p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 32px;"Contessina sat at the foot of her bed, replaying the night she'd saved Cosimo over and over in her head. She'd recalled all of it. The way he had so willingly accepted death. The way he'd grabbed her. The way he'd folded his hands around the cloth of her robe in such a manner he'd promised to never do./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 32px;"Her heart raced./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 32px;"She remembered it like a dream./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; text-align: center; line-height: 32px;" align="center"-/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 32px;"They'd gone out for fresh air, she and Lorenzo. Party sounds filled the air, and their heads were heavy with wine. They'd laughed together and made too many incomprehensible jokes. Quickly they'd become the kind of friends one can only have if their senses are dulled by alcohol./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 32px;""Come, Cosimo," Lorenzo had slurred to his brother. "It is hot in here and there is much better conversation outside." He and Contessina giggled, red-faced. There was no one outside but the guards and late-night peddlers./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 32px;""Leave me be, brother," Cosimo brushed them off as he stared into the fire. "Take your air and let me have silence." Without a second thought, Lorenzo and Contessina made for the door./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 32px;"The night air was humid as two figures exited the Medici house and strolled into the street. The guards had tried to stop them, but they'd drunkenly promised to not stray beyond the safety of the house's fires./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 32px;""How can anyone stay inside when there is night outside?" Lorenzo spun in a circle with his arms outstretched, stumbling to his knees. Contessina laughed loudly as she helped him to his feet./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 32px;""You are too much, Lorenzo! You'll fall!"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 32px;"They both sputtered and laughed until their laughter became silent. Lorenzo turned to his sister-in-law and bowed deeply./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 32px;""Shall we stroll, Madonna?"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 32px;""Messer we shall," she said, linking her elbow with his. They wandered, arms bent together at the elbow, for nearly two hours. Their giggles and red faces became tipsy conversations as the alcohol exited their systems./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 32px;""When we sleep," Contessina started, "Do you think our souls leave our bodies briefly?"br /"No. I think, perhaps, it is the other way around. Our bodies leave our souls and wander to a place beyond."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 32px;""Where do they wander?"br /"I don't know." Lorenzo smiled a cheeky smile only the Medici could inherit. "I'm always asleep."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 32px;"Contessina glared at him through smiling eyes and dug her elbow into his side./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 32px;""You—"br /"Well well well, what do we have here?" a voice echoed through the alley behind them. In flickering firelight, three men immerged from the darkness./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 32px;""Good evening, messers," Lorenzo slurred, acting more drunk than he was. "Fine night isn't it?"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 32px;""Ah yes," another one of the men said. "A fine night for a stroll." The three men strode towards the pair. The tallest of the three wrapped his arm around Lorenzo./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 32px;""Yes, yes. A fine night." The man squeezed Lorenzo's shoulder roughly as though they were brothers in a feud pretending to be cordial in front of their grandmother./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 32px;""What can I do for you, messers?" Lorenzo's head swam. There was no response./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 32px;""I think I have a florin or two in—"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 32px;"The taller man quickly stepped aside and allowed the two other men to pounce on Lorenzo, first going through his pockets and then wrestling him to the ground./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 32px;""We have our eyes set on something else," the tall man said, setting his sights on Contessina./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 32px;""You don't want to do that," she said sternly./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 32px;""And why would that be, Madonna?"br /"My husband, and that man your harassing, are very powerful. You'll meet your maker before you can spend his pocket money."br /Rushing Contessina, the taller man took the clasp of her cloak between his hands and squeezed it around her neck./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 32px;""I'd like to see them try," he whispered in her ear. Contessina's mind sharpened. The world around her became brighter as the man's hand wrapped around her neck. Lorenzo was caught between the two thugs, his knife drawn and fighting against theirs. His head was now bleeding as he called for guards or anyone in the vicinity to come to their aid./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 32px;""Now," the tall man said, gripping her throat tighter. "What is a Medici whore doing wandering the streets of Florence so loudly? We could hear your squeals halfway to Rome." Contessina was quiet, conserving the small amount of oxygen in her body. The man ran his free hand up the side of her body in a way only a lover should. Contessina tried with all her might to force his hand away, but the man squeezed her throat tighter. She gasped, begging for air./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 32px;""Help!" Lorenzo cried into the seemingly empty city streets. "Guards!"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 32px;""Please," Contessina whispered. Her vision was blurred by darkening spots. The man released her throat and gripped her cloak in both his hands, pulling her face close to his. His breath stunk of alcohol and sin. Contessina turned her head away from him./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 32px;""No one can help you now," he hissed. "I've never had a noblewoman before." He quickly returned his hand to her throat and pulled a dagger from his belt. Contessina froze. Her vision darkened as she felt the cool metal of the blade against her neck./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 32px;""I'll see you in Hell, Madonna." Contessina could not close her eyes. Tears ran down her cheeks as the man set the knife at the neckline of her dress and began to saw through the material. As he moved his dagger, sharp pricks surfaced and blood ran down the woman's sternum, between her breasts, and onto her stomach. Her vision went dark./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 32px;"She felt her body slump and her knees and shoulders hit the ground. Yelling surrounded her./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 32px;"emI'll see you in Hell, Madonna./em The man's voice echoed in her mind./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 32px;""Contessina!" a familiar voice from far away seemed to whisper repeatedly. It became louder and Contessina felt air rush into her body./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 32px;""Get her home!" the voice shouted. She opened her eyes. A bloodied Lorenzo kneeled next to her./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 32px;""Contessina, wake up! Please," the man's eyes were wide. She closed her eyes again, overcome with exhaustion./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 32px;"Time passed and yet everything seemed still. A feeling of weightlessness came over the woman and for a moment she felt as though everything was a dream and she'd simply fallen asleep at a family party. Soon she would wake up in her childhood bed, the sun streaming through stained glass windows imported from far away./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 32px;""What happened?" a woman's voice exclaimed. Contessina was becoming more aware now but could not lift her eyes open./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 32px;""Thugs."br /"Where?" the woman pushed./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 32px;""Just around the corner, Madonna." Metal clanked against metal with each footstep of those around her./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 32px;""Lorenzo, what happened? I must know everything."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 32px;""We were just around the corner. Three men came from the alley. I offered them florins, but they drew daggers. From their fighting, they were soldiers or mercenaries of some sort. I could not see much, but she is not harmed in that way..." Lorenzo paused. Contessina could hear the tension in his voice and felt the air vibrate with it./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 32px;""Call for a physician," her mother-in-law's voice commanded./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 32px;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 32px;"Her head spun. In the hearth the fire burned and through the window the morning sun shone brightly. The hall outside was quiet. Her throat ached and burned. Slowly she raised herself from the bed and gazed at her reflection in the polished speculum metal mirror on the vanity. Her neck was a dark shade of purple and red. Looking at it for only a moment drew the breath from her lungs and she stood, unbreathing, for a time. She could not bring herself to look closer. To investigate the depth of the bruise./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 32px;"Quickly she dressed, turning away from her reflection. Before she could stop herself, she was walking the empty halls of the house. Her thoughts were plagued with worries. Lorenzo? What would Cosimo think? Worse, what will Piccarda say? Most of all, she worried about her appearance. She could easily hide the cut on her chest from the outside as she had hidden it from herself this morning. She could not so easily hide her throat from unwanted eyeing./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 32px;"Before turning the last corner, Contessina took a long and painful breath to gather herself. As she entered the room, she met eyes with Lorenzo. His face was swollen and the large gash on his forehead had been tended to./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 32px;""Good morning, Contessina," Piccarda said from the head of the table. Contessina's voice was hoarse and, though she tried, she could not gather enough sound to form a response. She smiled and nodded in return. Lorenzo attempted to stand to pull out her chair but the wince on his face told her he felt worse than she. She held up her hand to stop him and he did not protest as she pulled out her own chair./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 32px;"They sat in silence. Giovanni had left early that morning to attend meetings and Cosimo had yet to return from his dealings regarding the night before. Piccarda glared at the two as she ate./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 32px;""I'm going to take this opportunity, beings neither of you are in any shape to speak, to say this. While I'm very pleased both of you managed to survive, what were you thinking?" Piccarda's voice shifted from sarcasm to cold anger. "Of all the idiotic things you've done, Lorenzo, this is near the top of the list. And you, Contessina! Do you not care about the shame you could have brought our family? Or even your own! I've sent word to your father to inform him of your safety. Were you ten years younger, I'd have you both flogged. The ridiculousness of it all."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 32px;"Lorenzo and Contessina stare into their laps, stealing side-eye glances every now and then. Contessina cannot remember the last time she was scolded, especially for something so serious as her attempted murder./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 32px;"Loud footsteps stomped through the halls. Cosimo entered, guards following him, dusty and dirty with a bloodied arm./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 32px;""I've sent their hands to Father at the Signoria and the rest of them to cells to be dealt with." Cosimo spoke this to his mother. He did not look at his brother nor his wife./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 32px;""Who were they?" Lorenzo asked./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 32px;""Here from Naples. I got no more than that." Cosimo still looked to his mother. "I'm going to bathe and have this tended to."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 32px;"A long cut spanned the length of his arm./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 32px;""Cosimo—" Lorenzo followed him out. Muffled voices became shouts as Lorenzo followed Cosimo through the house. Their conversation ended with the slamming of a door./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 32px;"Contessina picked at her breakfast, unsure if she would be able to eat it. She raised her hand to catch the attention of a maid./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 32px;""Perhaps some broth," she whispered./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 32px;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 32px;"Cosimo did not seek out Contessina after breakfast. Her mother-in-law stated to her that she was to rest until her voice returned and the swelling in her neck decreased. She had not noticed it during breakfast, but her breathing was labored as she strode the halls of the house./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 32px;"The hours of the day rushed by as she lay on a settee in front of the fire in the sitting room. Her body urged her to sleep but she could not bear to close her eyes. She could hear the sounds of men fighting in the crackling fire. When her eyes shut she could see the reflection of firelight off the dagger that tore her dress./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 32px;""Dinner, Madonna?" a maid quietly asked from the doorway./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 32px;""I am not hungry," she whispered in response. "Have some broth brought to my room." She did not have the voice for pleasantries, but she smiled at the maid as she answered. Slowly Contessina rose, her body aching as she did. She cuts on her chest screamed but she ignored them./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 32px;"Slowly heading down the hall, she caught sight of Lorenzo heading towards her./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 32px;""Dinner?" he asked softly. She shook her head, and he nodded in understanding. They stood silent for a moment. Tenderly, Contessina wrapped her arms around her brother-in-law in thanks./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 32px;""We are emboth/em lucky," he said. "Had Cosimo not taken a stroll of his own, who knows what would have happened."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 32px;"emCosimo had been there?/em Lorenzo squeezed his sister-in-law's shoulders and walked towards dinner./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 32px;"She did not wish to sleep yet she had to fight it harder and harder as the minutes passed. Contessina paced her room, arms hugging the sleeves of her nightgown. The fire crackled loudly but she could find no noise louder than the voices in her mind./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 32px;"emI'll see you in Hell, Madonna./em/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 32px;"Cosimo had been there yet he did not seem to care about her safety or wellbeing when he'd returned that afternoon. Perhaps he'd seen she was alive and that was enough. Perhaps he was furious with her and wished to never speak to her again./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 32px;"Pacing was becoming too much and her breathing labored. Contessina sat in front of the fire on the floor and stared into the flames. Something about the way they dance allows her to escape into her mind and ease time's passage. She thought of the first day she'd met Cosimo. How he'd scolded her in the hall and then kissed her as if they'd been lovers and not newly acquainted. It had been strange. If he'd been any other man, even Ezio Contarini, she would have thought it appalling. With Cosimo, though, it was sensual in a way she could not understand./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 32px;"She thought of the way her father had looked upon her during their wedding. Joy and approval masked a deep sadness his eyes could not hide. When he'd said his goodbye that night he'd hugged her and kissed her cheeks, allowing his embrace to linger./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 32px;""Be well, Contessina," he'd whispered into her ear as he kissed her one last time./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 32px;"Contessina closed her eyes and longed for the memories of her father to stay./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 32px;"Cosimo slowly entered the room of his wife. She had not been at dinner as he had expected. Worried he'd wake her, he opened the door as quietly as he could. In the flame-lit room, he could see her silhouette sitting before the fire./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 32px;""Contessina?"br /The woman darted up from the floor, her stance rigid and defensive./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 32px;""Hello, Cosimo." Her voice sounded as though she were underwater—far away and strained. Contessina prepared herself for the same treatment Lorenzo received. She readied herself for shouting and to allow herself to go undefended./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 32px;""How are you?" he asked. Contessina shrugged, saving her voice for more pressing manners./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 32px;"She was backlit by the fire. Her features were shadows to Cosimo./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 32px;""The physician says there should be no permanent damage," Cosimo's voice was cold, almost unpredictably uncaring. Contessina nodded in response. She was not aware that she'd been seen by a physician. Her husband took small steps towards her. Contessina squeezed her fists behind her back, fighting the overwhelming urge to flee./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 32px;"Cosimo plopped down on the floor where Contessina had been gazing into the fire as if he were a child./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 32px;""May I join you?" he asked, looking up at the woman, her back illuminated by the light. Without a word, Contessina returned to her place on the floor. Gazing back into the fire, she prayed to the memories of her father to return and to help her escape the moment. She felt her husband's eyes on her, but she urged herself not to meet them./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 32px;""Does it hurt?" the man asked after several moments of silence had passed. Finally, Contessina turned to him, meeting his eyes fully./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 32px;""Very much," she whispered. Cosimo took her hand in his and kissed her knuckles once and then turned it and kissed the inside of her palm./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 32px;""Your arm?" Contessina asked, tracing the clean bandages from her husband's wrist to his shoulder./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 32px;""It is nothing." Contessina furrowed her brows./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 32px;""Simply a scratch. Not as bad as it looks. My bath washed nearly all evidence of it away. The bandages are just for tonight." Cosimo took his wife's other hand and kissed it before returning them both to her. They sat in silence again./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 32px;"Contessina blinked slowly, cherishing the rest that came with each closing of her eyes. Hours seemed to pass during the span of only a few minutes./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 32px;""And your other wounds?" Contessina turned her head to her husband's question as fast as she dare. Though she knew exactly what he spoke of, the burning and aching cuts on her chest, the thought of him knowing about them, knowing what their intention was, was too embarrassing. She contorted her face into confusion./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 32px;""The cuts." Cosimo's voice was matter-of-fact./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 32px;""It was nothing," Contessina whispered. "I'm fine. Unharmed."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 32px;""It was not nothing, Contessina," Cosimo pushed, his voice rising. "I saw—"br /"Just as this was nothing?" Contessina grabbed her husband's arm, expecting him to wince. He did not react./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 32px;""This is not the same," he responded. "This a scratch. Not all the blood on my sleeve was mine. I saw your dress, Contessina." Cosimo's voice went quiet./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 32px;""I saw you there, on the ground. I saw the clean cloth of your dress cut and stained with your blood. Stained with only your blood. That is not nothing."br /Contessina inhaled deeply. There were too many thoughts for her to comprehend. He'd been there. He'd seen what she herself had not seen. She had not seen the remnants of her dress from the night before nor had the thought of it even crossed her mind. Instinctually, she brought her hand to her neck./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 32px;""Show them to me," Cosimo commanded softly. Contessina was taken aback. Her husband had never been one to not speak his mind, but he'd always been aware of decency. He toed the line but rarely crossed it./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 32px;""Let me see what that man did to you." Embarrassment came over the woman. Her husband had seen her figure before but showing him the cuts forced her to bare a naked form he'd never seen./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 32px;"Fighting herself, Contessina slowly untied the lace of her nightgown. Looking down caused her enormous pain, but she looked down at the open space between her body and the fabric and saw the cuts, deep and surrounded by pinpoint bruises that would soon swim in pools of yellow./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 32px;""They are nothing," she said, pushing the shoulder of her gown awry and allowing it to fall to her arm, exposing her chest. Cosimo took a small step forward as he took in the extent of his wife's injuries. He'd expected many small cuts, the way a child butchers their first kill. These were three cuts, smaller than he'd expected, but deep as any battle wound he'd experienced. The first, and shallowest, just at the center of her sternum. Not likely to leave a scar. The next, and deepest, at the bottom of her sternum just between her breasts, and the last a small gash below it./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 32px;"Cosimo forced himself to not let his mind wander to what could have been and to stay in the present. He took the sleeve from her elbow and pulled it back onto her shoulder, feeling the goosebumps on his wife's arm./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 32px;""You are cold." He went to the hook where her night robe hung as Contessina retied her gown and stepped back to the fire, absorbing the warmth she hadn't realized she was lacking. She felt the weight of her robe on her shoulders as her husband helped her arms into the sleeves. He turned her around a tied the belt./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 32px;""Better?" he asked. His hands now moved to the collar to untuck loose bits of fabric stuck in an odd. Contessina's heart flew from her chest, beating thrice the speed of light. The feeling of the man's hands on her throat flashed under her skin. The air escaped from the room. Her vision was dark./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 32px;""Contessina?" Cosimo's worried voice said from some far-off place. She couldn't hear him. She found herself hurrying out of the room, down the hall, and toward the courtyard. She needed air./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 32px;"Cosimo yelled at her down the hall, following her every step. She barreled down the steps, nearly collapsing as she reached the bottom. She braced herself on a pillar in the courtyard./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 32px;""Contessina?" Cosimo had caught up with her. "Contessina, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have…"br /Contessina held up her hand to silence him. She took quick, wavering breaths. Her legs threatened to give out beneath her. Her eyes stung as torrents of tears began to flow from them. She fell into her husband's arms./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 32px;""I'm sorry," she whispered. "It's just, it's too much. I—"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 32px;""It is okay," Cosimo replied. "Take breaths to gather yourself."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 32px;"Contessina sobbed into her husband's shoulder as he slowly helped her back to her room./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 32px;"Her heart raced./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 32px;"She remembered it like a dream./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; text-align: center; line-height: 32px;" align="center"-/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 32px;"They'd gone out for fresh air, she and Lorenzo. Party sounds filled the air, and their heads were heavy with wine. They'd laughed together and made too many incomprehensible jokes. Quickly they'd become the kind of friends one can only have if their senses are dulled by alcohol./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 32px;""Come, Cosimo," Lorenzo had slurred to his brother. "It is hot in here and there is much better conversation outside." He and Contessina giggled, red-faced. There was no one outside but the guards and late-night peddlers./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 32px;""Leave me be, brother," Cosimo brushed them off as he stared into the fire. "Take your air and let me have silence." Without a second thought, Lorenzo and Contessina made for the door./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 32px;"The night air was humid as two figures exited the Medici house and strolled into the street. The guards had tried to stop them, but they'd drunkenly promised to not stray beyond the safety of the house's fires./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 32px;""How can anyone stay inside when there is night outside?" Lorenzo spun in a circle with his arms outstretched, stumbling to his knees. Contessina laughed loudly as she helped him to his feet./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 32px;""You are too much, Lorenzo! You'll fall!"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 32px;"They both sputtered and laughed until their laughter became silent. Lorenzo turned to his sister-in-law and bowed deeply./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 32px;""Shall we stroll, Madonna?"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 32px;""Messer we shall," she said, linking her elbow with his. They wandered, arms bent together at the elbow, for nearly two hours. Their giggles and red faces became tipsy conversations as the alcohol exited their systems./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 32px;""When we sleep," Contessina started, "Do you think our souls leave our bodies briefly?"br /"No. I think, perhaps, it is the other way around. Our bodies leave our souls and wander to a place beyond."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 32px;""Where do they wander?"br /"I don't know." Lorenzo smiled a cheeky smile only the Medici could inherit. "I'm always asleep."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 32px;"Contessina glared at him through smiling eyes and dug her elbow into his side./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 32px;""You—"br /"Well well well, what do we have here?" a voice echoed through the alley behind them. In flickering firelight, three men immerged from the darkness./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 32px;""Good evening, messers," Lorenzo slurred, acting more drunk than he was. "Fine night isn't it?"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 32px;""Ah yes," another one of the men said. "A fine night for a stroll." The three men strode towards the pair. The tallest of the three wrapped his arm around Lorenzo./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 32px;""Yes, yes. A fine night." The man squeezed Lorenzo's shoulder roughly as though they were brothers in a feud pretending to be cordial in front of their grandmother./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 32px;""What can I do for you, messers?" Lorenzo's head swam. There was no response./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 32px;""I think I have a florin or two in—"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 32px;"The taller man quickly stepped aside and allowed the two other men to pounce on Lorenzo, first going through his pockets and then wrestling him to the ground./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 32px;""We have our eyes set on something else," the tall man said, setting his sights on Contessina./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 32px;""You don't want to do that," she said sternly./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 32px;""And why would that be, Madonna?"br /"My husband, and that man your harassing, are very powerful. You'll meet your maker before you can spend his pocket money."br /Rushing Contessina, the taller man took the clasp of her cloak between his hands and squeezed it around her neck./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 32px;""I'd like to see them try," he whispered in her ear. Contessina's mind sharpened. The world around her became brighter as the man's hand wrapped around her neck. Lorenzo was caught between the two thugs, his knife drawn and fighting against theirs. His head was now bleeding as he called for guards or anyone in the vicinity to come to their aid./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 32px;""Now," the tall man said, gripping her throat tighter. "What is a Medici whore doing wandering the streets of Florence so loudly? We could hear your squeals halfway to Rome." Contessina was quiet, conserving the small amount of oxygen in her body. The man ran his free hand up the side of her body in a way only a lover should. Contessina tried with all her might to force his hand away, but the man squeezed her throat tighter. She gasped, begging for air./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 32px;""Help!" Lorenzo cried into the seemingly empty city streets. "Guards!"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 32px;""Please," Contessina whispered. Her vision was blurred by darkening spots. The man released her throat and gripped her cloak in both his hands, pulling her face close to his. His breath stunk of alcohol and sin. Contessina turned her head away from him./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 32px;""No one can help you now," he hissed. "I've never had a noblewoman before." He quickly returned his hand to her throat and pulled a dagger from his belt. Contessina froze. Her vision darkened as she felt the cool metal of the blade against her neck./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 32px;""I'll see you in Hell, Madonna." Contessina could not close her eyes. Tears ran down her cheeks as the man set the knife at the neckline of her dress and began to saw through the material. As he moved his dagger, sharp pricks surfaced and blood ran down the woman's sternum, between her breasts, and onto her stomach. Her vision went dark./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 32px;"She felt her body slump and her knees and shoulders hit the ground. Yelling surrounded her./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 32px;"emI'll see you in Hell, Madonna./em The man's voice echoed in her mind./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 32px;""Contessina!" a familiar voice from far away seemed to whisper repeatedly. It became louder and Contessina felt air rush into her body./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 32px;""Get her home!" the voice shouted. She opened her eyes. A bloodied Lorenzo kneeled next to her./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 32px;""Contessina, wake up! Please," the man's eyes were wide. She closed her eyes again, overcome with exhaustion./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 32px;"Time passed and yet everything seemed still. A feeling of weightlessness came over the woman and for a moment she felt as though everything was a dream and she'd simply fallen asleep at a family party. Soon she would wake up in her childhood bed, the sun streaming through stained glass windows imported from far away./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 32px;""What happened?" a woman's voice exclaimed. Contessina was becoming more aware now but could not lift her eyes open./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 32px;""Thugs."br /"Where?" the woman pushed./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 32px;""Just around the corner, Madonna." Metal clanked against metal with each footstep of those around her./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 32px;""Lorenzo, what happened? I must know everything."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 32px;""We were just around the corner. Three men came from the alley. I offered them florins, but they drew daggers. From their fighting, they were soldiers or mercenaries of some sort. I could not see much, but she is not harmed in that way..." Lorenzo paused. Contessina could hear the tension in his voice and felt the air vibrate with it./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 32px;""Call for a physician," her mother-in-law's voice commanded./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 32px;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 32px;"Her head spun. In the hearth the fire burned and through the window the morning sun shone brightly. The hall outside was quiet. Her throat ached and burned. Slowly she raised herself from the bed and gazed at her reflection in the polished speculum metal mirror on the vanity. Her neck was a dark shade of purple and red. Looking at it for only a moment drew the breath from her lungs and she stood, unbreathing, for a time. She could not bring herself to look closer. To investigate the depth of the bruise./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 32px;"Quickly she dressed, turning away from her reflection. Before she could stop herself, she was walking the empty halls of the house. Her thoughts were plagued with worries. Lorenzo? What would Cosimo think? Worse, what will Piccarda say? Most of all, she worried about her appearance. She could easily hide the cut on her chest from the outside as she had hidden it from herself this morning. She could not so easily hide her throat from unwanted eyeing./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 32px;"Before turning the last corner, Contessina took a long and painful breath to gather herself. As she entered the room, she met eyes with Lorenzo. His face was swollen and the large gash on his forehead had been tended to./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 32px;""Good morning, Contessina," Piccarda said from the head of the table. Contessina's voice was hoarse and, though she tried, she could not gather enough sound to form a response. She smiled and nodded in return. Lorenzo attempted to stand to pull out her chair but the wince on his face told her he felt worse than she. She held up her hand to stop him and he did not protest as she pulled out her own chair./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 32px;"They sat in silence. Giovanni had left early that morning to attend meetings and Cosimo had yet to return from his dealings regarding the night before. Piccarda glared at the two as she ate./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 32px;""I'm going to take this opportunity, beings neither of you are in any shape to speak, to say this. While I'm very pleased both of you managed to survive, what were you thinking?" Piccarda's voice shifted from sarcasm to cold anger. "Of all the idiotic things you've done, Lorenzo, this is near the top of the list. And you, Contessina! Do you not care about the shame you could have brought our family? Or even your own! I've sent word to your father to inform him of your safety. Were you ten years younger, I'd have you both flogged. The ridiculousness of it all."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 32px;"Lorenzo and Contessina stare into their laps, stealing side-eye glances every now and then. Contessina cannot remember the last time she was scolded, especially for something so serious as her attempted murder./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 32px;"Loud footsteps stomped through the halls. Cosimo entered, guards following him, dusty and dirty with a bloodied arm./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 32px;""I've sent their hands to Father at the Signoria and the rest of them to cells to be dealt with." Cosimo spoke this to his mother. He did not look at his brother nor his wife./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 32px;""Who were they?" Lorenzo asked./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 32px;""Here from Naples. I got no more than that." Cosimo still looked to his mother. "I'm going to bathe and have this tended to."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 32px;"A long cut spanned the length of his arm./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 32px;""Cosimo—" Lorenzo followed him out. Muffled voices became shouts as Lorenzo followed Cosimo through the house. Their conversation ended with the slamming of a door./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 32px;"Contessina picked at her breakfast, unsure if she would be able to eat it. She raised her hand to catch the attention of a maid./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 32px;""Perhaps some broth," she whispered./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 32px;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 32px;"Cosimo did not seek out Contessina after breakfast. Her mother-in-law stated to her that she was to rest until her voice returned and the swelling in her neck decreased. She had not noticed it during breakfast, but her breathing was labored as she strode the halls of the house./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 32px;"The hours of the day rushed by as she lay on a settee in front of the fire in the sitting room. Her body urged her to sleep but she could not bear to close her eyes. She could hear the sounds of men fighting in the crackling fire. When her eyes shut she could see the reflection of firelight off the dagger that tore her dress./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 32px;""Dinner, Madonna?" a maid quietly asked from the doorway./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 32px;""I am not hungry," she whispered in response. "Have some broth brought to my room." She did not have the voice for pleasantries, but she smiled at the maid as she answered. Slowly Contessina rose, her body aching as she did. She cuts on her chest screamed but she ignored them./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 32px;"Slowly heading down the hall, she caught sight of Lorenzo heading towards her./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 32px;""Dinner?" he asked softly. She shook her head, and he nodded in understanding. They stood silent for a moment. Tenderly, Contessina wrapped her arms around her brother-in-law in thanks./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 32px;""We are emboth/em lucky," he said. "Had Cosimo not taken a stroll of his own, who knows what would have happened."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 32px;"emCosimo had been there?/em Lorenzo squeezed his sister-in-law's shoulders and walked towards dinner./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 32px;"She did not wish to sleep yet she had to fight it harder and harder as the minutes passed. Contessina paced her room, arms hugging the sleeves of her nightgown. The fire crackled loudly but she could find no noise louder than the voices in her mind./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 32px;"emI'll see you in Hell, Madonna./em/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 32px;"Cosimo had been there yet he did not seem to care about her safety or wellbeing when he'd returned that afternoon. Perhaps he'd seen she was alive and that was enough. Perhaps he was furious with her and wished to never speak to her again./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 32px;"Pacing was becoming too much and her breathing labored. Contessina sat in front of the fire on the floor and stared into the flames. Something about the way they dance allows her to escape into her mind and ease time's passage. She thought of the first day she'd met Cosimo. How he'd scolded her in the hall and then kissed her as if they'd been lovers and not newly acquainted. It had been strange. If he'd been any other man, even Ezio Contarini, she would have thought it appalling. With Cosimo, though, it was sensual in a way she could not understand./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 32px;"She thought of the way her father had looked upon her during their wedding. Joy and approval masked a deep sadness his eyes could not hide. When he'd said his goodbye that night he'd hugged her and kissed her cheeks, allowing his embrace to linger./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 32px;""Be well, Contessina," he'd whispered into her ear as he kissed her one last time./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 32px;"Contessina closed her eyes and longed for the memories of her father to stay./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 32px;"Cosimo slowly entered the room of his wife. She had not been at dinner as he had expected. Worried he'd wake her, he opened the door as quietly as he could. In the flame-lit room, he could see her silhouette sitting before the fire./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 32px;""Contessina?"br /The woman darted up from the floor, her stance rigid and defensive./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 32px;""Hello, Cosimo." Her voice sounded as though she were underwater—far away and strained. Contessina prepared herself for the same treatment Lorenzo received. She readied herself for shouting and to allow herself to go undefended./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 32px;""How are you?" he asked. Contessina shrugged, saving her voice for more pressing manners./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 32px;"She was backlit by the fire. Her features were shadows to Cosimo./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 32px;""The physician says there should be no permanent damage," Cosimo's voice was cold, almost unpredictably uncaring. Contessina nodded in response. She was not aware that she'd been seen by a physician. Her husband took small steps towards her. Contessina squeezed her fists behind her back, fighting the overwhelming urge to flee./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 32px;"Cosimo plopped down on the floor where Contessina had been gazing into the fire as if he were a child./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 32px;""May I join you?" he asked, looking up at the woman, her back illuminated by the light. Without a word, Contessina returned to her place on the floor. Gazing back into the fire, she prayed to the memories of her father to return and to help her escape the moment. She felt her husband's eyes on her, but she urged herself not to meet them./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 32px;""Does it hurt?" the man asked after several moments of silence had passed. Finally, Contessina turned to him, meeting his eyes fully./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 32px;""Very much," she whispered. Cosimo took her hand in his and kissed her knuckles once and then turned it and kissed the inside of her palm./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 32px;""Your arm?" Contessina asked, tracing the clean bandages from her husband's wrist to his shoulder./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 32px;""It is nothing." Contessina furrowed her brows./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 32px;""Simply a scratch. Not as bad as it looks. My bath washed nearly all evidence of it away. The bandages are just for tonight." Cosimo took his wife's other hand and kissed it before returning them both to her. They sat in silence again./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 32px;"Contessina blinked slowly, cherishing the rest that came with each closing of her eyes. Hours seemed to pass during the span of only a few minutes./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 32px;""And your other wounds?" Contessina turned her head to her husband's question as fast as she dare. Though she knew exactly what he spoke of, the burning and aching cuts on her chest, the thought of him knowing about them, knowing what their intention was, was too embarrassing. She contorted her face into confusion./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 32px;""The cuts." Cosimo's voice was matter-of-fact./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 32px;""It was nothing," Contessina whispered. "I'm fine. Unharmed."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 32px;""It was not nothing, Contessina," Cosimo pushed, his voice rising. "I saw—"br /"Just as this was nothing?" Contessina grabbed her husband's arm, expecting him to wince. He did not react./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 32px;""This is not the same," he responded. "This a scratch. Not all the blood on my sleeve was mine. I saw your dress, Contessina." Cosimo's voice went quiet./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 32px;""I saw you there, on the ground. I saw the clean cloth of your dress cut and stained with your blood. Stained with only your blood. That is not nothing."br /Contessina inhaled deeply. There were too many thoughts for her to comprehend. He'd been there. He'd seen what she herself had not seen. She had not seen the remnants of her dress from the night before nor had the thought of it even crossed her mind. Instinctually, she brought her hand to her neck./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 32px;""Show them to me," Cosimo commanded softly. Contessina was taken aback. Her husband had never been one to not speak his mind, but he'd always been aware of decency. He toed the line but rarely crossed it./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 32px;""Let me see what that man did to you." Embarrassment came over the woman. Her husband had seen her figure before but showing him the cuts forced her to bare a naked form he'd never seen./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 32px;"Fighting herself, Contessina slowly untied the lace of her nightgown. Looking down caused her enormous pain, but she looked down at the open space between her body and the fabric and saw the cuts, deep and surrounded by pinpoint bruises that would soon swim in pools of yellow./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 32px;""They are nothing," she said, pushing the shoulder of her gown awry and allowing it to fall to her arm, exposing her chest. Cosimo took a small step forward as he took in the extent of his wife's injuries. He'd expected many small cuts, the way a child butchers their first kill. These were three cuts, smaller than he'd expected, but deep as any battle wound he'd experienced. The first, and shallowest, just at the center of her sternum. Not likely to leave a scar. The next, and deepest, at the bottom of her sternum just between her breasts, and the last a small gash below it./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 32px;"Cosimo forced himself to not let his mind wander to what could have been and to stay in the present. He took the sleeve from her elbow and pulled it back onto her shoulder, feeling the goosebumps on his wife's arm./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 32px;""You are cold." He went to the hook where her night robe hung as Contessina retied her gown and stepped back to the fire, absorbing the warmth she hadn't realized she was lacking. She felt the weight of her robe on her shoulders as her husband helped her arms into the sleeves. He turned her around a tied the belt./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 32px;""Better?" he asked. His hands now moved to the collar to untuck loose bits of fabric stuck in an odd. Contessina's heart flew from her chest, beating thrice the speed of light. The feeling of the man's hands on her throat flashed under her skin. The air escaped from the room. Her vision was dark./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 32px;""Contessina?" Cosimo's worried voice said from some far-off place. She couldn't hear him. She found herself hurrying out of the room, down the hall, and toward the courtyard. She needed air./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 32px;"Cosimo yelled at her down the hall, following her every step. She barreled down the steps, nearly collapsing as she reached the bottom. She braced herself on a pillar in the courtyard./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 32px;""Contessina?" Cosimo had caught up with her. "Contessina, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have…"br /Contessina held up her hand to silence him. She took quick, wavering breaths. Her legs threatened to give out beneath her. Her eyes stung as torrents of tears began to flow from them. She fell into her husband's arms./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 32px;""I'm sorry," she whispered. "It's just, it's too much. I—"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 32px;""It is okay," Cosimo replied. "Take breaths to gather yourself."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 32px;"Contessina sobbed into her husband's shoulder as he slowly helped her back to her room./p