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and adored by her worthy husband as much as I adore her. May you find riches in both gold and in love.” Everyone raises their glasses and drinks. “Now let’s have the young couple dance for us before we dine.”
    Alfonso sweeps me out onto the ballroom floor, and we perform the bassa dance. I feel for the first time that no one’s watching me. The only person who seems important is holding me in his arms. Time flashes by; the night’s a blur of clinking glasses, music, and laughter. I’m free and flying for the first time in my life. The forgotten sense of hope results in a perpetual smile, and I’m lit up from within.
    Father gives another toast at sundown. “It’s the twenty-fourth hour, and it’s time to say good-bye to our newlyweds. Our night will go on drearily while they partake in virgin glory. Good luck to you, my new son!”
    The drunks laugh heartily at this, but even his vulgarity can’t penetrate the happiness I feel.
    Alfonso escorts me up to our suite, and we walk out on the balcony together overlooking the same courtyard Cesare’s tainted for me, but nothing can be ugly next to his beauty. The sun’s red and low in the sky, basking us in a vibrant glow. He smiles at me, and I see a slight space between his front teeth that warms my heart.
    He leans into me and asks, “How can it be that I’ve only known you for a day?” He picks up my long braid and brings it close to his mouth. “When I look in your eyes, I do not see a stranger.”
    I search his eyes, eyes that have known me much longer, and he bends down to kiss me, satisfying the waiting of what feels like a hundred years for such a kiss.

Chapter 8
    Even with Perotto’s passionate meetings, I’d always felt an emptiness inside that Alfonso seems to spill into and warm. One look, one touch, one laugh is enough to brighten any day, and every day with him is plain and wonderful. When we leave to Aragon, I don’t even cry. He’s all I want, and wherever he’ll go, I’ll follow. Sancia also becomes another great happiness to me. Whenever Alfonso’s off hunting or traveling, she stays with me, and we stroll among the gardens and practice our courtly dances.
    “Lucrezia, Cesare’s messenger came yesterday while you and Alfonso were, how shall I say, indisposed.”
    I throw my cap at her.
    “Isn’t that when you were occupying Jofre?”
    She snorts and glares over at Jofre climbing a tree on the far ground. “He’s too busy occupied with his toys. So sad, really.”
    I feel badly for her being with such a child.
    “Here is the letter. Read me the words of his magnificence.” She rolls her eyes.
Your Beatitude,
It has been a month since your wedding, and neither Father nor I have heard from you. It is not like you to forget your family in such a way, and I may have to make a visit out to check on you if I don’t get word within days. You seemed quite pleased with our choice of Alfonso for you, so much so you forgot to dance with me. However, I’ll forgive you, sister, if you promise to write and visit us soon. No female pleases me in the way that you do, and I hope Alfonso’s dashing looks do not keep you so entertained that you forget your brother.

Give Sancia a kiss for me.
Duke of Gandia
    “Duke of Gandia! He writes that as if he didn’t steal it!” Sancia grabs the letter out of my hand, tears it into a hundred pieces, and throws them up in the air, spinning around under the paper snow.
    When she sits back down, she says, “Nothing pleased me more than watching Cesare watch you and Alfonso dance. The look of jealousy in his eyes, his pure contempt of your unexpected happiness, oh, it was a fine night! I think it was the first time Cesare didn’t dance with anyone!”
    “I didn’t even notice what Cesare was doing. I was too busy staring at Alfonso.”
    “That’s what angered Cesare the most. He wasn’t the most amazing man in the room. Alfonso’s light had outshone his, and he thought he had won that in