Above it all
With: @sfcrca
Francesco had come to him full of concern, such was his sensitive disposition. Still, Piero had not rushed over to the Sforza’s like some out to spout condolences out of self-satisfaction nor those out to experience someone else’s grief as if were the latest spectacle. Piero had sent a simple note of few written words followed, after some days, by his calling in person. He had followed proper behavior though on his own honest terms, cold as they might appear to others.
The late Duke Ludovico had not been a favorite of Piero’s, though it wasn’t saying much given how little Piero favored anybody. However, the Duke of Milan had been someone else in his youth, someone better, and it seemed to Piero his children had been fortunate enough to inherit some of those good qualities. Only time would tell if they would amount to any better than their father, but for the time being they had potential on their side.
As the eldest, it was Lady Bona Sforza that Piero had come to call on. He was led into her sitting room by a servant, and upon his entering the premises Piero struggled to say kind words about her loss.
Instead, he declared, “Duke Ludovico Sforza leaves a great mess for you to deal with, it seems. My condolences to that.”