The beauty of Rome rivaled London and Paris combined. Cathy was utterly amazed at how grand everything was, she hardly noticed the terrible reek of shit. The citizens of Rome stared at her with curious yet hesitant eyes as she trotted along behind the Count on her white horse.
They had finally reached Vatican City.
Riario dismounted his horse. Cathy followed suit. Someone once told her Rome hid the key to the universe, it must since she stood in awe marveling at a place that looked like Heaven itself.
"Captivating isn't it?" Riario said with a hint of a smile. Cathy looked over at him, her eyes shining with wonder causing him to chuckle.
Riario walked over to the carriage to help Costanza out. He gave her his arm and led both her and Cathy inside the city. Cathy's eyes were scanning everywhere trying to take it all in. Costanza was more focused on the Count the beauty of the buildings.
"Lady Costanza, Lady Caterina." An older gentlemen dressed in black robes spoke. Cathy's attention was drawn away from the scenery and to the man in front of her.
"It is a pleasure to welcome you to our beloved city." The man bowed. Cathy looked at the man curiously, something about him struck her, as if she had known him once before.
"Ladies, this is Lupo Mercuri, Curator of the Vatican's Archives," Riario introduced.
"Pleasure to make your acquaintance sir." Costanza said with a nod.
"Indeed." Cathy agreed looking intensely at the man. His name rang a bell in her memory. One that she was desperately trying to forgot. Lupo looked at her relentlessly.
He knew. Cathy swallowed.
Riario cleared his throat, somewhat amused with Cathy and Lupo's apparent fascination with each other, somewhat confused, and somewhat annoyed.
"His Holinesses wishes to properly greet out guests at dinner tonight." Lupo said.
"Of course." Riario nodded.
"I hope this does not displease you ladies, I know you have had a terribly long journey. You'll have to excuse Girolamo, he forgets that not everyone is as expedient as himself." The old man said playfully.
Cathy couldn't help but smile at this. Costanza let out her signature giggle.
"Lady Costanza if you come with me I would like to show you something before you are shown to your room." Lupo said offering his arm out to Costanza. She took it willingly looking back at Cathy with an amused expression.
Riario and Cathy watched as the Curator whisked Costanza away.
"You do not like Lupo." Riario stated plainly, not bothering to make his observation sound questioning.
"He seems too charming to be honest, his smile too fabricated." Cathy replied.
Riario laughed. Cathy looked over at him incredulously. She had never once heard him laugh; it sounded it very odd to her yet sweet at the same time.
Riario offered his arm and Cathy took it without hesitation. They began to walk further into the city.
"You must learn to mask your disapproval. Lupo is a very powerful and important man, one of the most important in Rome and to his Holiness."
"I thought that was you. "
Riario paused for moment staring at the woman on his arm.
"He may be important in Rome, but not to Rome, like you my lord." Cathy smiled returning his glance. He saw a hint of a playful smile but dared not engage.
"That's right." He managed to say before continuing forward. He wondered if Caterina was being sincere or if she was teasing him. After a while, they arrived at the room where Cathy would be staying. It was a rather lovely room, large, full of beautiful paintings, and a large bed with a white canopy.
"I hope you are comfortable here, Lady Caterina." Riario said watching Cathy marvel at the room.
Cathy turned around excitedly. "Comfortable? It has far exceeded my satisfaction."
"I am glad. Now I must take my leave off you, a servant will be here around dusk to help you ready for dinner." Riario said and turned around to leave the room.
"Riario." Cathy called after him.
"Yes." He said glancing back at her.
"It's Cathy. But I know that's too intimate for you, so it's Caterina. I'm not sure I qualify as lady." She said with a suggestive smile.
"You only embody the desirable aspects of a lady, Caterina." Riario murmured before quickly exiting the room.
Cathy blushed. She felt apprehensive to trust Riario, but at the same time she felt as if he was the only one in Rome who would be in a position to help her if she got into trouble. With Lupo here, she definitely needed to secure Riario's favor.
She sighed before walking over to the bed and falling asleep.
Cathy awoke to the sound of metal plates clanking together. She immediately leapt out of bed ready to face the intruder. Glancing to her right, she saw her trunk and belongings placed at the end of the bed. She ran over to open it, grabbing her sword.
A dark-skinned woman appeared from the around the corner, Cathy quickly pointed her sword in the stranger's direction which caused the mysterious women to jump back in fright.
"Sorry, my lady, Lord and Master Girolamo, told me to attend to you while you stay here." She spoke slowly, a bit hesitant.
Cathy examined the girl before lowering her sword and setting it back in the trunk. She had seen Abyssinians when traveling to Africa with the English.
"Riario sent you here?" Cathy questioned still a bit skeptical.
"Yes milady, he asked that I look after you for your stay. " The woman said with her eyes glued to the floor.
Cathy walked over to the woman and gently raised her chin so she could see the Abyssinian's face.
"You are pretty for a slave girl." Cathy said. " Why would Riario send me a slave and not a servant?"
The woman did everything she could to avoid Cathy's gaze. Cathy sighed and walked to back towards the bed.
"Master Girolamo, you must be his personal slave is that correct?" Cathy asked.
The woman simply nodded.
"What is your name?" Cathy asked.
"Zita." The woman whispered.
"Well Zita, do you mind helping me into this gown, it's Italian, and I haven't worn an Italian dress in a long time. They are quite dreadful." Cathy smiled.
The slave girl bowed and walked over to help Cathy dress.
The gown Cathy slipped into was a royal blue; the sleeves were puffy around the shoulders. She looked at herself in the mirror and scowled. Zita began brushing Cathy's hair.
"I cut my hair." Cathy announced. Clearly it was obvious to Zita, but she felt the need to say it.
"I have never seen a lady of Rome with her hair not past her waist." Zita said making eye contact with Cathy in the mirror.
"Well I'm not a lady of Rome." Cathy smirked. "Do you see many ladies here in Vatican City?"
As soon as the words left her mouth Cathy regretted them. Zita was Riario's slave, she would know if the Count were a womanizer. The problem was Cathy couldn't figure out if she was asking on behave of Costanza, or her own curiosity.
The black woman paused for a moment before answering, "No more than usual I suppose, surely none of significance such as you and your cousin milady."
Cathy smiled back at Zita in the mirror before turning around. Riario trained this slave well.
"How do I look? And be brutally honest Zita, you mustn't lie to me." She asked.
"You look beautiful milday." Zita spoke softly.
"Thanks to you of course." Cathy smiled before exiting the room. A man was waiting outside her door to lead her to dinning room.
Cathy entered the dining hall. There seemed to be at least one hundred people chatting, eating, laughing, and drinking. Cathy looked around for Costanza or Riario but she could find neither. She stood hopeless in the midst of the Vatican members.
"Are you as lost as I am?" A voice whispered into her ear. Cathy turned around to see the face of a handsome young man dressed in regal attire.
"I am afraid so. I think we might be the only two here without crossing hanging around our necks." Cathy replied looking out at the crowd once again.
The man laughed.
"Caterina!"
Cathy saw Costanza and the Count approaching. She instantly felt relieved.
"Lady Costanza, this is King Ferdinand of Naples." Riario spoke. The man that stood beside Cathy grabbed Costanza's hand and kissed it gently.
Cathy looked over startled at the man next to her.
King of Naples? Cathy's cheeks lit up in embarrassment.
"And I see you have already met Lady Caterina." Riario said looking at Cathy who did not return his gaze instead she stared at Ferdinand. He felt an intense burning in his chest when the king kissed Caterina's hand and her cheeks turned a slight shade of pink.
"Lady Caterina, would you please be my company for the night?" The king asked with a sly smile.
"Only if you would call me Cathy my lord, I prefer it immensely." Cathy answered eagerly. The King was quite magnificent and very dashing. Cathy had never had a man so handsome kiss her hand before.
"As you wish sweet Cathy." The King replied. Cathy gingerly placed her arm in his.
"Are we off then Riario?" The King asked with a haughty grin.
Riario bit his lip and nodded. Ferdinand and Cathy followed Riario and Costanza into another room, much grander than the dining hall.
Another chapter! Yay! Tell me what you guys think! :D Rome is not as bad as Cathy thought, at least not yet.