Cathy marveled at the beauty of the room. Beautiful paintings graced the walls, stain glass windows glittered in the moonlight, and hundreds of candles lit the room. It was divine. There were less people in this room; Cathy assumed they were all of great importance. She recognized Lupo among the men; she felt her stomach drop as he nodded in her direction.
Two large doors flew open at the end of the room, and in entered his Holiness, dressed in golden and white robes. The room fell silent as the Pope walked over to Riario and Lady Costanza.
Cathy watched Costanza bow and kiss the Pope's hand. Cathy tried her hardest not to laugh. She knew it was wicked of her, but I mean honestly, the Pope looked more like a king than a man of God. Ferdinand noticed Cathy's amusement and smiled deviously at her, making it even harder for her not to laugh. Riario followed suit, making Cathy's amusement vanish. Riario seemed quite invincible to Cathy but even he had to answer to someone.
The Pope left her cousin and approached Cathy. She felt Ferdinand stiffen and straightened himself at her side before bowing a bit exaggeratedly and kissing the Pope's hand. Cathy dared not look the Pope in the eyes, she bowed and kissed the Pope's hand before her curiosity came over her and she looked. The Pope's gaze was intense and intimidating. Cathy felt as if God himself was judging her. His gazed lingered on her a little longer than it did on the others, and Cathy felt a feeling of dread overcome her.
He knew. Lupo told him.
Just when Cathy thought her fate was sealed, the Pope smiled at her and turned around.
"My fellow brother and sisters of the Lord, I am pleased to welcome our honored guests Lady Costanza, Lady Caterina, and King Ferdinand of Naples."
The men in the room silently muttered amongst themselves.
"And now let us feast in the Lord's name." The Pope exclaimed.
A large table with about fifteen seats rested in the center of the room. The Pope sat at the end of the table, Lupo on his right and Riario on his left. Costanza sat next to Riario. Ferdinand led Cathy over to the table. He sat directly beside Lupo, and pulled out the chair for Cathy to sit beside him. The whole thing felt quite surreal to Cathy as if it were a dream.
They soon began eating when the servants brought piles of food to the table. Cathy immediately went for the wine to calm her nerves. Of all the adventures she had been on nothing was more dangerous than a dinner party.
"Has my beloved nephew been able to keep you ladies sufficiently entertained?" The Pope asked sweeping his gaze from Costanza to Cathy.
"Yes, your Holiness, he has been most gracious to us." Costanza said with her charming voice and sweet smile. Cathy watched a satisfied expression sweep across the Pope's face. Costanza was slowly winning his favor. Riario smiled at Costanza.
"And you Lady Caterina?" The Pope asked directing his gaze at Cathy. She cleared her throat and wiped her lips.
"Count Riario has behaved most amiably my lord." Cathy said looking over at Riario whose expression turned to stone. Both her and the Pope seemed to notice this.
" I surprised when Girolamo asked for both you and Lady Costanza too come to Rome, the count seems to think you posses many desirable qualities Lady Caterina."
Cathy's cheeks flushed dark red and Riario choked on his wine a bit. An awkward silence overfell the table.
"I've known Lady Caterina for less than an hour and I think she is the most charming and intelligent of ladies." Ferdinand said coming to the rescue. Cathy thanked God for Ferdinand. She smiled meekly at the King before focusing her gaze on her food. She dared for a moment to look at Riario but he seemed determined to not look in her direction.
"Lady Caterina I hear you have traveled very much?" Lupo stated. Cathy cringed inside.
"Yes sir, I have recently arrived in Italy, having spent the last four years abroad." Cathy said.
"Where did you travel too?" Lupo inquired.
Why is he asking me these questions? She knew that Lupo already knew where she had been.
"I spent sometime in France and England. I was in Spain for about a week, and Scotland for another." Cathy said drinking more of wine.
"That's quite impressive." Ferdinand added. Pouring more wine into his and Cathy's cups.
"She is very lucky isn't she?" Costanza chimed in.
The Pope agreed with Costanza. "Indeed. That is quite a bit of traveling for a lady."
"Is that all the places you've been to Lady Caterina?" Lupo asked with an intense gaze. Cathy felt as if he were burning holes into her person. Riario looked up at Lupo in confusion.
"Actually when I was staying with the English I also went to Africa and Constantinople." Cathy answered honestly. If Lupo wanted to play games Cathy might as well play along.
Riario dropped his fork on his plate and looked directly at Cathy. He stared at her partly in shock and partly with warning. She had said something she should not have said. Costanza also looked very curiously at Cathy, her cousin had no idea she went to the East, no one in her family did.
The Pope exchanged an unreadable glance with Lupo. Riario cleared his throat and stared talking about all the things he wished to show Costanza while in Rome. Lupo left the dining room quickly after his interrogation of Cathy, and the Pope pretended to listen to Riario and Costanza chattering, but his focus was intently on Caterina.
Cathy spent the rest of the night answering the questions of Ferdinand about her travels. She could not think of anything else except for the Pope's keen eyes watching her.
Riario retired to his room, his head spinning. He had drunk to much wine and was now paying the price for divulging in desire. He threw himself onto the chair and unbuttoned his shirt.
Why were Lupo and his Father so fascinated with Caterina?
And why had Caterina not told anyone of her journey to the Ottoman Empire?
Why was she there in the first place?
Riario looked up to see the smiling face of Zita as she brought a pitcher of water and placed it on the table next to his seat. He watched as she poured the water into the glass and handed to him. She then walked in front of him and looked at him with burning eyes. Riario took a sip staring intently at the woman before him; she was beautiful.
"Anything of interest arise in our Caterina chambers?" Riario asked. Zita looked at him with a sly smile as she lowered one of the straps of her dress off her shoulder.
"Well first she put a sword to my throat."
Riario raised an eyebrow.
"And then she apologized." Zita said as her hand moved to undo the other strap.
"She asked about Lupo, I was not much help there." Zita smiled as the fabric fell down her body revealing her naked form. Riario breathed in deeply admiring the woman in front of him.
"Yes Lupo gave Lady Caterina quite a hard time at dinner." He remarked his free hand reaching forward to caress the slave girl's breast.
"Oh and she asked about you, and how many women visit your chamber." She whispered as the Count's finger grazed her nipple.
"And what did you say?" He whispered back.
"None as fair as her." She whimpered.
"Good." Riario said. He immediately stood up and walked over to the bed. "That is all Zita, you may go."
The slave girl hesitated for moment before picking up her gown and quickly running out of the room.
He wanted to love her and perhaps at a time he did. But now all he could see in her was his father. Besides he had enough desire for one night.
Cathy awoke to a banging on her door. She sat up in her bed as the door burst open. In came the King with a wicked grin on his face, Cathy pulled up the sheets around her body tightly.
"King Ferdinand this is highly improper." Cathy said in shock. Zita walked in behind Ferdinand with a frightful expression.
"Since when do you care about what's proper Cathy?" The king exclaimed.
Cathy couldn't help but smile. He was right. It had been two weeks since she had arrived at Rome. Ferdinand proved to be a good friend and her only confident. Riario seemed to avoid her like the plague, and Costanza was too busy fawning over him to notice her cousin. Lupo had mysteriously disappeared after the night he embarrassed her at dinner.
"Well you definitely scared poor Zita."
Cathy and the King looked at Zita who had her back turned away from them.
"Well get up, I want to walk the gardens with you." He said quickly turning around to leave. He stopped at the door.
"And bring your sword." He smiled looking down at the blade that lay on top of Cathy's trunk.
Cathy jumped out of bed and put on one of her English dresses. She was tired of Italian ones for she could hardly breathe in them and could move little. She fastened her sword to her side and took off running to the gardens.
She arrived to find no one in sight. She scanned the gardens for Ferdinand but was unable to see him.
"Are you ready for me?" A familiar voice called behind Cathy. She turned around to see the King grinning with his blade pointed toward her.
Cathy laughed and drew her sword.
"Are you ready for me?" She teased.
The two began to dance across the garden swords clashing against each other. Cathy was impressed by the King's swordplay. He was rather good, but not good enough. She disarmed him pointing her sword straight at his throat. The King breathed heavily looking back at his opponent with a cheeky smile.
"Bravo Cathy!" Costanza clapped emerging from behind one of the pillars with Riario.
Cathy pitched her blade into the ground and gave an overdramatic bow. "Anything for you milady."
Ferdinand laughed in amusement.
"I daresay Cathy you are the best swordsmen I've ever seen! Wouldn't you agree Riario?" The king praised causing Cathy to blush slightly.
"Lady Caterina is well-versed in many areas it seems." He replied.
"I'd like to see you try to defeat her Riario, I really think no man could beat her." Ferdinand challenged playfully.
"Girolamo is far to noble to fight a lady, my lord." Costanza cooed rubbing her hand on Riario's forearm.
The Count smiled dismissing the notion. Cathy raised an eyebrow.
"Perhaps he just doesn't want to risk losing to a girl." Cathy teased removing her sword from the ground. Ferdinand smiled looking at the Count's bewildered expression.
"I assure you Lady Caterina, that I would never want to take arms against you." Riario replied.
"It's alright Riario, you don't have to admit you're afraid to lose." Cathy teased again; this time pushing it more than she knew was proper.
Suddenly Riario drew his sword pointing it straight at Cathy. She saw his brown eyes ignite with fury causing her stomach to drop. The two began banging their swords together, the sound of metal filling the air. Every move Cathy made Riario blocked, every trick she tried he countered, their fighting seemed to last for hours. Cathy began to grow tired; it was a battle of endurance. Suddenly Riario disarmed her. Before she could register what was happening, she was on her knees and felt a sharp blade gently brush her chin lifting it up. Her dark blues met Riario's piercing brown ones, both of them panting staring intensely at each other. Cathy felt her heart beat rapidly in her chest, she was sure the Count could hear it. The moment was soon interrupted by the sound of clapping. Riario and Cathy both looked up to see the Pope standing on one of the balconies over looking the gardens. He smiled and walked out of sight. For some reason Cathy felt disturbed by his smile. Riario clearly was, for he swiftly left the gardens without a word.
Ferdinand reached over to help Cathy off the ground. Costanza stood quietly. She seemed to be debating whether to follow after the Count.
"Well Cathy, you fought well but it seems like Riario is still Rome's champion for now." He remarked trying to ease the tension.
"Yes it seems so." Cathy said still staring at the spot were Riario disappeared.
Two chapters in one day! Haha. Did you guys like this one too? ;)