Lucrezia, Cesare, and Juan Borgia sat around their father's elaborate dining table, sipping wine and engaging in soft discussion. All but Juan, who was in fact gulping down his wine and staring intently in turn at his brother and sister. He jolted his empty wine cup down on the table, indicating to the serving boy that he would need his fourth refill.

"Do you really need another cup Juan?" Lucrezia murmured to Juan, under Cesare and Rodrigo's tedious and inexhaustible discussion of politics from across the table.

"Do not begin to think you know what I need." Juan smiled viciously at her, before turning to join his father and brother in their conversation.

Lucrezia, having no critical interest in the intricacies of politics where it did not directly concern her, continued to sip on the heavy wine. She loved the way Cesare looked when he was deeply involved in debate, so passionate and intense. He sometimes looked at her like that, on those occasions that she caught him. But she was not politics, nor was she war or campaigns. She was the peaceful in-betweens he rarely sought out. Cesare's life was a constant battle that she did not know where she fit in. His long hair was dark and wild as he leaned into the table, forcefully indicating as if there were a map laid out under his hand. Her father was solemnly nodding in thought and Juan was smirking, in expected disagreement. Cesare caught her staring, in a brief pause, and smiled gently in a way that understood and apologised for the dreary matters that had seemed to have overtaken the family dinner.

"Are you looking forward to the family outing Juan has planned, Lucrezia?" Lucrezia was roused from her thoughts by the question directed suddenly at her from across the table.

"Yes, father, any time with my brothers is time well spent." Rodrigo smiled at her response and clapped Cesare on the back.

"Aren't you boys blessed to have such a loving and dutiful sister in your care?"

"One of us luckier than the other it would appear..." Juan muttered under his breath.

"What's that Juan?"

"I said it would appear that we would leave to see Gioffre sooner than expected. Some matters have need of my attention in Squillace."

"Would those matters have deep brown eyes and ample bosom brother?" Cesare smirked at Juan.

"Now, now, let us not talk of…bosom, over dinner and especially not in front of your sister."

"Lucrezia does not mind, do you sis? In fact I am informed that our dear Lucrezia is quite knowledgeable on such fleshly matters." Lucrezia grimaced at Juan's not so subtle insinuation and Cesare scowled at his words.

"I refuse to believe such things Juan." Rodrigo replied taking a long swallow of his wine.

"Why wouldn't she, she has bosoms does she not?"

"Let's not talk of Lucrezia's…bosoms." Cesare cautioned Juan with a look that he returned with a brazen smile.

"You would know all about her bosoms wouldn't you Cesare." He retorted in a whisper.

"I know nothing..." Cesare replied shocked and irritated at the statement, shooting a small glance in their sister's direction, attempting to not take in her breasts as he did so. Luckily she was preoccupied with discussing the upcoming dance with their father in animated detail.

"You know too much brother." Juan pushed himself up from the table and left the room without another word.