Chapter 4!

Thank you again to ALL of my followers and reviewers.

I hope you enjoy reading this story as much as I enjoy writing it!

This chapter occurs the same night as the previous chapter.

Enjoy and please share your thoughts!

Hugging Rosa goodnight with a smile, I shut my bedroom door. It would never cease to amaze me how quickly she was growing. She was still slightly girlish, but that made her adorable personality even more appealing. No wonder she was so sought after. At fifteen years old, she seemed to have more men swarming around her this season than I ever did.

Heaving a sigh, I sat in front of my vanity mirror and started to unpin my hair. Many people over the years had complimented me on becoming a lovely young woman who was not plain at all. I did not necessarily agree with them. I thought I was very plain indeed. Especially when I stood next to Rosa, whose beauty shone as bright as her bubbly personality. Despite her beauty, I had never been jealous of her. She preferred the life of a lady; sitting with my mother in parlors, chatting about the latest fashion. I was perfectly happy in the corner, scribbling the next line to my current poem. I always dreamed of a life larger than this one. Larger than simply waiting around to get married.

After removing all of the pins, I started to reach for my comb, but hesitated, eying my reflection.

My olive skin was much darker than most women my age due to my wild and free childhood in Tuscany. My hair refused to cooperate in any way. The dark as night curls truly did curl in every way imaginable. But I learned, after some time, that the longer it grew, the tamer it became. So the dark ebony waves fell well past my elbows.

I turned my face each way, noting my slightly too large nose, and unnoticeable cheek bones. It was true that my teeth were perfectly fine, but not the best. I found my appearance very plain indeed. The only feature remotely noticeable were my eyes. A deep emerald green that was surrounded by dark lashes. My father always called them the "jewels of his own heart". Surprisingly enough, I was the only child who received my own father's deep green, piercing eyes. My other siblings received my mother's soft blue eyes, except for Carmelita whose eyes did, indeed, resemble caramel.

I sighed and proceeded to run the comb through my hair wondering how my hair would be done for the wedding.

The wedding. Closing my eyes tightly shut, I tried to close away the thought as well. Only two months away, and I still hadn't grown used to the idea.

Suddenly I heard a tapping on my window. Opening my eyes, I jerked my head, craning my neck to hear it once more.

My heart leapt as another tic on the window confirmed my hopes.

Trying to suppress a large smile and bubble of hope, I flew over and open the window, glancing down to see him in the exact spot I had pictured.

There he stood next to our street lamp pole across the alley from my room. Connecting our gazes, he turned and tied a small crimson strip of fabric as was our signal. As he looked back up to me to confirm, I could see the earnestness in his gaze. I let out a girlish giggle that sounded far too much like Rosa, and nodded.

My heart did a flip when his face broke out into a full out grin as he turned and walked away.

Still smiling to myself, I closed the window and rushed over to snatch some hairpins. Luckily he had come before I had undressed, but I couldn't' simply leave all of my hair down. Too improper. My mother would scold me for a week.

My fingers were shaking so frantically, I could barely stick one pin in.

What is the matter with me? I frowned as I tried again.

Perhaps it was due to the fact that it had been so long since we had done this; since he had tied that ribbon. It had been so long since he had summoned me. 119 days to be precise, but who is counting?

Huffing in frustration, I managed to jab a final pin in, and I stepped back to examine my work.

I had only managed to somehow pin half of my hair, but it would have to do.

My hair was far too stubborn, and I had little patience anyway. Especially when it came to my appearance. My mother usually took control.

Considering it was a cool night, I snatched my cream cloak, which I used more like a shawl, and blew out the candle next to my door.

Quietly and carefully, I managed to shut my door and continue down the hall. My parents' bedroom was in the opposite direction of the stairs, so as long as the majority of my siblings were even partially asleep, I should have been fine.

I had managed to make it all the way down the stairs and into the main foyer when the front door opened in front of me. I let out a squeal before I clamped my hands over my mouth.

Guiliano widened his eyes at me and put a finger to his lips.

We both sent a glance upstairs, and he quietly closed the door.

"Where are you going?" Guiliano whispered, coming closer to me.

"Nowhere. I just… Attendere, where were you?" I countered, eyeing his disheveled hair and clothes. (wait)

He hesitated, and his gaze dropped to the floor while he brought a hand to scratch his neck. After softly clearing his throat, he replied, "With Claudia."

I furrowed my brow, and almost choked on my own saliva.

"As in… Claudia Auditore?" I managed to ask with wide eyes.

He slowly glanced up and I saw a most unbelievably splendid sight. My oldest brother, Guiliano Arconato, for the first time in his twenty years of life, was actually blushing.

"Si," he muttered.

My jaw dropped as my wide mouth slowly turned into a smile. If it were even possible, his cheeks grew even brighter.

"You and Claudia?" I breathed. "Since when?"

"Just a few weeks. Aw, Elena. Credetemi. We didn't even do anything." (believe me)

I raised my eyebrows and pointedly looked at his hair and wrinkled clothing.

"Sicuro." (Sure)

"We didn't! I swear. You know me, Elena. We were only messing around." At his own words, his eyes flew to the ground once more.

I would have busted laughing out loud if I were permitted to make noise.

"Anyway," his gaze flew back up. "Where are you going?"

I cleared my throat and readjusted me shawl.

"Out," I replied, lifting my chin.

He crossed his arms and leaned back on the door with a soft thud.

"With whom?" he asked with a raised brow.

"I don't see why that matters."

"It does to me. You are going out with him aren't you?"

"It is a male, if that's what you are implying."

"Federico."

I tightened my lips and with a firm nod I spoke, a little too quickly, "Yes. That's him."

I inwardly groaned. That's him?! Dear God. Could I have sounded more ridiculous?

"No, it's not." Guiliano looked every bit the role of the older brother as his eyes narrowed.

After a long silence, I looked up at him. Suddenly he blinked and his eyes widened before he dropped his arms and leaned off of the door.

"Ezio. You are meeting Ezio."

It was my turn to clear my throat as I fiddled with my sleeve.

"I hope you know what you are doing, Elena," he finally spoke.

My gaze flew back up to his. "He is my best friend, Guiliano. You know that."

"And Federico is my best friend," he countered.

"And my fiancé."

"Yes," he walked closer. "Your fiancé."

After more silence, I took a deep breath and spoke, eying his appearance once more.

"You keep your mouth shut about tonight, and so will I."

His lips twitched, and he broke into a smile.

Shaking his head, he muttered, "You sure are my little sister."

Smiling in return, I stood on my toes and pecked him on the cheek. "I sure am."

As I started to turn the door handle, he said, "You are going with your hair like that? It looks horrible. Come al solito." (Like usual)

I looked over my shoulder to see a grin that matched my own.

"Zitto e andare a letto." (Shut up and go to bed)

With another snort of laughter, he made his way upstairs as I closed the door and walked into the night.

Thank you for reading!

The next chapter is going to be a good one. I can already tell :)

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