Though she knew it was completely irrational, Isabella felt incredibly guilty about delivering the news of Maria's ill health to her son in such an informal way; and because of this, she was now doing her very best to avoid him at all costs.
She knew that a simple apology would clear the air, needed or not needed, and yet she felt a strange intimidation regarding the Assassin which prevented her from speaking to him.
He didn't seem to notice however. Over the course of a week, Isabella had never seen him sitting still or lingering in one place for too long, his work clearly keeping him too busy. But to his credit, since his first visit to the Rosa in Fiore, he had not missed an evening with his Mother who was overjoyed at seeing her son so regularly.
"It is so nice to see him, is it not Claudia?" She had said one morning after he had left (Isabella had strategically excused herself when he entered and came back only after knowing he had gone again).
Claudia smiled at her mother, shuffling playing cards in her hands for a moment before dealing between the three of them.
"It is indeed, it's rare to see him so regularly."
"What do you think of him, Isabella?" Maria turned to her with a serene expression. "You've not met him before, have you?"
"I hadn't, no." Isabella gave a somewhat tight smile. "He seems very nice, indeed."
Of course, she had no real clue of his character since their first meeting, but didn't wish to point out that she was avoiding the Assassin.
"He's a good boy," Maria responded, her expression becoming somewhat distant. "Much like his Father."
"Any eights?" Claudia interjected quickly. Conversations including Maria's dead husband or sons tended to end badly for her well-being, and therefore were avoided as best as possible.
Later that evening when Ezio arrived at the Rosa once again, Isabella felt somewhat sad as she rose from her seat and politely stated that she had to leave. She preferred company during the evening, it tended to keep her constant nightmares at bay, but her nervousness around the Assassin made her wish to leave - and she knew it was probably best to give the small family some time alone together.
"Are you sure Isabella?" Claudia sounded somewhat put out. "They haven't even lit the lamps outside yet."
"I have many things to do," Isabella replied vaguely with a small smile at her friend that she knew would do nothing to placate her.
As predicted, Claudia's expression became somewhat suspicious, but she nodded her head at the other's words.
"Alright, I'll see you out."
"Goodnight Maria," Isabella nodded at Maria with a smile which was graciously returned, and then gave Ezio a small, somewhat nervous head jerk that resembled a nod. "Goodnight."
"Goodnight," he replied rather formally. He did not seem angry with her, she thought to herself, and yet she still felt inexplicably nervous as their gaze met - as if she were a teenager about to be chided for misbehaviour.
She prepared herself for an inquisition as she and Claudia left the room and walked across the corridor towards the large main staircase. Sure enough, as soon as they were out of earshot of her rooms, Claudia spoke somewhat concernedly.
"Are you alright?" She kept her voice somewhat hushed, much to Isabella's gratitude.
"I'm fine," Isabella didn't particularly wish to explain her silly worries. "I'm just tired, don't worry."
"You've been very distant lately," Claudia said gently, taking hold of Isabella's arm as they descended the stairs. "Is there anything you want to talk about?"
"Oh Claudia," Isabella felt a strange mingle of annoyance at being unable to hide her emotions with a strong feeling of affection for her friend. She squeezed their linked arms together gently. "Honestly I'm alright. Getting on with things as always."
Truthfully she never truly felt alright. The nightmares she had constantly plagued her thoughts, and her mind seemed to be able to only concentrate on one subject when there was nobody else around to distract her. She felt constantly weary from her feelings and nothing seemed to shift it.
And now with Ezio there, she felt nervous hanging around the Rosa in Fiore - her only sanctuary from this crippling depression - though she knew that her worries were trivial and most probably of her own creation.
But she could not tell Claudia this. It wasn't that the Madame wouldn't understand or sympathise, but Isabella had a hard time articulating the strange way her mind worked nowadays - and she didn't want to worry her friend.
"You know you can talk to me, don't you? Even if it's things I've heard before." Claudia's tone was gentle. They had stopped at the main door and turned to face each other. "I know what grief is like."
"I know," Isabella could not help but smile at the other's kindness. "And likewise, always. But I am fine for now, I promise. Thank you Claudia."
Leaving the Rosa, she took a deep breath of the cool evening air. Her home was not far from the brothel, and she reached it quickly with no troubles. Despite it still being rather light outside, she felt exhausted and immediately collapsed onto a couch in front of the fireplace which had thankfully already been lit before she had arrived and was crackling cosily.
She was tired. So very tired.
This was it, today was the day she was going to tell him how she felt.
Of course, she had told herself this already on more than one occasion, but this was definitely it. She was tired of the both of them dancing around the subject that was constantly in the air. She was going to tell him how she felt and she hoped, oh goodness how she hoped, that he would tell her he returned the feelings.
Exactly on time, a loud knock on the door sounded around the room and Isabella felt her heart leap excitedly. Attempting to keep her cool, she quickly smoothed down her dress and then her hair before speaking with the most casual tone she could muster.
"Come in, Paulo."
He entered the room with a grin, clearly pleased that she had already known it was him behind the door.
"Hello Isabella, how are you?" His tone was bright and playful.
Isabella gave him a smile, she had stopped denying to herself the attraction she felt for him long ago, and yet every day she was still finding new things to admire about him. Everything from the clearly-styled messiness of his hair to the dimples in his cheeks made her heart soar, he was just so beautiful.
"I'm very well," she replied, matching his playful tone. "And you?"
With a causal grace, he lifted himself onto the counter in front of her, sitting with his legs dangling off the edge.
Quickly, he fixed his expression into one of mock-seriousness.
"I think I may be gravely ill, Doctor."
She gave a shrewd smile at this overplayed joke he had once used to gain access to her workplace all those months ago.
"Oh?" She pretended, as she always did, to look concerned. "And what exactly is the problem?"
"I'm completely lovesick, I'm afraid." His expression remained serious, and Isabella gave a small and somewhat nervous laugh at his unexpected response.
"Oh dear," she replied, continuing to play along although her heart was now thumping even harder than before. Daringly, she stepped towards him and placed her hand to his forehead, pretending to take his temperature.
"Hm," she said pensively. "You do have a fever. Though it could just be the plague."
He wrinkled his nose at her joke and she giggled lightly at the expression, making him laugh with her.
"Is there anything you can do to help me?" He continued, his expression becoming somewhat serious once again.
Isabella thought for a moment of simply kissing him right then and there with their heads so close together and the subject touching, as it always did, on the unspoken feelings between the two of them. She couldn't stand pretending any more, it was driving her mad.
But nervousness made her step backwards slightly though she hated moving away from him.
"Ah, I'm afraid there's no cure," she said with a mock-solemn tone.
His eyes were locked on hers and he gave a very small smile.
"For the plague, or for being lovesick?"
The way he was looking at her made her feel so exposed, but in the most positive way. It was as if he knew exactly what she were thinking.
"The plague," she replied with a smile to match his. "For being lovesick, there is only one way to cure it."
Gently he got down from the counter, shortening the space she had made between them by stepping backwards.
"So which do I have?"
And suddenly, she could stand it no longer. He was making it perfectly clear what he wanted and she wanted it too - she had never wanted anything more. Closing the gap between them completely, she leaned up towards him and pressed her lips to his.
His reaction was instant, and suddenly his arms were around her and he was kissing her with such passion that she felt herself lifted slightly from the ground.
It was only after a few minutes which felt like seconds to Isabella that they parted, both of them breathless and with their arms wrapped around each other.
Paulo rested his forehead against hers, his smile triumphant.
"Thank god," he said with a small laugh. "I was beginning to think you'd never do that."
Isabella laughed with him, his triumphant expression matched on her face. "I never do like to be predictable."
He gave another breathless laugh before drawing her in for another kiss and she reciprocated enthusiastically.
She had never been so truly happy.
"Miss Isabella!"
A loud knocking startled Isabella awake so suddenly that her heart began to race erratically. Somewhat dazed, she sat up and looked around for a moment before realising that she had simply fallen asleep in front of the fireplace - a common practise on workdays.
Another series of loud knocks made her jump once more and she quickly rose from her seat, realising what had woken her.
"Miss Isabella please!" A distressed voice called from behind the main door. "There isn't much time!"
Heart racing, Isabella quickly unlocked the door and wrenched it open. Carmen, one of Claudia's most trusted girls, was standing in a bloodstained dress, her hair dishevelled and her feet bare.
"Miss Isabella I am so sorry but it is an emergency, Madame Claudia has sent for you right away!"
"Slow down Carmen," Isabella kept her tone soothing but fear suddenly struck her, had something happened to Claudia or her mother? "What happened, what's wrong?"
"It's Sir Ezio, Miss. We believe he's been poisoned!"
Medical instinct kicking in, Isabella quickly turned herself away from Carmen and ran towards the large chest she kept in the foyer. Opening it, she quickly took hold of all the antidotes for poison she owned and stuffed them inside a small leather bag.
And then without another moments hesitation, she and Carmen had begun to run towards to Rosa in Fiore.
"How did it happen?" Isabella called breathlessly over the rush of wind as they ran.
"It was Anna!" Carmen responded, her tone shaken and fearful. "She was entertaining a nobleman when he suddenly became aggressive. Sir Ezio stepped in and took care of him, but he was scratched by the man's dagger and now the wound will not stop bleeding!"
Isabella felt a rush of fear. She had witnessed this type of poisoning before, and often it ended badly. She thought of Claudia and Maria losing even more of what little family they had and she felt herself speed up towards the Rosa. She couldn't let that happen, not without doing everything in her power.
They reached the brothel quickly and Isabella found herself fighting through small crowds of courtesans and patrons who had fled the building in the commotion. In the centre of the courtyard was the body of a man Isabella assumed to be Ezio's attacker.
Rushing inside the building, Carmen called out shrilly. "Madame Claudia, Miss Isabella is here!"
Immediately, Claudia appeared at the top of the large staircase, her face stricken with fear.
"Isabella! Thank god, it's Ezio he...he-"
Isabella quickened up the stairs and took her friend's hands in an attempt to calm her.
"It's alright Claudia, take me to him."
In Claudia's rooms there was a small group of Assassins and Courtesans crowded around Ezio whom was slumped in an armchair close to the fire. He was exceedingly pale, and Isabella noticed that any cloth on his arm was stained red. He was awake, but it was clearly a struggle with all of his afflictions.
All previous intimidation of the Assassin seemed to disappear and replace itself with medical instinct, and Isabella rushed forward towards him, her hand going to his forehead which was burning with a temperature.
"Is the pain solely in the wound?" She asked him without wasting time with greetings.
He nodded feebly. "But I feel weak."
"That's the blood loss," Isabella responded softly. "I think I know what poison it is, but I'm afraid the antidote is not a pleasant one."
He grimaced with pain. "Whatever it is cannot be worse than this."
Isabella gave him a sympathetic smile before reaching into her bag and searching through the bottles of poison antidotes she had brought with her.
Finding it quickly, she uncorked it and handed it to him.
"Drink it all, and take care not to choke."
He lifted it to his mouth and drained the small bottle, his face contorting with distaste as he did so.
Isabella turned to Claudia who was still looking rather stricken.
"Can I please have some hot water and bandages brought up? I'll need to tend to his wound."
"Will he be alright?" Claudia asked as she motioned for two of the courtesans in the room to follow Isabella's orders.
"He should be," Isabella turned back to Ezio with a small, comforting smile. "As long as we take care of the wound properly. It'll take a small while for the antidote to take effect, but once it does the bleeding should cease."
"Thank god," Ezio replied somewhat breathlessly, his face still greatly pained.
It took only a few moments for the courtesans to return with water and bandages and immediately Isabella went to work, pushing aside his sleeve and cleaning the blood from the wound.
Claudia spoke rather softly to Ezio. "I need to go and make sure the rest of my girls are alright. Will you be okay?"
"I'm fine," he replied with a kind tone. "But I will make sure you're sent for should something happen."
"Thank you," quickly, Claudia rushed forward and gave her brother a swift kiss to the temple before leaving the room, her courtesans following her.
Ezio addressed the two remaining Assassins in the room. "Can you please take care of the body downstairs before the guards find it? I don't want any of this coming back to the brothel."
"Of course Maestro," the taller of the Assassins replied respectfully. Both of them bowed and then left the room.
And then Isabella realised that she was alone with Ezio, and she was incredibly grateful that she had something medical to concentrate on.
"I'll be done in a moment," she said rather quietly, her awkwardness returning somewhat. "And then I'll just need to wrap up the wound and you can probably get some rest."
"Alright," Ezio responded softly. "Thank you."
"You're welcome," Isabella replied with genuine appreciation of his gratitude.
There was a pregnant pause between them as Isabella concentrated as much as possible on her task, before Ezio spoke rather suddenly into the somewhat awkward silence.
"Isabella?"
She lifted her head to look at him, surprised for some strange reason that he even knew her name.
"Yes?"
His expression was inquisitive. "Am I imagining that you've been avoiding me these past few days?"
She immediately felt her face burn hot, and she gave an awkward stutter as she spoke.
"I...I-I don't..."
"You've not spoken a word to me since we first met," Ezio continued. His tone was gentle but it felt like an interrogation. "Whenever I enter a room, you immediately leave. Have I done something to offend you?"
"No!" Isabella's response was somewhat forceful due to her nervousness and she closed her eyes momentarily with a small breath before speaking again. She could not escape him any more, she needed to explain herself.
"I'm sorry. I...well, I had thought I'd offended you, actually."
He looked confused. "How so?"
"Well, I was rather blasé when telling you about your mother's ill health - though you must know I did not do it deliberately. I have been worried that you might think me rude."
Saying her worries out loud made them seem incredibly trivial, and the heat on her face increased somewhat making her look away from his inquisitive gaze to what her hands were doing.
Ezio gave a small, weak chuckle - though it was not mocking in the slightest. "I don't think you're rude. In fact I apologise if I myself was rude that day, the news you gave me made me temporarily forget my manners."
"Don't be silly, your reaction was completely understandable." Despite herself, she raised her head to look him in the eye again. "I don't think you're rude either, of course not."
"Well that's good," Ezio gave another chuckle, his smile rather warm. "So now the air is cleared between us."
Isabella couldn't help but give him a rueful smile, though she was sure the blush on her cheeks was prominent.
"How're you feeling now?" She asked, wanting partially to change the subject and also to not seem a socially inept fool.
He flexed his hand gently, giving a sharp intake of breath as he did so.
"I feel a little stronger, the antidote is working fast."
"You'll still need lots of rest and sustenance," she replied knowledgeably. "It may be a few days before you're well again, I'm afraid. I wouldn't recommend anything strenuous."
"Alright," he replied softly. "Thank you, Isabella. I'm glad to have someone who clearly knows what they're doing healing me."
At that, she couldn't help but beam. Compliments to her medical prowess were something she treasured greatly.
"I do what I can," she replied with modesty. "And I'm happy to help."
It took little time to wrap his arm tightly in bandages and she was happy to see that the bleeding was sparse in comparison to how it had been just twenty minutes previous.
"There, I think I'm done," she said, getting up from her position on the floor and smoothing out her skirts a little. "How does it feel?"
He straightened his arm and winced somewhat, but looked up at her with a smile. "Painful, but much better. Thank you again."
"You're welcome," she replied, giving him a warm smile. She was glad to find that any previous awkwardness had disappeared between them. "If the bleeding increases again, or if the pain becomes too much then send for me immediately. In the mean time, I think I shall head home to sleep. I'd recommend you do the same."
"I shall be sure to," Ezio responded. "Good night, Isabella."
"Goodnight, Sir Ezio."
He raised his good hand at her words. "Please, call me Ezio."
Unexpectedly, Isabella felt her heart warm at this request, and she smiled graciously.
"Alright, Ezio."
He nodded, his expression matching hers. "Isabella."
