Part 21 – Moods
Lucrezia was rather pleased with herself. She wandered around in the gardens alone, looking at the beautiful flowers and the roses and smiling at the sight of them. Everything would work out perfectly now. She would have a husband, just like her father wanted, and her husband would allow her to keep a lover. So Lucrezia could have what she wanted too. Lucrezia was really quite the magician, wasn't she? She ran her fingers over a soft white rose petal, and didn't stop when she heard footsteps on the nearby path.
"You seem in a good mood, Lucrezia." Her father's voice sounded from the path, and Lucrezia looked at him, with glowing cheeks and a genuine smile on her face. She walked over the grass and to her father.
"I am in a good mood, father. And your mood will improve too." She said in a very confident and almost secretive tone. Rodrigo was very pleased to see his daughter so happy, but he could only wonder what would make her so happy. Knowing she was a Borgia however, he'd guess that she had desired something and now it was within her grasp.
"Tell me then, daughter, how will you enhance my mood? What have you gained, that will cheer up everyone?" He asked and for a moment, her smile faded. But only for a moment! It returned soon as she met his eyes with a spark in hers.
"I am to be married soon, father; and to a man of your approval. Will that cheer you up?" She asked and walked past him, back towards the entrance to the family's chambers and quarters. Lucrezia didn't wait to see his reaction and didn't turn around.
"Well done Lucrezia!" Rodrigo said behind her, "Thank God!" And she imagined he did. Meanwhile, Lucrezia cast a glance at the sky. The sun had set, and soon she would have a meal. And then she would tell Cesare the happy news. Only… would he be happy? This was why her smile had faded momentarily not long ago, when her father thought the news would cheer up everyone. She still wondered if Cesare would be very thrilled. And she knew him well enough; he wouldn't and she would have to brace herself to handle that. Lucrezia, however, was pleased with her deal with Alfonso and she would make Cesare understand. That was her privilege, after all.
For once, she was the one waiting in his chamber. Often it was Cesare that came to her and she rather liked that – to her, it proved how much he wanted her. But she wanted him too and with the news she had, how could she not want him even more? She could keep him! She would be married to a very enticing man and she would not have to let go of her beloved Cesare. All they had to do was keep her lover a secret, because even Alfonso would frown upon such a close relationship between brother and sister. Still though, she loved Cesare. Lucrezia sat down on the edge of the bed and leaned back on her arms when the door opened and her brother entered. He stopped the moment he saw her. She noticed that the troubled gaze had returned to his eyes. And at the same time, she'd say there was a spark of anger in them. Good, she thought. Anger, she could work with.
"You told me to trust you. You said that all would be well." Cesare said then, before she could even open her mouth. She watched him shrug his jacket off and in her mind, she dared him to remove the shirt too, but he didn't. He wasn't in the mood for pleasure, she knew that. Only she wished he was. Yet when he now approached her, he stopped before he could reach her. Lucrezia stood and closed the distance between them, wrapping her arms around his neck.
"And all is well. It is as it should be." Lucrezia said with a soft smile, knowing she had to be the one to convince him her plan was a good idea. But he already spoke in riddles and she hated that, "Why do you think it will not be well?"
"You know why." Cesare replied and Lucrezia realized something she barely even considered before – she knew him and his moods very well, but he knew her just as well. While she could guess his thoughts, he knew hers too, "He will tear you away from me. I will not let you go." Cesare repeated words he'd said before and Lucrezia sighed.
"And you won't have to, brother. Everything is settled with him. He will allow me to… take pleasure with others but him. You will not have to let me go." Lucrezia explained to him and her hands slid down over his front to this time settle around his back and she pulled closer to him, "I am yours, Cesare." This time, she heard him sigh and she looked up to meet his handsome eyes.
"As I am yours, sis. But as a married woman, you will have to follow your husband. You will not stay in Rome." Cesare explained and he was right. That would be a problem. Lucrezia, who thought she had it all figured out, had forgotten one important detail… the distance that would be between her and Cesare if she moved away. But the answer to the problem was obvious, wasn't it?
"Then you will have to follow me." Lucrezia finally said and moved a hand up to stroke his cheek, "Will you do that for me?" And with that, she finally gained a reaction. He pulled her closer to him and buried his face by her shoulder and kissed her bare and sensitive skin.
"I will follow you anywhere." He replied and she could feel the hot breath on her neck. Lucrezia closed her eyes and once more gave into the desires they both had – glad that she had convinced Cesare that all would be well. She could only hope their father would let him keep his promise.