Federico lead me to a smaller parlor like room, but this one had a table in it. More importantly the table was laidened with food. The mere smell of the room made my mouth water. I saw Maria sitting at one end of the the table and Giovanni at the head. On one side of the table was a young girl, pretty and possibly fifteen years old. Next to her was a small boy with longish hair he was probably nine or ten.
Giovanni stood when we entered.
"Bon Gurino Amelia, I hope you slept well." I smiled through the formalities.
"Very well thank you very much." Giovanni returned my smile, and gestured for us to sit down. Federico took me to a chair and held it out for me to sit, then helped me push it in before he took the seat next to me. The man may be a rouge, and a reflexive flirt. Yet at the same time he was a gentleman.
"Please Amelia eat." Maria told me. I noticed she had a strange look in her eye, but I was too busy loading my plate with food to care. Giovanni cleared his throat at Federico.
"Oh." Federico exclaimed.
"Amelia, this is my younger sister Claudia, and little brother Pettrucio."
"Ciao." Claudia said in a chipper voice. Pettrucio just gave a shy smile. I had to swallow before answering.
"It's nice to meet you." I answered. Claudia looked like she had to fight to understand me. Pettrucio just gave me a blank look. Federico looked at me and explained.
"My father is a banker. Sometimes he has clients as far as England. It's useful for the family to know the language. Claudia has just started lessons, and Pettrucio has not started at all." I nodded my understanding. The rest of the meal was pretty quiet. Until Annette came and announced that Ezio was comeing in the gate. Giovanni rose wiping his mouth.
"Please excuse me. Ezio and I have business to discuss." He said it in English for my benefit, but Maria translated to the younger ones. Claudia giggled, and Pettrucio snickered into his plate.
"Claudia spoke quickly and got up to leave. Maria looked at me.
"She's going to meet her friends outside." Pettrucio then turned to his mother. I think he was asking permission to leave the table, because as soon as Maria answered he took off. Federico turned to me clearing his throat.
"Would you like to accompany me on a walk Amelia?" I was startled by the question. Was it even appropriate for him to ask that in this time period? Maria though saved me from having to answer.
"Federico you have lessons today at the university." Federico looked put out.
"Si madre. Perhaps later then?" he finished sliding his gaze to me. I didn't know what to say so I just smiled. Then he was gone, and Maria stood.
"Amelia, I have some business to finalize. Please feel free to explore the ground." With that she took her leave. So I started wandering aimlessly looking for something to do with myself. I couldn't even find a library, but I did find Ezio. He was coming out of a small room, whose door closed right behind him.
"Ciao Ezio, did your father seem mad at you?" He smiled at me.
"Hello Amelia, my father told me you were staying with us. No, he didn't seem to angry. He's ordered me to spend time with my siblings." I instantly perked up at that.
"Do you mind if I tag along, I'm a little bored." Ezio grinned broadly.
"Si, I would be glad for the company." Ezio took me to an outside courtyard, and we found Claudia. She was sitting by herself on a bench looking very sad.
"I wonder whats wrong. She said she was going to visit some friends earlier." My words seemed to worry Ezio. We went and sat down next to Claudia. I put my arm around her while Ezio spoke softly to her in Italian. Soon Ezio stood looking a little angry. I excused myself from Claudia and followed him.
"Ezio, what's wrong?" Ezio didn't break his stride as he spoke to me.
"Ducio, a boy my sister has been seeing. Claudia has told me he's been unfaithful to her. So I'm going to go break his arm." He seemed so serious that I placed my hand on his shoulder.
"Hold on, where did she learn this?" Ezio took a breath before answering.
"From the girls in town." He answered. I made a scoffing sound.
"Ezio, hearsay is not a reason to go break someones arm. Try talking first then we'll see if there is a need for arm breaking." He sighed loudly.
"Fine then, come on."
Soon he had taken us to a riverside street in the city, Ezio pointed to someone on the street.
"Then dandy in the feathered cap is Ducio." I looked and found who he was pointing to. The man was talking to a dark haired girl.
"See Ezio!" I exclaimed elbowing him.
"That's no reason enough to fly of the handle." Then we watched as Ducio grabbed the girl and started making-out with her.
"What about that?" He asked me through gritted teeth. I nodded my head.
"Yeah, that could be reason enough." Ezio marched forward rolling up his sleeves. The fight was short and soon Ducio was on his knees begging for mercy. Ezio sneered at him.
In Italian: "Just you stay away from my sister and stay away from me." Ezio turned his band and Ducio began to pick himself up. I thought about this wimp hurting poor Claudia.
"Hold up Ezio." I called out. I walked up to Ducio and punched him in the head. He instantly fell, out for the count. Walking back to Ezio he nodded his head approvingly. Smiling he held out his arm, I took it. Arm and arm we started heading back to the mansion. Strangely enough it felt like coming home.