I woke up in the morning feeling a little uneasy. I dressed with a frown on my face. Paola had been able to find me another pair of breeches and a clean shirt. Walking down stairs I found Paola in a kitchen.
"Hello Paola." I called sleepily.
"Good Morning to you Amelia." Paola said holding out a glass of water. Which I took gratefully. Looking around I saw, nobody.
"Where is everybody?" Paola looked at me wearily.
"Claudia is upstairs giving Maria her breakfast. The boys have already left for the square."
"Oh." I said in a disappointed voice. I had hoped to catch them before they left, so I could wish them luck.
"I wouldn't worry Amelia. The Auditore's are young, impetuous, they have much to learn. But they have potential, they'll be back safe." Her tone was a little cryptic but it did make me feel better.
"Besides," I heard Paola continue. "That Federico is to smitten with you to come to much harm." That made me do my best attempt at the classic spit take. Nearly choking on my water, while Paola laughed her head off. Luckily I was saved from further humiliation when Claudia came down. She dropped off two plates and moved to go upstairs. I stood and stopped her, she looked terrible. Making her seat I told her "Rest." Then I went upstairs to sit with Maria.
I went into the room knocking softly first. I really didn't want to startle Maria, not in the mental state she was in. Maria was sitting up in a chair facing a window, taking a seat on the bed next to her I looked at her. She didn't look well, hair mussed, gown wrinkled. There were bags under her eyes, which still held that glazed blank look. Sitting there next to her for a while I felt incredibly sad. Seeing this proud, vibrant woman brought so low broke my heart. Reaching out slowly I took her hand. She looked at me and I thought I saw a flicker of recognition. I quietly told her.
"I am scared too." It was like my words opened a flood gate, her eyes welled and she began to cry. Her body shaking with her sobs I pulled her close and let her sob into my shoulder. Then I began to cry with her. We must have stayed like that for an hour. When Maria's cries quieted she looked exhausted so I guided her to the bed and let her lay down.
Once Marie went to sleep I went back down stairs. Claudia was on one of Paola's couches fast asleep, no doubt she hadn't sleep a wink last night. I was searching for something to do for a little while and found myself back in Paola's kitchen. The dirty dishes were in a basin with a water pump. Finding nothing better to do I busied myself cleaning the dishes, then wiping down the table and cabinets. Maybe it was a touch of OCD showing but I always felt calmer when I was cleaning. Paola eventually made me sit down and eat supper we talked for a little bit.
Then the commotion started, we heard what sounded like alarm bells. Guards and civilians were running up and down the streets. It got so excited that Paola's girls eventually came running in breathless. Paola asked them in hurried tones what was happening, but none of them had any reliable information. I felt my stomach knotting in worry. Apparently Paola felt it to because she turned to me.
"Get Claudia up and get her and Marie ready. You may have to leave in a great hurry." I nodded and woke Claudia trying to explain about the commotion. After a few hours everything began to calm down and the outside went quiet. Claudia went upstairs to go to bed, as did the girls. None of them wanted to work the streets tonight.
Then the back door in the kitchen went BANG. Girls squealed, and Paola and I grabbed daggers and rushed to the kitchen. When I saw who was there I dropped the knife with a clang. There was Pettrucio gasping, hands on his knees. Behind him was Federico propping up a bleeding Giovanni. Rushing forward I helped Federico lower Giovanni into a chair. He was bleeding from the leg, so I pulled up another chair and rested his leg onto it. Federico came forward with a blade and cut Giovanni's trouser leg so we could look at the wound. It looked like someone had stabbed him.
"Paola do you..." Looking over my shoulder Paola was already there holding a bowl of water and bandages. Then we set to work wrapping Giovanni's leg.
"Amelia.." Giovanni paused to hiss in pain. "Where is my daughter and wife?" I looked up at him brushing some hair out of my eyes.
"Claudia's asleep by now. Maria's upstairs." Giovanni nodded and gritted his teeth as I tied the last knot in his bandage. Hearing myself say that made a light bulb go off.
"Wait a moment." I ran off upstairs, catching a brief glimpse of Paola taking Petturico to a bedroom. Carefully I coaxed Maria downstairs and lead her to the kitchen. The moment Maria saw Giovanni she let out a cry and ran forward. They threw their arms around each other. Maria was crying against Giovanni's neck. While he was whispering Italian and kissing her hair. I looked at Federico and he nodded with a tired smile and we backed out of the room. The front parlor was now empty; I turned to Federico.
"Where's Ezio?" I asked in a frightened voice.
"He's fine." Federico answered. "He's with his friend Leonardo getting some equipment." I lead Federico to a couch, looking at his bedraggled appearance.
"What happened?" Federico's eyes snapped to me and I gasped at the fire in them.
"We were betrayed, Alberti! He was a friend, we trusted him!" He started trailing off swearing in Italian, pacing back and forth. I stayed seated letting him ride out his fury. Then he calmed down and took a deep breath.
"Forgive me Cara. I am acting like a child no?"
"No." I replied. " Your angry, and rightfully so, but tell me how did Alberti betray you?" I saw Federico twitch a bit when I said the name.
"He is allied with our enemies. Taken the documents we gave him. He ordered my father and brother hanged!" I felt my eyes go wide.
"What do we do?" My voice sounded breathless and quiet. Federico looked at me with a wry smile, he sat down next to me taking my hand.
"Right now we must rest. Tomorrow we set out for Monteriggioni, our Uncle Mario has a large estate there. He will give us refuge. As he stroked my hand with his thumb I got a feeling. Like he was only telling me a half-truth.
"Will Ezio be back by then?" I asked carefully. Federico looked away uncomfortable.
"No," He answered me slowly. "Ezio will be a few days behind us. He is going to kill Alberti." I must have gasped because Federico's grip on my hand tightened.
"Bella, please don't let this ruin your judgement of my family or me. Just know you've become entangled in a struggle that's so much bigger than just us." I sat silent for a bit letting everything sink in.
"Federico, I don't know exactly what's going on, but I care about all of you. I'll stand by you." Federico's smile broke out, then he let out a gaping yawn. Which of course made me yawn as well. We chuckled at ourselves, and he pulled me to my feet.
"Come Bella, we need to sleep before tomorrow." Gently he lead me upstairs one hand cradling my elbow the other, still holding my hand. When we reached my door I dis-tangled myself from his grip.
"This is me, goodnight." Federico grinned mischievously and kissed my hand slowly.
"Dream sweetly Cara mia." He whispered in a low voice. I knew he saw my scarlet cheeks, because I heard him chuckle smugly to himself. I wanted to scowl at him and his over confidence, but I couldn't make myself do it. As I shut the door behind me I actually smiled a little. I thought about Paola's comment about Federico being smitten with me. Although it seemed impossible to me, the idea made me grin. See me acting like a school girl? Despite the danger that surrounded us, and the uncertain future I feel into my first peaceful sleep in days.
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