When I woke up the next morning, Cesare's side of the bed was made. A pang of sadness hit my heart and I fully understood that I would not see him for two whole weeks. Without Cesare, I was just a poor nurse who betrayed her lady—I was just Louise. I could be mistaken for a servant in the Castel Sant'Angelo if Cesare was not by my side and I did not wear the expensive dresses he bought for me. He was so important in the entire city that mentioning his name would spread fear in the eyes of the citizens—everyone feared or despised Cesare, but I had no emotion but affection for the cruel hearted man.

My affection was not very strong, however. Love would have caused me to love the people he loved, eat the things he ate, worship the things he worshipped, and hate those whom he despised; but I did not love the very few people he claimed to care about, the foods he ate were too marvelous for a poor-born woman like myself to eat without feeling greedy, the fame and power he worshipped was nothing I cared for, and the one man whom he hated the most—I admired and found him intriguing.

I decided that I would go to the Rosa in Fiore and find that man there. Set on the goal I put for myself, I changed my clothes and asked the servant to give me a simple piece of bread for my breakfast. For once, I was grateful for the big castle that was so wide, quiet and lonely; avoiding Rodrigo and Lucrezia would be simpler than I feared.

I did meet with someone, however, on my way out of the building: the man who Cesare paid to study the golden sphere. He was tall, had light hair and he always seemed so cheerful.

"Good morning, Madonna," he smiled and bowed.

"Good day, Messere. Are you making a type of clothing?" I asked, gesturing at the rolls of fabrics in his arms.

"Oh no, I was bringing these to the seamstress, Donatella," he replied, rather quickly.

I smiled and said, "What a kind gesture. She must be grateful for a friend like yourself."

"Thank you. She helps me so it is a way to show my gratitude. Do you think," he paused, coming closer to me, "Do you think these fabrics are good? I do not know the complex tastes of women."

I felt the fabric and answered, "I dare say, she will love it."

He smiled and thanked me.

"You are welcome, Messere," I replied as I left him.

The sun was bright and hot when I got out, much too hot for walking, so I went on horseback towards the part of Roma where "sin is admired and hell is heaven", as Rodrigo once stated.

The stares of people walking by were common and I had learned to ignore them, while the keen eyes of the guards were not left ignored. I felt safe when they watched me, Cesare once threatened them that if I ever died in the streets of Roma he would kill a hundred guards at random for their inability to do their job. I tried to keep myself safe as well, for their sakes, but today I did not want to be watched. They would wonder why I would go into the Rosa in Fiore, alert Cesare, and cause something worse than I could ever dream of.

I was close now, I could see the building in the distance but I did not go any closer for risk of being caught. I sat on the horse and thought of a plan to distract the guards that were standing there. Only one idea came to mind as I looked at the horse, and as horrible as it was, I risked it and threw myself off.

I screamed in pain—and that was no act, for I truly was in pain. I felt as if I had dislocated my shoulder. The guards came running to me and I yelled, "There! That man, he threw me off my horse and stole my money!"

I pointed in the direction of the crowd that was staring at us and for the few seconds the guards turned their back on me I regretfully kicked my horse's hind legs. He jolted and lifted his front legs into the air, and then when he was back to the ground, he used his hind legs and kicked one guard.

I suppose horses drew fear into people's hearts because the onlookers began screaming as though they saw the devil. They panicked and ran into each other and the guards were toppled and tried to maintain control. I got up from the ground and ran to the Rosa in Fiore, ignoring the pain in my shoulder, while the guards were busy attacking the panicked horse and people.

I did not knock as I got to the door, I quickly opened it and let myself in, closing it just as quickly and leaning against the door with my back. I gasped for air and wondered how a ridiculous plan like that could have worked.

I looked around me and noticed that a woman in noble clothing was watching me with a smile. She was quietly laughing at me, I thought.

"Welcome to the Rosa in Fiore, may I help you?" she said as she approached me.

"I am looking for someone…" I said, moving away from the door and sitting on a sofa near by. I wondered how many courtesans sat on the sofa I was on, and the thought made me get up again.

She laughed. "You must be Madonna Louise—Cesare's…" she stopped, not knowing what word to use.

I did not know what word to use either, I felt embarrassed by saying mistress.

I did not have to reply, for only a few seconds later the door to the Rosa in Fiore open and Claudia could not contain her laughter any longer. I turned around and saw the man who laughed with her. It was him.