Cesare froze in his tracks as the foreign tone of his wife’s voice shattered his thoughts while the image of his encumbered love shattered his world. Lucrezia is… with child?
Lucrezia felt as if she had seen a ghost. Had it not been for the unwelcome sight of her sister-in-law she would have been sure she was dreaming but alas the moment that had been long awaited and long overdue was here and yet everything felt wrong. Charlotte should not be here and Cesare should not have learned of Lucrezia’s condition like this. Despite the situation laid before them, the younger Borgia knew that a front must be displayed for the sake of their guest, as well as their love to which her brother’s wife was not privy.
“Sister! How joyous an event to receive you. Shame on my brother for not announcing your arrival, had I known I would have been properly dressed.” Charlotte stood in utter bewilderment at the sight before her. As Lucrezia Borgia effortlessly crossed the room to fetch herself a dressing gown she felt herself grow red with foolish shame and envy. The woman before her was a vision. La Bella herself even in her fecund state. The glow of her pregnancy shone brightly on her smooth alabaster skin.
“I am sorry to intrude Holy Daughter. We did not mean to disturb your peace. My husband ran off with such vigor he did not give word as to where we should go.”
“Nonsense Charlotte, call me Lucrezia. We are family after all. I was just trying on my new dress. The dressmaker has fashioned me a lighter ware for these dreadful Roman summers. I trust France is much kinder.” Lucrezia kindly dismissed the dressmaker as she secured her robe closed.
“Our weather fares well my Lady-eh Lucrezia.” His younger half smiled warmly at the French woman but Cesare cringed inwardly at the saccharin expression. His love was livid, at his wife, at the situation, at him. An intruder in her den, Lucrezia Borgia was not to be treaded on. Cesare was displease with his rash decision, his poor planning and his unwanted company but nothing displeased him more than the sight of the man who entered his Love’s chamber, uninvited and circled her in his embrace along with his entitlement. Who was this man who dared lay his hands on his heart’s desire?
“Ah My lovely betrothed! I see they have arrived, rumors have proven to be true once again.” The young duke winked at Lucrezia as she caught on to its double meaning and lightly placed a hand on her stomach, as she stayed complacent in Alfonso’s arms. “It is good to finally put face to name Lord Borgia.” The son of Ferrara extended his hand for Cesare’s but the older Borgia could not pry his eyes and the look of betrayal they held within away from Lucrezia’s. Her heart crumbled to dust at the pointed accusation. She had not left him. She had not found another and started life anew. No, this had been thrust upon her. Much like every other decision Lucrezia held dear in life and yet somehow Cesare Borgia felt dignified in his righteous indignation.
“I’m afraid you have me at a disadvantage.” Cesare captured Alfonso’s hand in firm validation and false acceptance. Neither lost on Lucrezia’s future husband. How jealously makes men unravel.
“Alfonso D’Este, Lord Borgia. Duke of Ferrara.” The very name that had passed through Alfonso’s lips had left cold blood in Cesare’s veins and absent words on Cesare’s tongue. This was the man Cesare had chosen for his love. Once thought of as nothing more than prospective ally had now turned into inevitable brother-in-law. A task he had not thought to occur thrice in his lifetime. How easily dreams shattered in the face of reality.
“Please to make your acquaintance Lord D’Este. Allow me to introduce my wife, Charlotte Borgia of Albret.
“My dear, your pulchritude is disarming, such beauty can only be rivaled by my betrothed.”
“As your charm rivals my husband Lord D’Este-”
“…Alfonso, you are too kind my beauty pales in comparison to Lucrezia Borgia.”
“A sentiment I cannot deny. Perhaps my men could help escort you and your lovely daughter to your rooms.”
“I’m sure my husband can assist in that task.”
“I have no doubt my Lady however since we are soon to all be family I don’t see why he should object?” Cesare had not bothered to take note of the trivial banter between the two as he was having a different conversation entirely with the light of his life. Her eyes held such sorrow for him, such remorse. Trapped like a prisoner in her soon to be husband’s arms he felt his stomach tighten. He could not pull his eyes away from her stomach and the hand that tenderly held it. Was this his child? Had she already bore a child for this insufferable man and his cool temperament? How long had he been away?
“Yes?” Cesare looked up at the expectant eyes of his wife and soon to be brother-in-law.
“Do you object?” Alfonso flashed a disarming smile that only left discourse in the older Borgia’s stomach.
“No, of course not.” He wished he had made some effort to listen as the disappointed look on Charlotte’s face told him he had made the wrong choice. Once escorted out of Lucrezia’s chambers all that was left was the older and younger Borgia.
The heavy chamber doors echoed throughout the lavish room and yet neither moved, afraid of the other.
“Is the child his?” Cesare stood stoic and cold as his spine rigid itself in preparation to resist his desire for her. What he didn’t prepare for was the abrupt sting of Lucrezia’s hand coming across his face and leaving a red mark in its wake.
“How dare you! Come in here with you’re accusations!” Lucrezia went to swing twice when her beloved caught her arm and she relished in his embrace. Heavens, how sorely she missed his touch.
“What would you have me think?”
“How long have you shared my bed?” Lucrezia’s words cut Cesare as the stark realization dawned upon him.
“The child is yours my love.” A single tear rolled down the apple of her cheek as it disappeared into the crease of her lips.
“My god!” Capturing his love’s face in his hands, the older Borgia crushed his lips to hers. They melded perfectly to his and he couldn’t even begin to wonder how he ever survived those months without her. How he left her and his child to survive on their own in the grips of Rome.
“Why did you not send for me sooner?”
“What could I possibly say? The world believes this child to be my late husband’s.”
“Cesare please.” Lucrezia pulled her brother further into the room away from prying ears that surely rest on the Vatican’s doors and walls.
“Does your soon to be husband think this?”
Cesare searched Lucrezia’s eyes for a deeper meaning and was dismayed when he landed upon truth.
“I know not. This man is unlike anyone I’ve ever met.”
“No, I think he wants something from me but doesn’t say…at least not what he means.”
“It was foolish of me to even suggest this to father. I will go and correct my mistake.”
“Cesare!” Lucrezia pulled on her older half’s arm, preventing further moment. “Do not be daft, the arrangement has already been made. We cannot let him leave with this knowledge free to leverage it to whomever he wishes.”
Cesare pulled his arm away from his love as he huffed and paced back and forth frustrated with the situation. He had gotten cocky. His bravado and arrogance had threatened them greatly and what was worse was it put Lucrezia in the crossfire. Now they had no choice but to work with the indelible duke.
“Peace brother,” Lucrezia reached out and cloaked her presence around Cesare’s biceps. “Focus on the joyous occasion. You are home and we are with child. Nothing else matters.”
He wanted to believe that, by god he did. However he couldn’t remove the dread from his stomach much like pitch from hellfire. How would he fix this? How could he save them? The dreams of their wishful fishing village seemed so perfect at this moment but it was no longer an option, trampled by his ambition and lack of foresight. Whatever the future held he did not know but steadfast they had to remain, there was no direction but forward.
“I am more concerned with other pressing issues.” Now it was Lucrezia’s turn to correct her posture as a cold chill filled the room matching her demeanor.
“What issue my love?” Cesare followed her across the room as a scolded child would now afraid at her lack of affection.
Cesare grimaced at the answer and knew it to be too hopeful that Lucrezia would let her arrival be quietly accepted.
“What?” Cesare’s apology was cut short as Lucrezia’s temper grew in its place.
“You will not apologize to me. I do not accept that. You will however fix it. We cannot fight two fronts of unwanted company both at your behest mind you. What were you thinking?”
The older Borgia felt foolish for letting this careless blunder grow out of hand as he knew Lucrezia was right. It was bad enough having to be careful of Alfonso but to add Charlotte to the mix, an even more precarious situation as her presence was one to grant the protection of Rome.
“I let love blind me. I did not think I only acted and for that please forgive me. Had I known the entirety of the situation I would have been more careful.”
“You should have been regardless of the situation Cesare. Send her home.
“I can’t do that. Charlotte’s demands were to be brought here in my return.”
The wife who makes no demands?” Lucrezia’s words were curt and scathing. This is not the reunion Cesare wanted at all. He was supposed to hold his beloved in his arms all while he ravished her. She was cold and distant.
“Lucrezia, I came back for you.”
“You left for her. And now you won’t send her away. The only way I can see to fix this is to leave for Ferrara once the child is born.”
“You will not take my child from me.”
“No I can’t, but Holy father can.” Cesare’s eyes filled with rage at Lucrezia’s threat. What exactly was her intent in enraging him? Had his apologies not been enough? Did she want him to beg?
“What would you have me do?” Cesare stepped behind his love and held their child gently desperately wishing her warm embrace would return.
“Fix it.” The chilling air remained as Lucrezia walked away from him and opened the doors to her chambers to let her maids in to help her get dressed. Cesare could no longer muster any further conversation with prying ears and instead was left to leave the room that felt as if it could crumble to dust. Before the doors shut once more behind him he heard her voice ring out, “You have until its birth.”
