Author's note: Hi y'all! It's me again. I really thought their story was over... but it's not. Once these characters come to life, it's not even up to me! They just keep on going. And I like to think of myself as having the privilege to give their lives a voice and a place in the sun. Enjoy the second part of my story Delirium!

In this volume, Paolo's relationship with the Sforzas and with his daughter (spoiler!) comes to the front. I like the guy and want him to have a happy ending. Enjoy! - HerFrozenCharms

Part II - Chapter 1 - Family

'Come in, come in, my little girl!' Vanozza rushed over to rekindle the fire. 'Lulu is fast asleep, I take it?'

'Yes, mama.' Lucrezia took off her bright lilac shawl, and climbed into Vanozza's spacious bed. Whatever his attitude towards his mother-in-law on his wedding day a year and a half ago, lord Sforza was sparing no expense in hosting Vanozza, and the guest room he allotted her was no worse than her chambers in the Vatican, both in terms of size and ornament. 'For a while now. She's such a good baby.'

'I know.' Vanozza smiled to herself, climbing under the covers next to her daughter. 'I know. Six months old - and such a beauty already! Even Sforzas are not immune to her charms.'

'That's just what Papa said, after he reminded me he'll send me to a convent if anything like this happens again!'

Vanozza couldn't hold back a laugh. 'Your father has to try and maintain appearances. You know his bark is worse than his bite.'

For all of the Vatican's initial wrath at Lucrezia's misstep, it took little to persuade Rodrigo Borgia to pay a visit to Pesaro. Whatever his faults, there was never any doubt of the father of Vanozza's children, her companion of thirty years, and now the heir to Saint Peter embracing and welcoming the newcomer. Indeed, happy as Rodrigo was to find out that his son-in-law had decided not to send Lulu away to be raised at the Vatican (mainly for the sake of continuing the positive developments in his young wife's happiness and health, and, of course, in the hopes of raising many legitimate children with lady Sforza alongside the fruit of an earlier folly), an experienced eye quickly discerned the disappointment in the papal countenance.

'He was very happy, I think. And the way he spoke to Giovanni! It would have been so easy to just focus on us, but Papa really put Giovanni in the centre. Giovanni was so happy. He told me yesterday it felt like he was being welcomed into our family, along with Lu.'

'I dare say he's earned the welcome.' The compliment was genuine. After staying with the Sforzas for nine months, Vanozza frequently had cause to be elated at the progress the couple was making. 'I'm happy to have him as my son in law.'

'Oh, Mama.' Lucrezia put her arms around Vanozza. 'He's happy to have you too, you know.'

But Vanozza wasn't done.

Her disillusionment with Rodrigo, when it finally happened, had seemed irreversible and final. But rare is the woman who hasn't entertained the idea of winning back the favour of her former lover, after his infatuation has burned out. And Vanozza was not such a woman.

Rodrigo may have moved on to other women - but in the end, he always gravitated back to her. They were frequently thrown together at family functions, or whenever his Holiness needed a shot of confidence, or help with writing an address the night before he was due to give it, or to find out what his four children were doing.

There was still Giulia Farnese, of course - her bitterest, longest-reigning rival, designated to carry Lucrezia's wedding train while Vanozza was barred from even attending - but even she was now well on her way out.

She had played her hand well, Giulia Farnese, coming to Confession and begging to be absolved by the Pope himself, and then letting him see her mortify her flesh with silken cords in the palace where he had ordered her to stay out the course of her penance.

But now the enchantment had run its course, and Rodrigo was leaving, like he always did. Whatever the charms of his other lovers, none of them had what Vanozza had - Rodrigo's family to raise.

Whatever happened, something always brought him back to Vanozza. Fate always gave them gossip to discuss, problems to solve, wine to share and secrets to uncover. But Fate was known to appreciate a little bit of initiative to help it along.

After five minutes' comfortable silence, Vanozza decided to take her shot.

'There was just one person missing at our celebration, sweetheart, who I really would have wanted to see,' she whispered, moving closer to her daughter. 'Lulu's father, sweetheart. Where was he?'

Lucrezia blushed. 'Giovanni is Lulu's father, Mama.'

'Oh, yes. But she has another father. Her father by blood. Have you heard from him, dearest? Does he know?'

'I don't know, Mama. I don't think about him. It was nothing - nothing compared to what I feel for Giovanni.'

'Of course. But don't you think he would want to play a part in his child's life?'

'It's all in the past, Mama. I don't want to dwell on it.'

'Who is he, at least? Give us a rough idea. Mmm?'

Lucrezia fixed a lock of hair behind her ear, still not looking Vanozza in the eye. 'He's a groom, Mama. A stableboy.'

'One of lord Sforza's grooms?' This could complicate things. A child assumed to be high-born, though illegitimate, would, probably, be eventually accepted by the rest of the Sforza family. But the child of a stableboy? How would Cardinal Ascanio Sforza and the fierce and dauntless Caterina, Giovani's cousins, react to Giovanni raising the daughter of a stableboy?

It was fortunate, in many ways, that Lulu was a girl. The illegitimate granddaughter of a Pope would certainly be an eligible bride. Not for a Medici, or a Sforza like her adoptive father, of course. But any other distinguished family would be delighted to consider her - there were plenty of noble families in Italy, and, for that matter, outside of Italy. Lulu would surely have a good start in life, with a good education, and would be surrounded with love, unlike so many other illegitimate noble children, without ever posing a threat to any sons Giovanni and Lucrezia had together inheriting the Sforza name and titles.

'No. No, mama,' Lucrezia shook her head, clearly jumping at the chance to conceal some of the truth. 'Not one of our stableboys. He lives rather far away - with… with another lord. He's only been here once. That's how we met.'

'I see,' Vanozza conceded, deciding not to press further for now. 'Well, dearest, if I were you, I wouldn't keep him in the dark.'