The Family Auditore – Chapter 19 – Parting Ways – 1478
Ezio stood looking up at the Villa of the Auditore family.
So much had been changed in the two years he had been there. The town was now a place people came to trade and buy from thanks to Claudia's help. Isabelle had made the villa itself and the grounds look like the jewel it had been once.
Isabelle seemed at peace. She had her two children who were a handful. As infants, Claudia, Ezio, Mario, and even a couple of the mercenaries whom were fathers had helped with their care. Now it was even more of a group effort as they began to walk, explore, and learn about the world.
They were different. Giovanni who looked like his father in miniature other than his eyes, would explore headlong into things he should not at his age. Barely walking he had already fallen down the stairs, climbed a vine, and played in a mud pit. Giana was more cautious and had wrapped all the men about her finger with her small quivering lip, especially Ezio who carried her far more than was needed, but he could not stand his niece in tears.
Isabelle was still in mourning and he at times found her holding a small miniature painting Giovanni the elder had commissioned for her to keep with her of Federico. She had stopped weeping, but now just would reflect. Ezio would come and hold her, trying to reassure her that he was there and would keep her safe.
Ezio, however, was restless.
He wanted to return to Firenze. He needed to check on his lover Christina to see if she were well. He needed to see how Lorenzo was faring. He needed to end the Pazzi conspiracy. He had no idea how deep the treachery went, but he meant to find out.
ZzZ
Ezio took a breath.
He had been given Mario's hidden blade, but he did not wish to wear both at this time. However, there was another in the family whom could use it.
He came upon Isabelle in the garden. She was planting flowers. She looked up from the dirt as he approached. Nearby the children were sleeping on a blanket in the shade. He smiled at how beautiful and serene they looked when they were not full of energy and anger.
He knelt down and helped her cover the holes she had made and filled each with a blub.
"Ezio." She smiled.
He covered her hands on one bulb and smiled back at her.
"I have a present."
She looked up. "Oh?"
He handed her the worn, but functional braced that held the hidden blade. He had tested it. It still worked as good as his own.
She looked at him startled and he nodded and put it on her thin arm. He tied the cords tight to keep it in place. She then flexed her arm, her muscle triggering the weapon as it sprang forth. She looked up at Ezio and be bent to kiss her cheek.
"All assassins could have their blade."
"But Ezio…I saw Uncle Mario give it to you."
"You will make better use of it." He said. "For protection."
She sighed and nodded looking to her babies. "Yes." She said.
He followed her gaze before rising and leaving her to her task.
ZzZ
It was a cool day for July.
There had been storms passing through and the air smelled of rain. Ezio looked out from his window at the clouds that had formed together. In the distance there were more storms coming. He sighed. The weather was a restless as he was.
He took a breath and walked downstairs. Claudia was sitting on her sister-in-law's bed softly humming as she rocked the cradles that held Giovanni and Giana in them. The toddlers always seemed to need afternoon naps.
Without this sleep the children became problems. None of the adults could stand their sobbing and attitude after a while and so they were put down. Though they sometimes fought the nap, the always finally slept after they realized they really were tired.
Ezio smiled at Claudia. "Where is Belle?" He whispered.
"In the library." Claudia answered in a normal voice.
Ezio pursed his lips and she smiled at him.
"Once asleep they will sleep through anything, dear brother."
He nodded.
He turned and found Belle reading in the library. Or rather, she had been reading. She was watching the rain from the next storm pelting the windows of the villa and listening to the rhythmic sounds against the panes.
She heard him and looked over. He smiled at her. "How are you, Isabelle?"
"Well enough." She said.
He nodded. He came and sat down beside her. "I have been thinking."
He, in truth had no idea where to begin this conversation. He was now nineteen, a man and she was twenty-one. She was beautiful and could be so full of life. He felt becoming a widow so young had made her retreat into herself some. He was well aware of the mercenaries courting her and Claudia. While Claudia seemed to like the attentions, Isabelle resisted them, but the children needed a father.
She had turned to him and he took her hands in his. "Belle. The children have been fatherless since birth and you are in need of a husband. You need to have someone providing for you and them." He looked down. "I know you have mourned my brother as I have, but you need to start thinking about the children and what they need."
She looked at him. "I will tell them of their father in time." She said. She sighed and looked at their hands. "Why are you saying such things?"
"You are my brother's widow. I have a duty to you and the children he never knew."
She looked up and he met her gaze steadily. "You do well enough supporting us, Ezio." She paused. "Between you and uncle Mario, I am very well cared for."
"But is it enough?" He asked.
"What else could you do?" She asked.
He met her gaze, golden to violet and took a breath. "Marry you."
She looked at him stunned. "You cannot be serious." She said looking at him. "My God, you are." She said looking at his face.
He watched her, searching her face. She took a breath and then lifted a hand to his cheek. "It is a very kind offer, Ezio, but, how is this fair to you. You could go find yourself any woman you wished. You are handsome enough." She smiled a little. "I am your brother's widow." She sighed. "You should be making sure I eventually find a man, not be that man yourself." She took a breath. "I think of you as a brother, Ezio."
"Are you saying you that you are not worthy of my affections?" He asked.
"You hold me that dear?" She asked.
"I love you, Belle. Right now you are right, my love for you is like that of a sister, but it could grow. It would give you protection and you would always have a man to be there for you." He touched her cheek. "The children need a father."
"They have many fathers here, Ezio." She shook her head.
There were tears in her eyes and he looked at her in concern. "Belle, have I upset you?"
"No." She said. "I just…it is not easy, Ezio."
"So you are saying no."
"I cannot marry a man who I think of as a brother. It would not be right." She swallowed. "Think about it. You love your women. Why should I spoil that for you? I am not about to be a wife who will take kindly to my husband having affairs." She looked at him. "Besides, what kind of life would there be for us in the marital bed?"
He sighed. "I just do not want you to be alone, Belle. You deserve so much more and so do the babies."
"I am sorry, Ezio." She said. She rose to her feet and he looked up at her.
He took a breath and allowed his heart to close a little. She had rejected him. It hurt to be so rejected, but he also knew she was right. According to the bible, their marriage would be a sin, even if it did call upon a man to care for his brother's widow. He was providing support, but was it enough? According to Belle it was, but he feared for the children.
He shook his head and touched her cheek as he rose to his feet. "I had to offer, Belle. If I did not at least offer, you would have thought me a callous bastard."
Her lips twitched and she smiled a little. "You are kind, Ezio."
He bowed to her and moved to go to the door. He felt her small hand find his and he turned looking back at her. His golden eyes watched her. She leaned up and kissed his cheek "Thank you Ezio. I can never thank you enough for all you do." She said.
"I am leaving soon." He said softly.
"What? Where?"
"Firenze. Those who wronged the family are still there and since I have nothing to keep me here now, I will finish what I started."
She winced and he saw it. He sighed. "I cannot stay, Belle. I tried to make a reason to stay, but you will not have me, so I must continue on my path." He touched her face. "You understand."
"Yes." She said. She looked at him suddenly serious. "But do not expect me to be here when you return."
"What?" He caught her arms. "It is safe here, Belle. Mario will care for you as he will Momma and Claudia."
"Oh yes and I will marry one of his men." She glared at him. "I have no desire to remarry." She said. "I am a free woman now. I do not have to be confined."
"You have children." He looked at her.
"I will bring them."
"Where will you go?" He asked folding his arms.
"I do not know."
"Then stay." He looked at her seriously. "The babies are happy and they will lead full lives here as will you, if you let the charm wash over you."
She stepped back from him. "Good luck on your endeavors, Ezio. I pray you are happy."
She turned and left him.
He looked after her. She was angry with him. Was she angry he was leaving or the fact he had offered her stability? He could not tell. He sighed. She had to hate him now. All the more reason to leave. He would go to Christina and then work on what he started there.
ZzZ
Ezio mounted a horse.
His sister and uncle were standing together to see him off. He looked up and saw Belle standing in a window watching. He sighed. He longed to go to her, enfold her in his arms, kiss away her pain, and show her he would be a good husband and lover if she let him.
He sighed. His pride was in the way though. He would not crawl to her begging forgiveness for leaving her. He hugged his sister and embraced Mario before casting one last look up at Isabelle.
She lifted a hand.
He returned the gesture and she nodded and turned away back to the room.
He sighed. He did love her. He wanted her to be safe. When this affair was over in Firenze he would try again to have her see the wisdom of her being his bride. He would keep his family safe. All of it.
ZzZ
Ezio had been back in Florence for a day when he went to seek out his former lover. He climbed up into her window of her parent's home. She was seated at her small table as she often had been when they were together. This time she was fully dressed. Christina was fixing her hair. She turned hearing something. He had been watching her for some time just enjoying the sight of her.
"Ezio! What are you doing here?"
"I only just came back to Firenze... Look at you! As beautiful as ever."
"But... Oh, Ezio... I... It's been two years!"
"And I've thought of nothing but you." He said taking her hand.
"Oh, but, Ezio..."
"What is it?" He asked seeing her back away from him. "Hey. What is it?"
"I'm engaged to be married!" She blurted. "My father kept asking me to choose... I thought I would never see you again!"
Ezio looked at her as he stood behind her. "Who are you…"
Suddenly, there was scream. Christina and Ezio looked out the window and saw a couple came by Christina's house.
"It's Manfredo! He's going to kill him!" The woman said.
"What!?" Christina gasped.
The man spoke. " Un tale he lost money to! He's dragged him out to the end of the new bridge!"
Ezio stepped forward. "Who the hell is Manfredo?" He asked Christina.
"My fiancé..." Christina said turning to him.
Ezio nodded. "I will go and sort this out." He said.
"Thank you, Ezio." She whispered.
Ezio departed for the new bridge to find Manfredo. Ezio saw him and his attackers standing about him. He drew closer and could hear the conversation.
Manfredo was on his knees. "I'll pay you back, I swear!"
"It's too late for that now." A man said.
"It wasn't my fault. I was going to have the money for you today... But a payment came in late!"
"I do not care about you troubles. Only my money." The leader of the group said.
"But I can pay you!"
"Now?"
"Tomorrow!"
"You'll be dead tomorrow."
"Wait. Please. I'm about to be married tomorrow." Manfredo gasped.
"You should've thought of that before you started gambling."
The group started to beat the hapless young man. Ezio came to Manfredo's aid and killed two of the men before driving the others off.
Manfredo looked at him. "Grazie, Messere! You don't know how close—"
Ezio pushed Manfredo towards the edge of the bridge, grabbing onto his collar as he held him over the water.
"Whoa! Hey! Aspetta! What are you doing!?"
"Do you love her?" Ezio growled.
"What!?"
"DO YOU LOVE HER? Cristina! The woman you're about to marry!"
"Yes, I do! I swear, I do. Kill me here and I will die still loving her."
"You are never going to gamble again."
"Never, Messere." The man looked down at the water below.
"You will be a good husband to her." Ezio said bring him back beside him. "Or I will hunt you down and kill you myself." He said. Ezio threw Manfredo to a wall of the bridge, then left him holding himself and watching Ezio leave him.
Christina was looking for the two, but Ezio grabbed her, pulled her into an alley, and kissed her intimately. At first she struggled and then she relaxed into the deep kiss. She started making soft sounds of pleasure before Ezio stepped back and looked at her.
"He's fine. He'll make a good husband. I made sure of it."
"What- What!?" she asked.
He bowed, offered a quick smile, and was gone.
"Ezio? Ezio!" She said and looked about in the street. He was nowhere to be found.
ZzZ
"I wish you would reconsider." Mario said as Isabelle packed her last small trunk of items. Ezio had been gone a day, but she needed to leave.
"No uncle Mario." She said. "I must go. I cannot be a burden on you forever."
"You are not a burden." He said.
She sighed. "I cannot stay. Too many memories of Federico."
"So you are running away rather than talking about your feelings."
"Some things are better left unsaid."
He nodded. "Very well." He leaned to her and kissed her cheek. "You will need to visit."
"I will." She said.
She said her goodbyes to Maria, who was still not speaking, and Claudia as well. Mario then helped her into the small cart. The toddlers were busily playing with toys in the back. She clicked her tongue and the horse pulled her along her way.
ZzZ
She made it back to Firenze with papers Mario had forged.
She was allowed in and she went to find a place to stay. She took a breath as she rounded a corner. A white cloaked man was stepping from an alleyway and the woman, Christina, Belle had met sometime before followed him out.
Ezio disappeared.
Belle took a breath and moved to an inn. She would only stay here a night. She would go elsewhere.
She was unable to face Ezio now. She had wounded him. She had seen it in his face when they had spoken. She sighed. She wanted to hug him and ask forgiveness for her words, but it was not to be. The idea of him being near, and she may actually take him up on his offer made her on edge.
Her children needed a father and she was so lonely in her heart, but she could not marry Ezio. It was not right, but he was a good man. The Auditore family would always have a soft place in her heart. She loved them and thought of them and would always think of them as the family she wished she had had.
She hoped to find him once again and speak after they both were not angry.
For now, she needed to be free.
This is complete now unless I decide to write a chapter 20 to tie her to Venice. Still deciding that. Oh well. Onto Part 2.