, before bringing the glass to her lips. Slower drink taken, the time bought to let the sweetness and tang coat her tongue and stain those lips of hers as she carefully drew herself upwards to stand, the slightest shake of hips to right the pale blue skirts that adorned her form. It was then that the girls voice broke through the shadows and light to reach the two sets of ears. Sweet it was, so very delicate as well, and Nicoletta could not help but allow her lips to curve into that lighter expression that actually reached the jewels of her eyes. If not because of the tone of the girls voice, then for the way Alessandro had caught his error with enough grace to manage to look relieved when her expression changed.<br/><br/>No. Now was not the time to bring up questions or to ruffle feathers. It had been an odd action, no, an odd reaction for Alessandro to have, considering the amount of flesh that had been judged and weighed by his eyes and his cock over the years. Passing and fleeting amusements, really, that were a part of his charm and appeal to her and brought her no discomfort. Her hand placed her glass back upon the table as head tilted giving thoughtful regard to her Beloved as she laughed, the sound a bright thing, filling the space between their bodies as she reached over him to take up fig and bite into it, tongue darting out to capture the juice before it had time to drip upon the pale material that covered her. It was near teasing, when she licked her thumb to clear the juice from it and let her gaze fall upon his features fully.<br/><br/><strong>"This is going to cost you, My Heart. The necklace, I think, the one with the emeralds you said matched my eyes and a case of books from the East." </strong>Playful it was, not as if she could not easily place the orders for such herself, but the tease of it was worth it as she popped her thumb free from wine stained lips.<strong> "Come now, it isn't fair to force her to ride with that poor fool home. And if she is to be living with us, I wish to see her bathed properly and I need to gauge her coloring and sizes. It would not do for her to embarrass us when company arrives."</strong>Oh, the way she sighed as if put upon by it all as she leaned over, tucking her fingertips underneath his chin to raise it so her eyes could search within his own, lips brought in warm to dance against his own for but the span of a breath, sharing the taste of wine and fruit before she took her step back and stretched her arms above her head in almost unlady like way.