Riario awoke the next morning to the knock of one of the Sforza house maids informing him that it was mealtime. He swiftly got ready despite how tired he was. He spent the entire night having nightmares of Da Vinci stealing the key from around his neck. He tried to keep his wounded pride at bay, but deep down he had the desire to destroy Da Vinci. However he was ashamed about how much he had allowed this desire to invade his thoughts and dreams. Desire was an enemy of God.

The dining table was relatively bare. Lord Sforza, Lady Bony, and Costanza were the only ones in attendance. Normally Riario would have deemed this highly rude, but he had no desire to see the children of Sforza, they were mere distractions to his goal of securing an alliance with Milan by marrying Costanza.

"Count Riario, would you care to join the lovely Costanza and I for a tour of the castle?" Lady Bony inquired after they had finished eating.

Costanza smiled coyly at the Count. Riario looked at the young girl hiding his unamused expression with a grin. She was a very beautiful gentle girl, she deserved someone who would cherish her.

I guess they were all pawns when it came to the Pope's wishes, he thought.

"I would be delighted milady." Riario said looking at Lady Bony.

The three of them wandered the through the castle; Costanza's arm intertwined with Riario's. He felt her small thumb stroke his forearm occasionally. The Sforza's had plenty of art displayed throughout the castle. Riario found this annoying especially since it reminded him of the Medici's. It seemed as if all of Italy had fallen under this forsaken spell of humanistic ways.

When they arrived to the garden Riario heard loud shrills of young children and a woman's laughter. Suddenly the two young Sforza children ran into the garden with a disheveled Caterina chasing them. He watched as the woman grabbed one of the children from behind and start spinning around in circles. Both of them laughed with glee before falling to the ground and rolling around in the dirt. They looked so carefree, and happy. Riario's mother use to spin him around as a child in a similar manner before she died.

"Cathy." Lady Bony called. Cathy looked up to see the Count with Costanza on his arm, and her step mother.

Cathy quickly stood up. Her expression was grave as she looked at the Count and Costanza and curtsied. Riario noticed a hint of a smile before the young woman turned around, running after her brother and sister and out of sight.

"You must excuse Cathy, Count Riario." Costanza said. She was determined to prove to the Count that she was not like the rest of her rampant cousins.

Riario smiled sweetly at Costanza before looking back to the horizon where Lady Caterina had disappeared too. Her behavior was something he would usually be repulsed by. However there was something about her that he found absolutely captivating. She had the battle skills of a warrior and mannerisms coated with an unusual innocence.

"Yes Count Riario, do pardon Cathy. She is very wild and possesses a curious nature but she has the most generous and loving heart." Lady Bony remarked with a wicked smile. She could tell the Count was taken if not a least drawn to Caterina.

"Lady Caterina seems like the most agreeable of ladies." Riario replied politely trying not seem too interested.

Costanza laughed. "When she wants to be."

That night there was another feast. Cathy was surprised to find Riario spending most of the evening talking with her father in a discreet manner instead of in Costanza's arms.

"What do you suppose they are scheming about?" Carlo whispered into his sister's ear. He wrapped his arms around her waste and placed his chin on her shoulder. Cathy brought her glass of wine to her lips and placed her hand on her brother's arm.

"Florence." Cathy said rather bluntly. She felt her brother withdraw himself from her.

"You know?" Carlo asked.

"I received a letter from Lucrezia this morning. She says they are in hiding. They cannot even flee to family in Rome in fear of the Pope and Riario. Lu tells me that Lady Orsini is in terrible spirits because of Lorenzo's condition."

"Where are they?"

Cathy looked at her brother unamused. "She did not say, which is for the best in case my letters were opened by another."

"Father and Riario talk of Lorenzo as if he is already dead." Carlo stated.

"Father lets you listen to him and Riario speak?" Cathy asked shocked.

"Don't act so surprised Cathy we aren't children anymore. Anyway I don't like Riario, he acts as if he were God's angel sent down from the heaven's to govern us all. He uses God's will as an excuse for his actions as well as the Pope's. Do you know Cathy he slaughtered a whole town of innocent peasants because of their ignorance of bible stories!"

"Surely he must slaughter me then because I am afraid I remember close to nothing from our bible studies." Cathy said as she stared at Riario from across the room. "God's will? It's the excuse every man of Rome uses when faced with their own hypocrisy."

"That's not it though Cathy..." Carlo said leaning in close. "Riario actually believes it and that is the most dangerous belief of all."

Cathy looked up into her brother eyes. It was clear that Carlo was not pleased with Riario's presence in Milan. Cathy was definitely starting to agree.

"What are you two so solemn about?" Costanza asked as she approached her two favorite cousins with her trademark smile. Cathy exchanged a quick glance with Carlo before turning her attention to Costanza.

"Take a turn around the room with me dear Cathy." Costanza said. Cathy nodded and took her cousin's arm.

"Tell me dear Cathy, what do you think of the Count?"

The young women looked over at Riario.

"I think Count Riario is everything a gentleman of Rome should be."

"Yes indeed he is." Costanza sighed. "Do you think him handsome?"

Cathy blushed a little. She thought he was incredibly attractive although she would never admit to it. "I think the Count is pleasing to look at."

"Yes so do I." Costanza agreed. "Oh look here he comes, let us talk of something interesting."

"Like what?" Cathy said confused yet amused with her cousin's antics.

"Lady Costanza, Lady Caterina." Riario spoke softly with smile. Cathy almost forgot what Carlo had told her about the man. The tone of his voice always made her forget reason.

Costanza quickly cleared her throat. "Count Riario."

Cathy nodded in acknowledgement.

"I was just talking with Lord Sforza and he agreed to allow you both to accompany the Vatican soldiers and I back to Rome to meet his Holiness and to see our beautiful city."

Costanza gasped in excitement. "You are not teasing us are you?"

"No." Riario replied with a smile. He looked over at Cathy who stood in complete shock with a very unpleasant facial expression.

"Isn't that wonderful Cathy? We are to go to Rome. How kind of Count Riario! Isn't he very kind Cathy?" Costanza squealed shaking Cathy's arm.

"Yes very kind indeed." Cathy said forcing herself to smile.

"I hope this not an inconvenience for you Lady Caterina, I know you have just recently arrived in Milan." Riario replied a bit annoyed with the woman's obvious displeasure.

"Certainly not. I have always been fond to learn more about Rome and her secrets." Cathy said staring into the Count's brown eyes.

She could tell her reply confused Riario as he cleared his throat.

"Excellent. We leave first thing tomorrow." Riario said.

"Tomorrow?" Cathy blurted out.

"Yes Lady Caterina." Riario said before leaning in closer. "Rome does not like to be kept waiting, I hope you do not encounter that hardly kept secret."

Cathy's eyes widened at the Riario's suggestive tone. Costanza and Cathy watched as the Count left the dining hall in an abrupt manner.

"Cathy! You really ought to be more polite!" Costanza repeated following the Count out of the hall.

Tell me what you guys think! :)