Chapter 2

"Cathy!"

Cathy turned around to see her beloved brother with a huge grin on his face and arms wide open to embrace her.

"Carlo!" She shouted running into his arms.

"I know I've been gone for long, but I really thought at least one of my beloved family members would have been with couch to welcome me home when I arrived this morning!"

"I wanted to go honestly Caterina. Father and Bona have been extremely busy preparing the castle and forbad it."

"Preparing for what?" Cathy inquired withdrawing from her brother's arms.

"Haven't you heard? We are being honored with presence of the Vatican."

"Oh god. I should have guessed. Milan reeked of shit more so than usual. There are Vatican soldiers all over the city" Cathy replied.

"Yes, I'm afraid so." Carlo laughed.

"How positively dreadful. I've been gone for four years and I arrive home to my beloved Milan to be undoubtedly graced with presence of the church. Send me back to London this minute! I would even go back to Paris if I had to."

"I see you are still your dramatic self Cathy." Carlo laughed.

"Caterina!" A high pitched voice bellowed. Cathy looked at Carlo with wide eyes.

"Caterina, what on earth are you wearing?"

Cathy looked down at her clothes. She was wearing black trousers with a white blouse messily tucked into her pants. A golden belt hung around her waist, a sword fastened to the belt.

"I knew it was a mistake sending you abroad! You come back looking like a peasant in drag!" The old woman shirked grabbing Cathy's shoulders. "And oh my lord and holy father have you cut your hair?"

"Oh Grandmama, don't make me regret coming home. Besides all the fashionable young women are doing it these days." Cathy said as she flipped her shoulder length hair.

Carlo laughed as their grandmother scowled.

"Wait till your father sees you. You will send him to his grave I daresay! Now, come with me this instance. Our honored guest is arriving soon and you need to be presentable!"

"Honored guess?" Caterina looked at Carlo with a raised eyebrow.

"Yes dear sister, we are so blessed to have the company of Count Riario, nephew to his Holiness."

"Nephew to the Pope? Whatever for?" Caterina asked a bit taken aback. She had heard tales about the Count and how ruthless he was in his administration of what the her Florentine friend's called "God's will."

"Rumor has it that the Count is here to marry Costanza in order to form an alliance with Milan." Carlo said leaning in close. This was no surprise to Cathy, Costanza had just turned nineteen and was arguable the most beautiful girl Milan. She knew her father had always sought to ally Milan with Rome, this marriage sealed that fate.

"That is enough stories Carlo!" Their grandmother shouted. Cathy gave her brother an amused looked before being dragged away by the old woman.

"Count Riario, it is my greatest pleasure to welcome you to Milan!" Duke Sforza announced loudly.

Riario nodded his head.

"Allow me to introduce you to my wife Lady Bona of Savoy."

Riario bowed.

"My oldest son Carlo."

Riario and Carlo nodded at each other.

"My beautiful niece, Costanza." The blonde haired girl blushed and smiled at the Count who immediately took her small hand and kissed it.

"It is pleasure to finally make your acquaintance milady. I daresay your beauty rivals Rome itself." The Count spoke in a soft tone. Riario had to admit she was beautiful, one of the most beautiful women he had ever seen.

Costanza flashed another pretty smile at the Count, "You are too….."

Just as Costanza began speaking, a large bang from behind one of the pillars drew the attention of the Count and the Sforza family. A few chambermaids hurriedly tied the bow around a young women's dress as she made her way to join the Sforza family. Cathy kept her head down and glued her eyes to the floor trying not to laugh. Carlo let out a snicker.

Duke Sforza cleared his throat drawing everyone's attention back to Costanza.

Costanza blushed, "As I was saying Count Riario, you are too kind and I do hope you enjoy your stay in Milan."

Riario smiled at the young women staring into her soft brown eyes.

"My other son Alessandro." The Duke said in a loud tone causing Riario to stiffen. Cathy smirked at her father's attempt to get the Count's attention.

"My daughter Chiara."

Riario smiled softly, taking the little girl's hand and gently kissing it, causing her to let out an amused giggle.

"And lastly our eldest daughter Caterina." The Duke said.

Cathy extended her hand. A mortified look came over her face as she removed her gaze from the floor and met familiar dark eyes.

"You must excuse Caterina for arriving late, she has just arrived from overseas, it seems she has left her manners abroad as well." The Duke said.

Riario stared at the young woman before him. This was the woman he watched cut the head off his best soldier. Except instead of trousers, she was now clothed in a blue dress that was quite different than the designs he has seen throughout Italy. He quickly masked his shocked expression with an intense gaze and kissed her hand.

Cathy felt her cheeks turn bright red as the Count's intense gaze held her own for what seemed an unusually long time.

"No matter, I am sure Lady Caterina has a valid excuse." Riario smirked.

Cathy's eyebrows cringed at his amused expression.

"Well in that case, we will take you to the dining room, we have all of respectable Milan waiting to make your acquaintance." The Duke announced.

Riario nodded and followed the Duke out of the room. Lady Bona and Costanza followed right behind the men. Little Alessandro and Chiara were whisked away by their grandmama to bed, the old woman shook her head in disapproval at Cathy as she took the children.

Cathy looked up at her brother with a confused expression causing him to laugh.

"You still make quite the entrance Cathy. Father is going to give you an earful for that one. Did you see the look on Riario's face? I'd pay fifty florin to see that again. Time is everything to Rome."

"Oh hush, Carlo." Cathy said taking his arm.

The dining room was filled with tons of amazing food, wine, and people. Cathy sat next to her brother, drinking as much wine as she could swallow.

Cathy looked up. Across the hall sat her Father and Lady Bona. On her Father's right was Count Riario, and on the Count's right was Costanza. She watched as the Count whispered things into Costanza's ear, the blonde beauty laughing in return.

"Looks like Costanza already has Riario wrapped around her finger." Carlo remarked following his sister's gaze.

Cathy smiled. "Let us hope she keeps ensnaring him so he will wed and bed her, and then whisk her away to Rome so we can be free of the Vatican's presence."

As Cathy spoke the Count's eyes met hers. He stared at her intently. She dared not shift her gaze. There was something so intriguing about the way he stared.

The festivities soon moved to the dance floor. Cathy watched the Count closely as he gracefully gilded along with a smiling Costanza. She liked her cousin, but she was jealous. Her father had always favored Costanza over her and Chiara. However, Cathy decided long ago that she would have rather died than been a proper lady. She wondered how boring Costanza's life must be, and how her journal must be filled with trivial romantic encounters, tonight being the most zealous. Cathy walked towards the table to fill her glass with more wine.

"Lady Caterina." Cathy froze at the sound of her name. She placed the glass of wine down on the table and turned around.

"Do you dance as well as you play with swords?" Count Riario smirked his hand reaching out toward her.

Cathy bit her lip before smiling."I guess you will find out." Cathy placed her hand in his. She was surprised to find he had soft hands.

"Please call me Girolamo." He whispered in her ear before taking his place across from her. Cathy looked at her brother who stood next to the Count, making mischievous eyes at her. She felt her cheeks warm and turned her gaze back at the Count.

The music began and soon Cathy found herself going through the motions of the dance. Her dark blue eyes locked onto Riario's brown ones. She felt her heart jump up her throat when the Count's firm hand gripped her waist, her face so close to his she could feel his breath tickle her lips. And in a moment too soon, she spun away from him as the music demanded. The two continued on with this charade for what seemed like a lifetime, each time she swore his face grew slightly closer to hers. The music finally ended and Cathy internally sighed with relief.

"Lady Caterina." Riario bowed and quickly walked away without looking her in face. Cathy stood stunned until she was pulled into the next dance by her brother.

"What the hell was that all about?" Carlo asked spinning his sister around.

Cathy placed her hand on Carlo's shoulder. "If I had any idea I would tell you."

The two Sfroza's looked over at the Count to find him attentive at Costanza side.

Cathy spent the rest of the night seeking out Riario's gaze which he actively avoided and dismissed.

She finally gave up and retired to her chambers.

"Cathy."

Cathy turned around too see Lady Bona following her. She smiled and embraced the woman who loved her as if she were her own daughter.

"I am so glad to see you home." The woman smiled.

Cathy smiled before looking down.

"Do you not wish to be here child?"

"To be honest, I've been in court for less than a day and I already miss being abroad. I think I hate Milan." Cathy confessed.

"Oh Caterina do not say such things."

"It is true! Please help me convince Father to let me go back to England. Everything here is so plain, and everything there is so adventurous, and alive!"

"Hush child, before someone hear's you. You are of age now, your father wishes to marry you to a rich Italian lord."

"Oh god, I don't want to marry an Italian lord. Italian men are so boring. I want to marry an English knight!"

"Oh Caterina, you silly girl. Life is not all romantic and novelty. Besides Italian men are exceptional. I saw the way Count Riario was looking at you, is he not man enough for you?"

Cathy looked up in surprise. "Count Riario looking at me?"

"Do not play games Cathy. Practically all of court saw you two dancing together."

Cathy blushed. "Count Riario seemed quite taken with Costanza. She is the most beautiful girl in Milan."

"We shall see." Lady Bona said raising an eyebrow at Cathy.

Cathy stood for a moment before continuing to her chambers. She would definitely be writing in her journal tonight, for it was the first time a man had ever looked at her the way Riario did and she wasn't sure whether that was a good or bad thing.

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