2. This painting’s not too bad. Though it could stand to be replaced… Viola had busied herself taking inventory of her husband’s belongings for the past few days and the more she found, the more she was convinced the house was due for a renovation. At the very least, a good scrubbing and airing out. She had already made several plans to update the rooms with her personal touch once Niccolo received his title and lands and the family was rich once more. She had been shocked to discover the true state of the family funds when she moved in; they barely had enough money to keep the house running!

3. Her thoughts were interrupted by the front door opening. Viola turned to see Giacomo enter, carrying his schoolwork. She waved at her stepson and he forced a smile in return. Giac quickly marched past Viola, refusing to meet her eye. He behaved cordially towards her for the sake of appearances, but Viola knew he wasn’t happy to have someone replacing his mother.

4. “Giacomo, wait please. I wish to speak with you.” Viola followed him into the next room. Giac arranged his papers on the desk for as long as he could before turning to answer. “Yes, Viola?”

5. “What would you say if I told you that, in a few weeks, you will be able to live at your school? With other boys your own age!” Viola nodded encouragingly, hoping that he would leap at her offer. Instead, Giac frowned, “Father says we don’t have enough money for me to live at school.”

6. “I know that’s what he said, but I’m talking about now! You’re how old? Seven, eight? Plenty boys your age will be leaving home about now so you can make lots of friends!”

7. Giac rolled his eyes and brushed past Viola, speaking over his shoulder as he left. “Je suis onze ans. Et je ne veux pas vivre à l'école. Je me plais ici.” * Viola cringed upon hearing Giac speak to her in French. She had heard him talk to the little one in French a few times, but this was unacceptable. * French: I’m eleven. And I don’t want to live at school. I like it here.

8. Viola followed Giac all the way to the nursery and came in to see the boy singing a French rhyme with his sister. Frère Jacques, frère Jacques, Dormez-vous? Dormez-vous?Sonnez les matines! Sonnez les matines!Ding, dang, dong. Ding, dang, dong. She stood by the door, watching them without so much as a clue to what the rhyme actually meant.

9. When he was finished, Giac looked up to see Viola glaring at him. “Quoi?” He raised his hands in an innocent fashion, though he was secretly pleased to be frustrating the woman he privately referred to as l’intrus*. * French: the intruder

10. “Giacomo, answer a question for me: Where do we live?” He looked up quizzically. What an odd question! “Italy.” “Exactly! And what is the language of Italy?” “Italian?”

11. “Good boy.” Viola stood straight and looked down her nose at Giac. “Your mother may have been French, but you live in Italy and are Italian. From now on, I expect to hear no more of that odious language coming from your mouth. From this day forth, I will hear only Italian spoken in this household. Is that clear?”

12. Throughout the conversation, Alessandra had sat there, blissfully unaware of the power struggle occurring above her. Giac watched her as she stood up and toddled around in search of something to play with as a plan formulated in his mind. “I said, is that clear?”

13. “Perfettamente chiaro, matrigna.” * Giac stalked from the room as Viola sighed and forced herself to relax, glad that she had one this round. * Italian: Perfectly clear, stepmother.

14. Later that evening, Giac entered his father’s study cautiously. “You sent for me, father?”

15. “Ah, my boy! I did, I did.” Niccolo replaced a scroll he had been studying back on the self and beckoned his son to enter. “Come, let’s sit on the seat. I want to talk to you.”

16. Giac took his spot next to his father and waited for him to start the conversation. “Viola passed on some discouraging news to me today, Giacomo. She said that you would not respect her wishes when she asked you to speak in Italian.”

17. Giac’s mouth opened in shock, “That’s not true! I haven’t spoken French to her all day!” “That may be so, but you spoke only French to Alessandra the entire afternoon. Is that not so?” “Well…”

18. Niccolo looked sternly at his son, “Giac?” “I suppose it’s true, but it was only to Alessandra! Viola said nothing about that!” “Now, Giac. Please try to be understanding towards your stepmother. She isn’t educated like you! How would you feel if I spoke nothing but Japanese? She only wants to understand what is being said.” Giac hung his head in response to the scolding.

19. “Come stand here.” Niccolo pulled Giac off the seat and positioned him eye-level. “Promise me that you’ll listen to Viola from now on.” “Yes, father. I promise.” Giac’s face was blank but his emotions were smoldering inside. It simply wasn’t fair! Giac bowed quickly to his father before dashing from the room, nearly in tears. _ _

20. “Mother, I wasn’t expecting you this morning!” Viola exclaimed and pulled Margherita into a hug. “I’ve come to check up on you.” Margherita answered and held her daughter at arm’s length to look her over. “You look pale. How are you feeling?” “Fine, fine. I suppose everything is going well.” “So things between you and the children are good?” “Well…”

21. “Come, sit down and tell me everything.” Margherita pushed her daughter towards the window. Once they were settled in, Margherita leaned forward, “Start with the boy: Giacomo.”

22. “To put it plainly, mother, he hates me. Half the time he ignores me completely, and the other half he is purposefully antagonizing.” “Well what about your behavior towards him? Have you been kind? Have you talked much? Found out his interests?”

23. Viola sighed, “Yes, I’ve tried to talk to him, but before his mother died, she taught him French and that’s what he usually speaks around the house.” “Just our luck; looks like it’s too late for the boy to be on our side. How about the little one? The girl.”

24. “She’s quite young still and I think she will be more welcoming towards me. She has no memory of her mother, though Giacomo isn’t helping the situation much. He insists on teaching her French.” “And what are you going to do about that?” Margherita snapped. “I’ve already got it taken care of. I’ve insisted that only Italian will be spoken and Niccolo backs me up one hundred percent.”

25. “Good, good. Though I think the best course of action would be to keep Giacomo from influencing his sister too much. Without him poisoning her opinion of you, it’ll be easy enough to assume the mother role in her life.” “I agree completely. As soon as we get some money, Giacomo is going straight to school. Permanently.”

26. “This whole situation does pose a problem, however. A rather large one you seem to be overlooking.”

27. Viola panicked for a moment but couldn’t think of anything she could be missing. “What are you talking about?” “Giacomo is set to inherit everything, Viola! When Niccolo is dead, you’ll be here only at the mercy of your ungrateful stepson! Did you ever even think what will become of you if he decides not to let you remain in his household?” Viola looked down sheepishly, “No, I hadn’t thought of that.”

28. “There is one solution, however. Are you pregnant yet?” “Mother!” “Answer my question. Are you? You’ve been married for a while now. Surely your husband has visited your chambers…”

29. Viola blushed and managed to squeak out her reply, “Yes. A few times.” “And? Any results?” “I don’t know…”

30. “What do you mean, ‘you don’t know’? A woman knows her own body, Viola.”

31. “I’m not sure. I-” Viola’s complexion paled suddenly. Her face became flushed and she stood. “I need the chamber pot.” She bolted out of the room, leaving Margherita staring questioningly after her daughter. Margherita stood as quickly as her stiff joints would allow and followed.

32. She came into the bedchamber to find Viola bent over her chamber pot, heaving her last meal into the porcelain container. She smiled smugly and waited for her to finish.

33. “Follow me.” Margherita turned quickly and went back out into the other room with Viola following on her heels.

34. “Sit down.” She commanded once they were back by the benches. Viola did as she was told.

35. “I am pleased to confirm your pregnancy, my dear.” Margherita said with a smile. “I have no doubt as to your condition, but I will send over a physician this afternoon to be absolutely sure.” “Are you serious, mother?” Viola asked nervously.

36. “Absolutely. You’ll need to go easy for the next several months; no strenuous activity and certain foods will have to be avoided. When I get back home this afternoon, I’ll have a list made up for you to follow. Oh, I’ll also copy down some recipes for you to follow to make sure it’s a boy.”

37. “Thank you mother, but why must I have a boy?” “Don’t be silly, Viola. It is imperative that your child is a boy. That way your future is secure; there is the possibility that he could inherit the estate someday and, even if he doesn’t, he will be able to care for an aging mother.”

38. Viola nodded in agreement to her mother’s instructions. “I should get going about now.” Margherita turned to leave. “I’ll send the physician over right away.”

39. “And the items you’re writing down for me?” “I’ll stop by again tomorrow.” Margherita answered and left with a wave. Viola remained sitting while her mother exited. She was looking forward to the physician’s arrival. _ _

40. It came! Niccolo gripped the letter firmly in his hand and eased himself into his desk chair.

41. He carefully turned the parchment over and over, admiring his name written on one side and the Medici seal stamped on the other. He broke the wax seal and read.

43. He read through twice to make sure he hadn’t missed anything. By the second time, Niccolo understood perfectly.

44. They’ve denied me! He gripped the page angrily and resisted the urge to tear it to shreds. If they think they can just give away what’s rightfully mine, they’ve got another thing coming! Even if-

45. Before he could plan out his next course of action, he was interrupted by a soft knock at the door. Curse that woman! She shows up at the most inopportune moments!

46. He stuffed the letter in a drawer and picked up a different packet of paper to scan while Viola came in. “What are you reading?” she asked, eyeing the pages suspiciously.

47. Niccolo glanced down to see what it was he had grabbed, “The latest avvisio, I guess.” “Is there anything interesting in it?” “No, not really,” he said quickly, trying to hide the fact that he had no idea what any of the articles talked about. He folded it up and tucked it away in the drawer as well. Viola watched him closely, “I heard you received a letter today.”

48. “That I did.” Niccolo stood and patted his wife’s stomach. “From whom?” “Don’t worry about it, dear. Just an old friend sending word of his nephew’s wedding.” “Oh,” was all Viola answered, not trusting her husband’s description of its contents. She looked over Niccolo’s shoulder to try to catch a glimpse of the letter, but all she saw was a drawer slightly ajar. Perhaps if he left…

49. “Isn’t it time for you to head off to school? Giac is waiting downstairs.” “I suppose you’re right,” he pulled himself up to his full height, unintentionally blocking her view. “You should take it easy today; maybe have your mother over for lunch in your rooms.” “That’s a wonderful idea.” She smiled sweetly and leaned in for a quick goodbye kiss. “Though I think she has plans. Perhaps I’ll invite Beniamino instead.”

50. From downstairs, Giacomo impatiently called for his father to hurry up. “Sure, sure. Invite whomever you like.” Niccolo hurried out of the room, not noticing that Viola made no move to follow.

51. She waited a few seconds until she heard his footsteps on the stairs before rushing to the desk and yanking the drawer open.

52. Immediately she set to rifling through the stacks of paper, searching for the letter that Niccolo had hidden from her. She found it lying underneath the avvisio and pulled it out. Turning it over, she saw the Medici seal and gasped. So he was lying! Beniamino will certainly be interested in reading this…

53. “Viola? I’m here for lunch!” Beniamino announced himself when his sister didn’t immediately appear to greet him.

54. “Oh, Beniamino, I’m so glad you could make it!” Viola ran out of her bedchamber to hug her brother.

55. “So what are you serving this afternoon? I’m starving!” he looked around eagerly for food, but didn’t see any. “Lunch isn’t important, Beniamino! See what I have here,” she pulled the letter from her pocket, “it came this morning for Niccolo.”

56. He snatched it away from her and opened it, “How did you get it?” “I took it.” Beniamino smiled approvingly and held his hand up for silence while he read. Viola watched as his eyes scanned the page and his expression grew angrier with each line.

57. When he finished, he thrust the page back to Viola, “This is ludicrous!” Viola carefully folded it back up and tucked it back into her pocket, “So it’s bad news?” “Didn’t you read it?” Beniamino asked irritably. “Well, yes, but I didn’t understand it. It seemed to me just local gossip.”

58. “Stupid girl, read between the lines! Guiliano De’Medici praised Niccolo’s teaching abilities and wished him “much success in his studies”. What does that say to you?” “That he thinks highly of my husband?”

59. Beniamino erupted with rage “Of course not! It’s his way of making sure that idiot husband of yours knows his place! He’s saying that Niccolo will never amount to anything more than a teacher; he has no hope of getting his title back!” Viola shrunk back from her brother’s angry gesticulations and spoke timidly “And the second part? Why does he talk about the wedding?”

60. “The Careggi Villa that the couple received as a gift was the Villa in question. It was taken from the Moretti family many years ago by the Medici as payment for large debts they were owed. It seems they took a liking to it and couldn’t stand to relinquish it. Everyone knows that what Il Magnifico wants, Il Magnifico gets.” Viola bowed her head in disappointment. “So that means no title? I won’t be una Baronessa?” “Of course not! Don’t be foolish; you’ll never be a baroness now!”

61. “But, but…” Viola floundered for words to describe the acute disappointment she felt. “There has to be a way to remedy this! I cannot remain the wife of a lowly schoolmaster for the rest of my life!” “And what do you suggest I do? I’m a merchant, Viola. Not a miracle worker! It looks like you’re stuck, honey.” “Wasn’t his getting a title a term of my marriage contract? Can we get out of it? Is a divorce possible?”

62. Beniamino looked down at Viola’s waist and smirked, “Not a chance now that you’re pregnant. I didn’t write anything in the contract about his title because his promotion seemed so imminent! As for a divorce, there’s no way our family could survive a scandal.” “So you’re saying I’m just stuck here? Wasting away as the wife of a nobody? I tell you I cannot manage it!” Viola stamped her foot crossly. “Stop it, Viola. You’re behaving like a spoiled child. You pressed for this marriage, now you must bear your fate. It’s God’s will!”

63. “You pressed for the marriage as much as I, Beniamino! You cannot abandon me here!” “There’s nothing I can do! I cannot advocate for Niccolo as I was not supposed to know about it in the first place!” Beniamino held his hands up and backed towards the door. “Don’t leave me!” Viola cried and began to tear up. With a last sympathetic look, Beniamino exited into the hall, “I’ll see what I can do, but don’t hold your breath.”

64. Viola slammed the door behind him, collapsed onto her bench, and let the tears fall. With Beniamino gone, she saw the hopelessness of her situation and could think of nothing to do but bawl. At least no one else was home to hear her.

65. “Good afternoon, Viola. How was your day?” Niccolo asked with forced cheer that afternoon once he had returned. He had spent the majority of his day debating with various lawyers and officials but had made no process on trying to argue his claim to the Villa. He was in a terrible mood, but tried to hide it from his wife and son.

66. “Don’t sound so agreeable, Niccolo. We have to talk.” Viola snapped at him as soon as he entered.

67. “Don’t take that tone with me, Viola. You don’t have to be so quick-tempered; what’s wrong?” “What’s wrong?! You tell me! I found that letter you hid from me this morning; you lied to me! It wasn’t just a friendly note! I know that you weren’t able to get your Villa back.”

68. “You went through my correspondence? How dare you, Viola! You have no right to involve yourself in something that is none of your business!” Niccolo unleashed all of his pent-up anger onto Viola. “None of my business, Niccolo? I am your wife and part of this family. What affects you affects me as well!” “You may be my wife, but I am the head of the family. As such, I am in charge of all the business and you are to stick to your wifely duties. Understand?”

69. “No, you understand me: the only reason my brother orchestrated our marriage was because he heard through a very reliable source that you were going to receive the title of Barrone. If you thought I actually liked you, you were wrong and now that the deal fell through, I know not what he will do.” Viola knew Beniamino wouldn’t intervene on her behalf, but Niccolo didn’t and she relished making him feel like he had been played.

70. “Now see here, woman. Who do you think leaked that oh-so-important information? I did! I was just as sure as you were that I would get it. It looks like we were both played.” With that, Viola’s entire argument fell away and she couldn’t find the proper words to respond with. “Well…I…You…you should not have lied to me!”

71. “I don’t care! From this day on, you are never to involve yourself in my affairs again and you will do well to remember that you are my wife now and part of my family. You owe your allegiance to me now, not your brother. Capisci?

72. “Yes I understand.” Thoroughly admonished, Viola hastened from the room in tears. Niccolo silently bade her good riddance and took up a knife to begin angrily carving a slice of turkey.

73. * * *

74. “What are you doing?” Alessandra asked Giac curiously when she came upon him scribbling away in a notebook.

75. When he saw his sister, he closed the cover and turned to answer, “I was doing sums. You know: arithmetic.” Alessandra looked longingly at the pages on the table, “I wish I knew how to do arithmetic.” Giac smiled slyly answered in a voice dripping with sarcasm. “You know the rules of l’intrus, Alessandra. She’s forbidden you to be educated.”

76. “I know that, mon frère*, but we both know that’s never stopped us before.” She looked up at him with pleading eyes, “Please teach me? Viola never has to know.” Giac pretended to consider her request for a few moments though they both already knew that his answer would be yes. He loved going behind his stepmother’s back and teaching Alessandra everything he could. Defiance was the only way he could endure her presence. “Just let me finish my exercises and I’ll meet you in your chambers in ten minutes.”

77. Alessandra gave a gleeful yelp and dashed off to smuggle a fresh pot of ink out of her father’s office. She had used up her last pot two nights ago while she was practicing her Latin.

78. “Do you still have paper left to practice on? And what about ink? Do you have any left?” It was already dark outside when Alessandra and Giac got around to holding their lesson. A very pregnant Viola had kept Alessandra running errands for her all afternoon and it wasn’t until she retired for the evening that they were able to meet.

79. Alessandra turned and began to sift through her trunk in search of her supplies. “I keep them in here, in the very bottom. I’ve got some paper left and my ink supply is doing well. I just acquired a new pot this afternoon.”

80. “Good, good. Get them out and we will start.” Giac busied himself lighting the candelabra on her sideboard.

81. When she was situated in the center of her room, pen poised above paper, Giac stood up and began to introduce her to the world of numbers. As usual, he chose to teach in French. In some sort of a silent agreement, the pair fell naturally into speaking their mother’s native language whenever they were alone. As often as they could, they met in secret to hold lessons. They both knew the trouble they would face if they were caught, but Alessandra couldn’t get enough of French, English, Latin, Greek, rhetoric, and now arithmetic.

82. Giac often teased her that she was becoming a genuine Humanist, but she didn’t care. She loved every minute of it.

83. Though she had retired early, Viola was woken back up several hours later with her first labor pangs. Clambering out of bed as quickly as she could, she shouted for her maid stationed in the next room to come to her attendance. Tonight’s the night. Finally!

84. Late the next morning the maid came into Alessandra’s room to wake her. Having spent half the night awake and studying, Alessandra was reluctant to get up.

85. “Come on, sleepyhead. There’s a surprise for you in your stepmother’s chambers.”

86. “A surprise?” That got her attention. “What kind of surprise?” She pushed back the blankets and swung her legs over the side of her mattress.

87. The maid held out her hands and pulled her out of bed. “Get dressed and come see. It’s a good one, so hurry!”

88. Alessandra set about to dressing as quickly as she could and, five minutes later, she was walking excitedly down the hall. When she got just outside the door, she heard a baby cry from within and she knew exactly what the surprise was.

89. “Come see the newest addition to your family, Alessandra!” the maid was standing at the foot of Viola’s bed, holding the newborn and beckoning for her to come look.

90. “How cute you are! But are you a brother or a sister?” she cooed and asked the infant in a silly tone.

91. “A sister.” Viola answered somewhat bitterly from her position on the bed. She had been assured repeatedly the past hour that she should be thankful for such a healthy baby, but she couldn’t help but feel disappointed that it hadn’t been a boy. Her mother certainly hadn’t been pleased either and was now tidying up in the other room in a vain attempt to calm her nerves.

92. “I like her,” Alessandra decided. “What’s her name?” “Well, little girl, the final decision is up to your father, but your mother here is leaning towards ‘Renata’.” Margherita came into the room and jumped straight into the conversation.

93. “She’s not my mother.” Alessandra answered grumpily. “She’s my stepmother.” “Don’t be ungrateful, girl. She may as well be your mother. She’s devoted her life to raising you properly.” Margherita reprimanded her sternly, causing the baby to start to cry. “See what you’ve done, girl? The baby hears your unappreciative attitude and doesn’t like it. You make her cry.” Alessandra turned away from Margherita, afraid to talk back. The woman was nothing short of daunting and she was terrified of being yelled at by her.

94. Viola sighed and pushed herself off the bed. “Give her to me; she’s hungry, I’ll wager.” Alessandra shied away from Margherita and offered an arm to Viola.

95. “Do you want help?” “No thank you.” Viola recoiled at her offer and brushed past to take the baby. She had her own daughter now whom she could focus on raising properly. Not like the ungrateful Alessandra who seemed to have it in for her. “Why don’t you run off and play or something.”

96. Alessandra shrugged and left the room, happy to get away from Margherita. Viola rocked Renata back and forth a few times, hoping to get her to fall back asleep. Luckily she did and Viola escaped having to feed her. Breastfeeding was a degrading business and as soon as Niccolo got back from teaching that afternoon she would insist they hire a wet-nurse. So far he had insisted his child remain at home, but Viola wanted to try to persuade him one last time.

97. “You should be stricter with that one, I’m telling you.” Margherita advised her daughter once Alessandra was out of earshot. “I do try, mother, but she just doesn’t like me. She’s not as bad as her brother, though. Everything he does is to antagonize me. And I’ve given up going to Niccolo for help; he is never on my side anymore.”

98. “Well I’m afraid that’s your fault, my dear. You should try harder to please him.” “I do try! Believe me, I do! But since that day with the letter, things haven’t been the same.” Margherita snorted, “That’s your fault as well, dear. You should have never gotten involved; leave the business to the men, I always say.”

99. Yeah, right. Just like you ‘left it to the men’ when you schemed to arrange our marriage?” “Don’t start with me, girl!” Margherita raised her voice, waking up the baby again. Viola looked in despair at her daughter, “And I suppose it’s my fault she’s a girl?”

100. “Of course it is! You didn’t take all of the tonics I sent over to ensure her gender. Next time you need to listen better!” Viola sighed and muttered “Yes mother”. She bent to pick up the baby, regretting her ignorance and resolving to follow her mother’s instructions perfectly next time.

101. Alessandra spent the rest of the night wandering around the house alone. The wails of the baby interrupted the usual tranquility of the house during the day and she wasn’t able to work on her arithmetic.

102. So she wandered aimlessly, entertaining herself the best she could. It was strange to have a baby in the house. Renata was a little foreigner residing upstairs, distracting Viola and ensuring the presence of Margherita who, at times, bustled around the house giving instructions as if she ran the household.

103. When Giac came home late that night, Alessandra’s spirits lifted and she ran out to greet him.

104. “Giac! You’ll never believe what happened today!” “What?” “Mother had her baby!”

105. Giac’s attention snapped to the doorway, from which he could hear the distant cries of an infant floating out. He was so shocked at the news that he missed Alessandra calling Viola ‘mother’.

106. He dashed past Alessandra and took the stairs two at a time.

107. “Viola? I just heard the news!” Giac entered her chambers and was greeted with an exhausted Viola trying to quiet down a squealing baby.

108. “Ah, Giacomo! Yes, come see your sister!” Viola spoke with relief that someone else had arrived. Margherita had left an hour ago and everything had gone downhill since. No matter what she did, Renata would not go to sleep! “She looks like father.” Giac answered blatantly. He made funny faces at the baby until she stopped making noise.

109. “Oh good, she likes you! Here, take her.” Viola shoved the baby into Giac’s arms and went straight to her mirror. Giac scowled at his stepmother’s back but rocked the baby anyway.

110. “I look frightful!” Viola lamented her appearance in the mirror while Giac tucked his half sister into her cradle. “As soon as I get a nurse hired for the baby I can relax a little. A good bath and a nice supper will be in order.”

111. Giac rolled his eyes and ignored his stepmother, turning instead to tuck a blanket tightly around Renata and tell her “Bonne nuit, bébé. Dormez bien!” * * Goodnight baby. Sleep well!

112. Hearing the French, Viola whirled around and shouted desperately, “Giacomo Moretti! If I have told you once I have told you a thousand times: there shall be absolutely none of that revolting language in this house! Especially not around my daughter!” Giac made a flippant gesture and turned to leave, “N’importe quoi!” * * Whatever.

113. “Giacomo, do not walk away from me! I am your stepmother; you must show me respect!” Viola shouted, though her efforts were futile. He kept walking, leaving Viola to vent her frustration to an empty room.

114. “Why must you be so irritating?” She shouted and stamped her foot, but Giac didn’t respond; by now he was long gone. At the end of her rope, Viola threw her hands up in surrender. God grant me the strength to handle this; I cannot go on much longer. Something has to change!

115. Alessandra had been waiting patiently at the bottom of the stairs for her brother to come back down. When he finally appeared from around the corner, she was relieved to see that he wasn’t scowling despite the shouting she had heard.

116. When he came down and stood next to her, she saw that his expression was much graver than she had originally thought. “Come with me; we need to talk.” Without saying a word, she followed her brother into the living room.

117. Giac took a seat on the bench in front of a cold fireplace and beckoned Alessandra to join him. She did and shrank back under her brother’s critical look. “When I got home a little bit ago, you called Viola ‘mother’. Why, Alessandra?”

118. Alessandra frowned but answered truthfully, “Margherita made me call her that. She was here all day, correcting my every move and constantly telling me that I should be grateful for ‘the sacrifices her daughter is making to raise me’. I just got so sick of her that I finally gave in.”

119. “Ah,” was all Giac could think of to say. He certainly felt sorry for Alessandra being stuck here all day with that hateful woman parading around the house as if she owned it! Alessandra squirmed around a bit on the bench. “Perhaps she’s right though; Viola has been kind enough and acted as a mother towards me. I should be grateful.”

120. “Never say such a thing, Alessandra! Our mother was kind, and beautiful, and smart, and fun! Much more than Viola will ever be.” “But you are lucky, Giac. You got to know her before she died. I haven’t even the faintest idea what she looked like, let alone how she acted! Father never talks about her.”

121. “You want to know what she looked like? Just look in the mirror! You have the same blonde hair and I bet you will grow up to be just like her some day.” “Is that a good thing?” “Of course it is, silly!” Giac pulled his sister close and hugged her.

122. “Tell me something about her?” “Alright. Well, she’s the one who taught me French, which I have passed on to you. She also loved to paint. She would paint all the time, sometimes angering father when he wanted her to take it easy.”

123. “I didn’t know that!”

124. “It’s true! Come with me.” Giac stood up and crossed the room quickly, stopping in front of a painting that had been hanging on the wall for years.

125. “Did she paint this?” Alessandra asked, looking up quizzically. She must have walked past it a thousand times but never truly considered who the artist had been.

126. “Yes, she did. Before you were born, there had been another little girl. She died when she was only a few hours old, but mother painted this to honor her memory.”

127. “Oh. Nobody ever told me.” Alessandra admitted sadly. There were so many things she had been missing!

128. “There a couple more hanging upstairs.” Giac took Alessandra’s hand and pulled her upstairs to their father’s chamber door. Standing in the hallway, he knocked a couple of times and, when there came no answer from within, he entered.

129. Alessandra followed behind timidly; she had never been in her father’s chambers before. On the wall opposite his bed she saw two portraits hanging side by side. “It’s you and father!” she exclaimed, recognizing the subjects immediately.

130. “Yes it is! I still remember sitting for that portrait so many years ago. I was about your age and it was right around the time you were born. In fact, it’s the last thing she painted.” “She was quite talented, Giac. I only wish she could have painted me before she died.”

131. “Don’t be sad! She is watching over us from her seat in heaven, guarding and guiding us. Someday you shall see her, but until then we must make her proud with what we do. Can you do that?” “Oui, je peux. * And I shall call Viola ‘stepmother’ from now on.” * French: Yes, I can.

132. “Good!” Giac leaned down for a hug and whispered in her ear, “Now, let’s go work on your arithmetic some more!” Alessandra agreed and happily the pair left for her room.

133. Niccolo crept quietly into his wife’s room, careful not to make a noise. It was quite late, later than he had anticipated being home, but he had taken on several more pupils to bring in some extra coin. He had had no luck in arguing his claim to the Villa and his next plan of action was to try to earn enough money to buy it back. So far he still had a long way to go.

134. He had received a message around noon informing him of the birth of a daughter. He crept across the floorboards, overjoyed to finally be able to see her. She was sleeping peacefully in her cradle, swaddled and healthy-looking. He bent down and gently caressed her head, thinking of how long since a baby had last been in the house. Watching her steady breathing made him realize what a delight it was to have a new child around. This time around, he promised silently, I won’t miss watching you grow up.

135. “Niccolo?” Viola cracked one eye open and saw him leaning over the crib. “Ssh, go back to sleep, Viola. I just came in to see the baby.” Niccolo tried to coax her back into bed, but she refused to listen and got up.

136. “She’s beautiful, no?” “Very!” he kissed her quickly on the lips. “What shall we name her?”

137. “Well, I would very much like to name her Renata.” Viola held her breath, hoping he would agree. “Renata?”

138. “Yes, it’s the Italian form of ‘Renee’ in honor of your late wife.” Niccolo couldn’t help but smile at her offer. “I would like that very much.” “Renata it is, then!” Viola matched his smile with one of her own, glad that he had accepted the name. She had meant it as a sort of peace offering between them and she hoped he took it that way. “Before you go to bed, though, I’d like to ask again about hiring a wet-nurse for Renata.”

139. “Now, Viola, I’ve already made my decision about that! I don’t want her out of the house. You know I missed many years with Giac and Alessandra; I don’t want to make the same mistake again.” “But Nic, it’s not seemly for a lady to breastfeed her own child! If I do I shall surely be a laughingstock amongst my friends!”

140. “Then it’s a good thing you’re not a lady! You’re the wife of a professor. Get used to it!” Niccolo stomped angrily from the room, not willing to listen to her persistent whining a minute longer.

141. With nothing else to do, Viola resigned herself to her fate and went back to bed. It seemed Niccolo would never listen to her, no matter how she tried to cajole him, and she couldn’t help but thinking that their marriage had been a mistake.