I own nothing.
The Borgias S3E10
Ch 6 What Happened In The Canoe Today?
Finally the party reached the edge of the riverbank that would lead them to their new home.
Micheletto had remained silently by Lucrezia's side, relieved to have unburdened himself with the truth of his desire for her; he had been intent on not pressing the matter further, and would wait patiently for her truest response—the only response he wanted—in her own time, when she was ready to give it. In the meantime there were other immediate matters to see to. Micheletto took her hand into his again and gave the back of it a stealthy but sweet little kiss before he rose up to help the other men with the mooring of the canoes as Cesare and Don Cortez approached to help Lucrezia, Fati Ba and the children out of their own.
"La Doña, just a little bit further," Don Cortez smiled at Lucrezia as he helped her to the ground, "you will find that your hacienda is already stocked with a few staple provisions to last until there is need for your cousins to come back to port and garner more; there are beds, modest, but comfortable, and your servants quarters are equipped in the same fashion."
Lucrezia tore her gaze away from Don Cortez' brilliant smile at her to look at her brother, who had just set his excited nephew upon the ground; Giovanni's own eyes were wide with wonder—and just a touch of fear, which was no wonder to his mother.
My gallant little man; my own little Prince; how many times has your mama uprooted you? A world traveler you are, already, and you're only five years old. My little love, I'd like to promise you that this place will truly be home, at last—but even I am unsure as to whether I should dare to do such a thing...or to even hope for it within my own self; the fear in your eyes is certainly the fault of that in my own, registered at you for the whole of the trip along this most-strange river...
"We're almost home, Giovanni; hold Princess by her leash, there, good and tight, hmm? You follow our lead and she will follow yours...you must keep her comforted as we go, for she needs you to be her master in all things, at this moment, yes? Just give me a reassuring nod?" Cesare coaxed the boy's silent compliance. "Very good," he nodded back at his nephew.
Giovanni's new task had, quite effectively, banished the fearful look in his eyes, which was replaced then with the desire to make his uncle proud of him and receive his reward—which was always a firm pat upon his little shoulder, a stern nod of approval, and then a barrage of loving hugs and kisses.
In that moment, as in so many others, Lucrezia's heart melted for Cesare. What a wonder he was; such a wonderful father; if only he could have been blessed to have his Louise in his life, she silently lamented. He was so good with Giovanni and Rodrigo—and how was that even possible? Both children had been conceived with other men she had once truly loved, but none more than the man her eyes were then looking upon; it was always a wonder to her that he didn't hate her little bastards. Of course, Rodrigo's true paternity was still actually a question; it was sure to be answered in time but she knew that it would not change an iota of Cesare's love for the boy either way.
Suddenly, Lucrezia didn't understand at all how and why she and Cesare were at odds with each other; could only berate herself for the foolishness of her actions and her anger against him; he loved her; her loved her children—so what if he loved Micheletto, too? What had really changed between them?
She became aware that Don Cortez' intrigued gaze was upon her as she watched her "cousin" comforting her son out of his seeming upset, and who had taken the look in her eyes at Cesare to be nothing more than familial appreciation. What Lucrezia really wanted to do was run to her brother, wrap her arms around him and apologize...and bestow the sweetest, deepest kiss upon his lips that she could muster.
Look up at me, Cesare, please, and see my love for you, that has not died...will never die..." Lucrezia pleaded at him silently. She got her partial wish, for when Cesare did look up his gaze went beyond her, trained openly and angrily then upon Don Cortez, looming over her covetously, like a dog with a meaty new bone.
"Brother—" It was Micheletto at Cesare's side then, speaking low as he pulled his friend gently aside. "Not much longer, now, before he will be gone away from us; hold your temper and put your scowl away—we're much too close to our privacy to be arousing any further suspicions about us now..."
"Suspicions of what? She has certainly given no indication to him that she would not desire to be courted," Cesare hissed back at his friend. "And our privacy? My living torment, you mean; she will not touch me; you will not touch me until I have her favor—I have been a truer celibate these past months more than I ever was as a Prince of the Church!"
"Keep your voice down, Cesare; your blue balls should not rule your truer head at this moment, hmm?" Micheletto smirked at him.
"Is this a joke to you? I find nothing amusing here."
"Nor do I, but calm yourself, nevertheless; we're on dry land; we have a home to retire to; we will work out our differences—let us get to it without you coming to blows with this man, for I see your hand there, itching at your hilt."
"Indeed," Cesare harrumphed at his friend.
Lucrezia had distracted Don Cortez from the heated conversation going on between Cesare and Micheletto by calling Giovanni over to her, kneeling down to his level and making a show of going over the finer points of handling Princess on her leash.
"And that's all there is to it, my love—soon your uncle will be showing you the same, but with a horse."
"A horse, mama? A real horse?"
"A real horse, my love," she smiled at him.
"And so we look forward to that day, Don Ramirez, for I would like to be present to cheer you on," Don Cortez grinned down at the boy.
"Thank you, my Lord."
"Ah—your are no longer in Italy, dear boy—please, with your dear mother's permission, call me Don Matias and I shall be honored to call you Don Giovanni."
Giovanni and Don Cortez both looked to Lucrezia.
"Of course, Don Cortez, that would be fine." She gave Giovannia kiss to his forehead and then rose up to standing.
"Wonderful—ah...it looks as if we are ready to move out..."
"What? I thought the horses and donkey might be brought here, to help with the transport?"
"Ah, La Doña, the way from here is level and the distance is short—the men will hoist the canoes to transport your items," Don Cortez supplied.
Lucrezia turned back to see her "cousins" busy with directing their hands at lightening the load on some of the canoes in preparation, at last, to head away from the riverbank.
"How economical," she muttered in amazement as the first of the canoes began to be carried past her.
"A useful custom that we have learned from the natives. Come, let us be on our way—may I?" Don Cortez held out his arm for her escort.
Lucrezia did not dare to look at her brother as he passed by her, but she did not need to, for she felt his displeasure emanating at her through the blur in the corner of her eyes as he passed quickly by the pair of them.
"No need to rush, now, Don Ramirez, you shall tire yourself out unnecessarily!" Don Cortez called out his concern to the hot rush of wind that blew past him, otherwise known as Cesare Borgia.
The walk was as swift as it was pleasant, with Don Cortez explaining the lay of the land to Lucrezia and giving her information as to the proximity of her neighbors; soon they were out of the depth of the jungle and came upon a cobbled stone path, the length of which was covered by a sturdy, narrow wood-beamed clay roof; a sharp turn in the path led to a row of adobe buildings, which looked quite weather-beaten but resilient; the front porches were low and only inches above the ground, mere steps away from the covered path.
"Well...this is different—we are here, then?" Lucrezia smiled at Don Cortez.
"No, La Doña, these four buildings are the quarters for your...workers." Don Cortez had easily noticed the lady's kind hand and demeanor with her staff, not unusual with the Italian colonists, therefore he refrained from calling them slaves. "Yes; each building contains eight sleeping rooms, a communal kitchen and a modest great room right off of the front porches, here; in the back are their own gardens, where they may grow cassava and corn and any other harvestables they have time to tend."
"Oh, I see. I would like to inspect them, if you don't mind—we have time, do we not?"
"Cousin—" It was Cesare's irritated voice issuing at her. "My understanding is that we are very near our own quarters and I would like to get there; let us make room for them all at the hacienda tonight and do a proper inspection in the morning, hmm?"
"But I am right here, cousin, I would like to at least look in," Lucrezia challenged him.
"I have still to deposit you and the children, cousin, and then take a tour of the mountain with Don Cortez—I am anxious to be done with that, and long before nightfall," he shot back at her.
"Then go ahead—leave one of the native men to show me and Fati Ba the rest of the way and go about your business as you desire."
Lucrezia's tone at her cousin was a reprimand and a dismissal that both shocked and intrigued Don Cortez; he held his tongue as his eyes, and those of the entire party, followed the verbal volley, now to be returned at her by Cesare.
Micheletto stepped in to save the day—and Cesare's pride.
"Cousin, we really should return with the morning; no one expects our hands to return here this evening, and who knows what lurks within, hmm? You have been frightened badly by one snake today, which set your son to his own uneasy distraction; let us inspect with the full light of morning and an abundant supply of machetes, yes? This is not a Roman inn that were are checking for fresh linens and dust, my love," he smiled at her through his quiet words.
My love? Oh, this is too much! Micheletto toys with me as he sides against me and Cesare chooses this moment to act as if he is my master? They dare!
"Snakes, cousin? There are more snakes without these rooms than within, I would hazard."
And with that the standoff came to its end.
"Oh! This lovely..."
Another turn under the porticoed path just beyond the last building in the slaves quarters revealed a huge hacienda and a drop across from it that revealed the bay below.
"We are that high up? I don't understand..."
"The river is deceiving, La Doña, but your eyes, at this moment, are not doing the same; it is a gentle incline, but an incline, nonetheless," Don Cortez informed her as he came up behind her. "And up there are the mountains where your cousins will find the lumber that they wish to mill." He took gentle hold of her shoulder and directed her to face North, following the trajectory of his outstretched arm.
"Oh...my..." Lucrezia gasped, awestruck.
"Come, cousin, and let us all get settled at last," Cesare huffed at her as he headed up the walk to the door with Giovanni in tow.
Much to Cesare's chagrin the hour had grown too late to take a proper tour of the mountainside; along with the servants the family Ramirez would also put up Don Cortez for the night so that he and Cesare could go out properly with the following sunrise.
There was more than enough space for everyone, for the hacienda boasted twenty-five rooms within two stories and included a huge kitchen and several great rooms on each floor, she learned from Don Cortez.
"This is the truest inspection you must make, La Doña, for while this structure is fine and sound, there is much to do to truly make this a fitting home for you and your family. You should know that these walls are good and thick and built for temperatures here; we are great fans of the loggia, as you are in Italy and can attest to with your own eyes; our habit here is to move to the top floor in winter, and benefit from the warmth of the sun on the loggia; in the grueling heat of summer we maintain ourselves on the ground floor and enjoy the shade on the patios—you are going to love it here, La Doña, this I firmly promise you."
"Well, if am to love it as much as you say, then I will require some sort of low wall to be built around the front—what is to keep my child from losing himself at play and tumbling down the cliff?"
"Yes, the previous owners had no children and no such worries—there is an easy remedy for that, La Doña."
They both looked over at Cesare then, who had just given Giovanni his well-deserved reward for commanding Princess valiantly through the last portion of their journey.
"I shall count on it, Don Cortez."
"And you should also count on an invitation soon to a ball in your honor, you and your cousins; we have the usual holiday celebrations here, but the arrival of new colonists is always a happy excuse to come together and celebrate."
An excuse to scrutinize the newcomers and add zest to your stale gossip, Cesare thought to himself as he listened at the pair of them in disgust.
And so Lucrezia got busy, attending to one of the things she excelled at: organizing a household. She and Fati Ba toured the rest of the hacienda to take stock of existing supplies; they made lists of others that would be needed; finally, they assigned rooms for everyone in their party.
"It is so lovely here, Fati Ba—there is more than enough space for everyone to just stay here at the main house," Lucrezia brightly recommended later that night before a modest supper was arranged.
Fati Ba was shocked; even in Santo Domingo, as small as their hacienda there had been, the slaves had their own quarters away from the main house.
"La Doña,is that wise? It is not usually done that way..."
"But there is so much space here, Fati Ba..."
"And our quarters are so very near yet also tucked away, La Doña,I'm sure they are fine—they look finer than any I've ever seen, even better than in Santo Domingo, and I say that meaning no disrespect."
Lucrezia was surprised at Fati Ba's worried expression and the nervous nature of her adamance. "You wouldn't want to stay here, Fati Ba? Do you speak for everyone, then?"
"It is not done, La Doña,and you would not want to bring the ire of the other colonists against you..."
"There is no one around us, Fati Ba, we can do as we please..." Lucrezia reasoned.
"This place is a small outpost; no matter the distance between you and your neighbors word of such things will travel and make problems for you—and for us; it is a shame that your kindnesses to us must not be so open, for we all appreciate being in your family's service, you are such kind masters—"
"Do not call me 'master', my darling woman—"
"But you are, La Doña,and we must not bring ill attention to ourselves, none of us."
Oh, if only you knew my truth, Fati Ba. But what does any of it matter, now? The way that things are going with my brother it seems that we shall never touch again—inappropriately or otherwise.
He is jealous but he should know me better. Don Cortez does not tempt me that way in the least, but he is a willing host and a way to meet the others here, which we inevitably must do. I don't have Dorotea any longer; the children must be given over to bedtime—what am I to do with my nights? Listen to his pleasure with Micheletto? I had enough of such nonsense with Alphonso. No; apparently there is a social season, even here, and I shall allow myself to enjoy it, damn them both.
"La Doña?"
"Oh, I'm so sorry, Fati Ba, excuse me, there is so much on my mind. If it would ease you to take the quarters then so be it—but I would have you here should any of you change your minds, damn the other colonists, do you understand?"
"I do, La Doña." Fati Ba smiled her appreciation and relief at Lucrezia then.
The evening meal was a simple affair; Fati Ba and Lucrezia had prepared a hearty and delicious cassava soup; rice pilaf made with raisins and coconut milk accompanied the meal. A fine Gouais blanc favored by Cesare and brought from Italy not only complimented the dinner but also served to take a bit of the edge off of the Ramirez family's frayed nerves, Don Cortez noticed.
"Well, gentleman—it has been a long day and I'm sure you've business to discuss; I shall leave you now to look in on my sleeping boys one last time and then retire, myself. Thank you, Don Cortez, for everything."
"It has been my sincere pleasure, La Doña , be assured."
"Will you be with us tomorrow night? Fati Ba has given me the happy news that some of the men will return to the river to catch trout for dinner—I am looking most-forward to that, myself."
"Oh, no, La Doña, but thank you for the offer; I shall take your cousins on the tour of the mountain and then go—one of my men is camped back at the mouth of the river looking after my horse and awaiting my return, you see..."
An inward sigh of relief from Cesare as he savored a large gulp of wine.
"And besides, I have a ball to make preparations for," Don Cortez' eyes twinkled at her.
An inward groan from Cesare as he set his goblet down loudly upon the table. "Sleep well, cousin; please give a kiss on the forehead from me to our sleeping boys, hmm?"
Imagine that...he is almost civil; because he speaks with genuine love for the children; he even deigns to look at me. Well, then. "Yes, goodnight, cousin...Miguel...Don Cortez," Lucrezia gave each man her sweet nod of farewell; Don Cortez rose up quickly from his chair to help Lucrezia out of hers.
"May I be so honored?" he asked as he gave a small bow of his head at her.
Lucrezia looked at her sullen brother and his wary lover and gave them a little smirk, which turned quickly to a sweet smile when she looked back upon the Don. She slipped easily back into the courtly, coquettish self of her past, for the Don reminded her of the many suitors that had come to Vatican seeking her hand once upon a time, and it was a lovely feeling to feel again. "You may...Don Cortez," she beamed at him as she held out her hand.
As Cortez gave a chaste kiss to the back of it, Lucrezia suddenly came back to herself and her reality; she was not that girl any longer; her hand was no longer smooth and white, but accustomed then to toiling in the kitchen as well as the garden; she was a lady of leisure no longer, and her hands told that sorry tale; she yanked her hand away before the Don was ready to let it go.
"I'm sorry, I am over-tired and not myself; goodnight, dear Don, I'm sure that I shall see you in the morning." Lucrezia rushed away from them all then, desperate to get away before tears spilled out of her eyes in front of them.
Cesare and Micheletto were both at attention in their seats, worried after her and unable to hide it.
"She is a lovely creature; it is an adjustment, being here, especially for those of us who come from more—civilized—environs; fill this place with more slaves to do her bidding, so that she will feel more comfortable in her old skin again, my friends, that is the way here, I assure you," Don Cortez told the two men as he turned back to face them. His words and compassionate smile were no comfort to either man, in fact, only served to anger them more that he was so obtuse and arrogant.
There was no doubt that Lucrezia was honestly missing her old life, but it was not his place to call attention to it.
"And I will say goodnight, as well, Don Cortez, for my cousin is right—it has been a long day." Cesare's words were clipped and curt, but it was the best that he could manage before he left the table and then the room.
"I'm sorry, did I offend?" Cortez asked Micheletto sincerely.
"Long day, and all," Micheletto grunted at him before he took another sip of wine.
"Well, I suppose you are off to bed, as well?"
Micheletto set his goblet down slowly and deliberately, then looked pointedly up at the man. "No. I am wide awake."
The challenge in the man's voice was quite disconcerting to Don Cortez and all he wanted was to be away from him. "Yes, well, I shall call it a day, as well. In the morning, Don Ramirez."
Micheletto said nothing as he glared at the man and raised his goblet in salute; with that Don Cortez made his haste away.
"Sis?" his careful whisper was full of sadness as it came at her in the darkness; she was glad that he couldn't see her tear-streaked face or her eyes, which were certainly puffy and red; she pressed her face further into her pillow.
"I'm alright, Cesare, but I am tired; please go away," came her equally sad and muffled reply.
"I can smell your tears, Lucrezia—please—a moment? Please?"
"Go away, Cesare." It felt so good to hear her own true name and to say his, even if her heart was breaking.
"We must talk, Lucrezia."
"Yes, we must; but tonight is not the night for it, not with a house full of people and Don Cortez about."
"I know that, but we can't go on like this; as soon as he is gone you must agree to find a private moment for me—and Micheletto."
"It appears so, brother."
"Lucrezia...I miss you...I miss us; you let that man touch you with his vile lips; his blatant desire is an affront, surely you know this."
"I don't desire an argument, now, brother."
"Nor do I; but if I can't feel you within my arms...if I must go another night without even that, which would make my entire soul happy—can you find it in your heart to give me even a little of your love?"
"Oh, Cesare!" Lucrezia shot up from under her covers and flung her arms desperately about her brother. "I miss us, as well, but what am I to do? You have been so angry at me..."
"And you, at me! What was that today? There on the path?"
"I can ask you the same."
"All that I have wanted is to clear up this misunderstanding; and now here we are, still without the privacy we truly need in order to talk."
"And what is there to be said, brother? Except that I am so confused..."
"Confused?"
"Yes! I have tried to be... to be... accommodating about this situation, but you continue to be at me; and now Micheletto—"
"Micheletto? Micheletto, what?"
"Has made himself known to me, brother; has confirmed what you told me—that he desires me."
"He has? When?"
"Today; in the canoe; he has been nothing but sweet to me—sweeter than you have been! How could you think that I want to be made love to by Don Cortez?" Her sad tone had turned to one of insult and then anger as she pushed her brother away from her.
"What?" It was Cesare's turn to be confused.
"Those are ears on your head there, brother, even in the dark I can see them."
"You flirted brazenly with that man for the whole of the day—" Cesare accused her, the anger rising up in his own voice in the darkness.
"I did not."
"And what about Micheletto?"
"He desires me, as you said; I don't understand either one of you."
"Then understand this..."
"No, Cesare, not like this..."
Lucrezia's continued rejection stung Cesare in his heart. "What is it? Don't you love me anymore?"
"I do, of course I do; but I have been trying to come to terms with my own feelings about all of this and it frightens me."
"You have nothing to fear from us, Sis."
"I know that—the fear is not...it is myself, that I fear, brother."
"What?"
"That I do want you both...and what kind of woman that would make me."
"You...you do? Want us both?"
"If I told you to go and bring Micheletto here to me—to us—at this moment, would you, brother?'
"Wh-what? Now?"
"Yes...now. Would you?"
"Now?"
"Yes! Now! It appears to be the demon that we must exorcise, brother."
"Now?"
"You have done nothing but make your displeasure—and in equal turn, your desire—known to me, these past months; complained to me about the lack of affection from me; told me that you and Micheletto both have abstained, even from each other; I want you, always, Cesare, even when I want to bash you upon your head; and now these new feelings have erupted within me; I think of you and feel as if I am being unfaithful to him; I think of him and feel as if I am being unfaithful you! I can't stand it any longer, for I have gone without, as well! There's no time for talking, anymore—if this is a thing that can be done, if it is possible that such an arrangement between us will work—I must know! I must know, brother..."
Lucrezia's voice had dropped to a sultry whisper, for she had worked herself and her desire up into a little frenzy; as did the the proximity of his fully-dressed body next to hers, naked under her thin chemise, her nipples grazing against the ruffles of his shirt, and her knowledge of the smooth, muscled skin beneath it; and the idea of the three of them, and that they would be easily accommodated upon her huge new bed.
"But...we...need to talk..." Cesare began awkwardly, alarmed at the intensity of her burgeoning desire and her hands, one pawing gently at his shirt in the effort to remove it, as the other bared a breast for him to feast upon.
"No more talking, brother; go and get him, I shall try and wrest myself away from you..." she moaned at him, doing exactly the opposite as she began to smother him with sweet, feathery kisses.
"What...happened in the canoe today?"
He barely managed to get the question out, for her kisses were traveling quickly downward to where her hands were then trying to free the hungry beast waiting for her in his breeches.
"The canoe? He comforted me...oh...yes..." she moaned at him between her kisses, which were becoming more savage by the second, "...in your stead...uhh...there you are..." she gasped her ecstasy at him as her hands found and freed her prize, "...he made me feel...quite loved..."
There were no more words then; she dove into him and he felt himself disappear inside of her exquisite mouth.
"Uhh...yes...Lucrezia...oh...my love..." Cesare sank further and gloriously under her spell, his heart soaring at being welcomed home again.
Finally and reluctantly, she released him, then looked up into his eyes "Go and get Micheletto, Cesare...I want to see you both... together...I want to feel what it will be like to be a part of you both...and then all of us...together...hurry, my love..."