A horn sounded and the two riders began their gallop down the field, lances lowered. The sound of the horses' hooves was almost like distant thunder. The tip of Valiant's lance hit the direct center of Rafaello's shield. He struggled to stay ahorse, but lost his seat and went down with an audible thump. The crowd burst into laughter, for this was an old story to them and they knew no harm had been done the duke's heir by his best friend. The fallen warrior gave them a good-natured wave of his armored gauntlet, and it was then they cheered him and Valiant.

Aceline gasped, shocked, and pushed her way from the duke's box to run down onto the jousting field, shrieking at the top of her lungs. "Rafaello! Rafaello!" She turned angrily on Valiant, who had dismounted, and was checking on his friend. "Monster! If you have killed him I will kill you! How dare you win? He is your lord's son, and when we are wed you will be forbidden from the court, I swear it."

Valiant ignored her and knelt by Rafaello's side. "Are you all right?" he asked.

Rafaello laughed. "If you do not take into consideration my bruised bottom and my equally bruised ego, I'm fine. Help me up." He had already removed his helmet.

Valiant and a squire pulled Rafaello to his feet.

Aceline pushed Valiant away and clung to Rafaello. "You are sooo brave," she cooed at him. "I am so very proud of you. He took you off guard, else you should never have fallen victim to this coward," she declared vehemently.

Rafaello shook her off angrily. "Valiant and I have been jousting ever since we were small boys," he told her. "He is the better warrior and everyone knows it. How dare you call him a coward, you little shrew?" He pushed her away when she attempted to reattach herself to him again. "And how dare you make a spectacle of yourself here on a field of honor? You shame your family by your behavior."

Aceline burst into fulsome tears, but cleverly disguised her outrage at him by saying loudly for many to hear, "Thank G.o.d you are safe, amore mia!"

"I am not your amore," Rafaello snapped irritably. She was fair to the eye. She was of n.o.ble blood, but she was spoiled beyond redemption and had a sharp tongue. She was obviously determined to have him, no matter the cost. He was surprised she hadn't thrown off her clothing and had her way with him on the jousting field before all the spectators watching. "Valiant," he said to his friend, "you must crown your queen of love and beauty, having triumphed over me this day."

Together the two men turned away from Aceline and walked to Duke t.i.tus's box. The French girl, now in serious danger of being publicly embarra.s.sed, scrambled after them, attempting to make a trio. Reaching their destination, she reentered the box.

Duke t.i.tus gave her a sharp look of disapproval before turning to the two young men standing below him.

"It is time to crown the queen of love and beauty," he said, taking a wreath of gilded laurel leaves and placing it carefully upon Valiant's couched lance.

Valiant moved his stallion sideways but a foot or two and then offered the wreath to Louisa di Genoa. "Signorina," he said quietly, his blue eyes meeting her adoring ones.

With a blush and a murmur of thanks, Louisa accepted and slowly placed the wreath upon her dark head. A cheer went up from the onlookers.

"It suits you perfectly," Francesca said with a smile, kissing her friend's cheek.

"I've never been the queen of love and beauty before," Louisa said shyly. "Valiant should not draw attention to me. He should have offered the crown to you."

"Or me!" Aceline said angrily. "In birth I outrank you both."

"After that scene you caused upon the field you are fortunate the duke allowed you back in the box," Francesca said sharply.

"I was only showing my love and concern for Rafaello," Aceline defended herself.

"You are ridiculous," Francesca told the girl.

"He won't choose you," Aceline murmured. "You are barely polite to him. Ohh, I know all about how you scorned and turned down every suitor who came your way," she continued. "My father sought out information on both of the others chosen to be my rivals. He laughed when he saw who you both were. A b.a.s.t.a.r.da and a tradesman's brat. He said he did not see why Duke t.i.tus had not simply asked for my hand for his son, since it was obvious Rafaello would have no other choice."

"I know he won't choose me," Francesca said. "And, believe me, I shall be happy to return home to Florence, though my family will be disappointed. But I should not try on the ducal jewelry quite yet, Aceline. I suspect it will not fit your skinny throat."

"You had best beware of me, for I also know about Venice," Aceline threatened.

Francesca laughed. "I suspect most of the known world does," she replied. "It was quite an adventure, as I recall it."

"Stop it!" Louisa said. "You both shame us all by this quarreling. Are you so perfect, Aceline, that you dare threaten Francesca by repeating lurid gossip? I understand that your father has been shopping you around for two years now and has had no takers."

Aceline turned a bright scarlet, but she clamped her lips tightly together.

Francesca fought back her giggle over that fascinating bit of information. Louisa was correct, and this imbroglio between herself and the French girl must cease. Besides, Aceline was clever. She would turn their squabble so that she would appear the victim and put Francesca in a poor light. It wasn't that she cared, but old Duke t.i.tus was being so very kind to her. She did not want to disappoint him.

The summer moved slowly, and Francesca found she was actually enjoying herself. She had a friend in Louisa di Genoa, and she had never had a friend before. Bianca, her eldest sister, had gone away more than two years ago, and her two little sisters had just been too young. They had each other. The three girls rode out together daily into the beautiful forests surrounding the castello. They hunted with Rafaello, Valiant, and a few other gentlemen of the duke's court. They picnicked in the flower-filled meadows. In the evenings they danced informally, played cards, and sang. Oddly Aceline had a very sweet voice, but it did not, unfortunately, make up for her shrewish behavior.

Although Rafaello spent time alone with Louisa to take any suspicion off Valiant's attraction to her, and a little time with Aceline, it was Francesca who frustrated him. She managed to find more ways to avoid him. She would slip away into the forest with the two nuns who were her chaperones to pick berries. In the company of her serving woman, Terza, she would ride into the nearby village to make small purchases. She closeted herself with her women, and Father Silvio for hours on end. Sometimes Louisa was invited.

"What do you do?" he inquired of Louisa.

"Do? We do many things," Louisa said to him. "If you are curious, why not ask Francesca? I'm sure she would tell you. After all, what mischief can she get into surrounded by two holy women and a priest?"

"I would ask if I could corner her," Rafaello said. "Why does she avoid me?"

"Does she?" Louisa said innocently, eyes wide.

"Be careful, you devious wench," Rafaello warned her. "I could always tell my father I have chosen you for my bride." He gave her his best glower.

Louisa laughed. "I am no longer afraid of you," she said. "Valiant says you are a fraud. He says you are a very kind man, and I have seen incidents of it these past weeks."

"Have you indeed?" Rafaello answered her. Then he said, "She intrigues me, Louisa. I want to get to know her better, but she will not allow it. Why? Surely she is not still bedazzled by that Venetian popinjay who refused her."

"Gracious, no! She laughs about her time in Venice and tells us the funniest stories. It is her pride, Rafaello. She is offended to have been summoned to Terreno Boscoso for the purpose of being considered as your bride."

"But women have no choice in the matter of their husbands," he replied, surprised, although she had once told him much the same although in more colorful language.

"Francesca's older sister was wed at her parents' hand to a monster. I do not know all of the story behind it, but I do know when he died, Bianca-that is her name-ran off with the man with whom she was deeply in love. She is happy now. Francesca wants to choose her own husband," Louisa told him.

"But how can she fall in love with me if she will not at least take time to know me?" he asked. "You are a sensible girl. Speak to her, but do not say I asked it of you."

Poor man, Louisa thought to herself. I believe he might be falling in love with the mystery that is Francesca. "I will help you," she said.

In the morning Louisa sent word that she was feeling poorly and would not ride. Aceline du Barry found herself riding with Valiant by her side. "Get out of my way," she hissed at him. "I will ride by Rafaello's side, as I do every morning."

"He has ordered me to keep you by my side," Valiant lied boldly. "You allow him no time to get to know Francesca better."

"He knows all he needs know about her," Aceline responded. "She is the daughter of a low tradesman. Whatever you do, he will pick me in the end because I am of n.o.ble blood as he is."

"Her father is head of the silk merchants' guild in Florence, an important position in the second most important guild in that city. His wealth is great. Her mother is the daughter of one of the n.o.blest houses in Venice, the Veniers. She is hardly low."

Aceline was actually surprised. She had not realized that Francesca's family was so important or that she had n.o.ble blood in her veins. Her parents both had n.o.ble blood, but their wealth was spa.r.s.e. It was important that she make this marriage to Rafaello Cesare. It would add to the prestige of the du Barry family, and they could find a suitable heiress for her brother to wed. She said nothing more to Valiant and rode by his side without complaint. Making a scene would not aid her cause.

She already had a plan to entrap Rafaello, should he appear to be becoming interested in choosing anyone but her. Her maidservant, Oriel, had suggested it. It was a foolproof strategy that would leave him no other choice than to wed her. Aceline smiled.

Ahead of her Rafaello and Francesca were bickering over something.

"Why do you want to know?" Aceline heard Francesca say.

"Why do you want to keep it secret?" Rafaello demanded.

"What mischief can I get into with a priest and two nuns by my side?" Francesca said. "You are ridiculous."

"I hear riotous laughter when you are closed up in your apartments. Asking what you do that causes you to laugh so is no intrusion," he responded.

"Oh, very well," Francesca replied, sounding irritated. "We gamble. Annunziata just took her final vows, and Benigna soon will. They are not so far from the world yet that they have forgotten how to have fun, but as you surely know gambling is not allowed in the convent. We play cards and throw the dice for ridiculous wagers, like the Holy Father's undergarments or the King of Naples' throne. Sometimes Padre Silvio joins us, but his wagers are so innocent we laugh at him. Mostly he attempts to keep us honest in our play. There! Now you know my dark secret."

He was very surprised by what she had told him. He had not thought of her as a girl with a particularly active sense of humor. Her choice of activities was, however, very amusing. "I hope the good priest gives you all a proper penance for your unholy behavior," he told her. "Are you good with the bones?"

"I never lose," Francesca said. "My brothers taught me well."

"It is but a game of chance," he told her.

"For some who do not know how to throw dice properly, perhaps, but not for me. I know how to control those little ivory squares."

"Then we shall dice together tonight, you and I. What shall we play for?" he asked her wickedly.

"Kisses," she answered him. "Since I shall win, you will get none, so I do not endanger my virtue by offering them."

Rafaello laughed heartily. "By evening's end you will have been kissed most thoroughly," he promised her. Then he set his stallion into a gallop, and Francesca, taken unawares by his actions, quickly galloped after him.

She was surprised to find her heart pounding at his words. She had never been kissed but for one time in Venice when Enzo Ziani had angered her and she had flung herself at him and kissed him. He had not really kissed her back. She wondered what it would be like to be kissed by Rafaello Cesare. Well, she had to begin with someone who was at least interested in kissing her back.

The day was warm, and a fine sheen of moisture formed on her face and neck. The air caused by the motion of her horse dried it, but when they came to a halt in a lovely forest clearing it bloomed again. He lifted her from her animal and, taking her hand, began to walk with her. At first he spoke not a word. Then he said, "I am taking you to one of my favorite places. No one will find us for a while. Valiant will know where we have gone, but he will keep Aceline away."

"Don't you like her?" Francesca asked.

"She has n.o.ble blood, but there is something that tells me it is the prospect of being my d.u.c.h.essa that pleases her more than being a wife to me. I expect if I were ugly and crippled she would still pay me court. Do I like her? I think not, and certainly not enough to wed her."

"Then it is Louisa you will choose. She is a fine choice, Rafaello. Gentle, loving, obedient. Everything a good wife should be. I have grown quite fond of her these past summer months. Aceline will be disappointed, I expect."

"Will you be disappointed, Francesca?" he queried her.

"I did not expect you to choose me, Rafaello. I know what I am. Stubborn. Outspoken and quite determined to have my own way. I shall probably, as my mother predicts, end up as the family spinster." But even as she said the words, Francesca realized that she found them distasteful. And yet did she really want to wed at all?

"You are far too beautiful to remain a spinster," he told her.

"Is that all men look for in a woman?" she replied. "Someone beautiful? And after you have taken your pleasure is there nothing more a woman can offer to you? And if the chamber is dark, what matter if she is beautiful or ugly as long as the parts fit properly? And if a man demands beauty in his wife, should not a woman be permitted to request the same?"

He was astounded by her once more, and he laughed aloud again. "You have been told, I am certain, that you are a most outrageous maiden," he said. "I have never before heard a female voice such thoughts aloud, if indeed she even had such thoughts," he admitted.

"Oh, all women have such thoughts at one time or another in their lives," Francesca told him. "I really believe that most do not voice them aloud, but there is another of my thoughts. I seem to speak whatever I am thinking, Rafaello."

"I find it charming," he surprised her by saying.

"Then you are unique among men," she answered. "In most households I should be beaten for speaking my mind, and I should be admonished severely by the priest."

"You will make an interesting wife," he told her. "Ahh, here we are."

They came out of the woodland trail and there before them was a beautiful small pond fed by a stony brook. The ground around the pool was moss covered. In the center of the water a heart-shaped rock. There were two large willow trees, one on the far side of the pond and the other at its end.

"It's called Heart's Wish Pond," Rafaello said. "It's believed that a faerie with the ability to grant your dearest wishes lives in the pond. She has been seen sitting on the rock, combing her long silver hair in the light of a full moon. If you whisper your desire to her, seen or unseen, she may sometime grant you your wish if she considers it worthy."

"Have you whispered a wish to her, Rafaello?"

"Many times," he admitted.

"And were they granted?" Francesca wanted to know.

"Sometimes," he said with a small smile. "Today I shall ask the faerie to help me choose the right wife, and that my bride may come to love me."

"I have no wish to make," Francesca told him. "Make yours!"

He did silently.

Behind them there came the sound of voices as they moved through the forest.

"Quickly!" Francesca said. "Let us go back before Aceline can see this pond. I do not want her to view it."

He agreed and, taking her hand again, they turned back and walked away from the magical little area. Around a bend they met Valiant coming along, Aceline behind him, complaining that he walked too fast and that the briars were pulling at her hair and gown.

"There is nothing ahead but more woods, and I can see that your companion has had enough of nature this day."

"I certainly have!" Aceline said sharply, looking at Francesca to see if she was showing any signs of having been kissed.

Francesca smiled a wicked little smile back, convincing Aceline that she had been the little s.l.u.t the French girl thought. Rafaello had not kissed her at any time during their stay. Now Aceline wondered if he had possibly kissed Louisa and Valiant's interest in the girl had been a ruse to keep people guessing. She ground her teeth. She needed to win this contest. If she was sent home, her father intended to marry her off to a neighboring n.o.bleman. The man was twenty years older than she was, had bad breath, and wanted an heir desperately. He had offered to take her with half the dowry her father was willing to pay the Duke of Terreno Boscoso for his son. The man had already attempted to take liberties with her, Aceline recalled with a shudder.

"Wear your most beautiful gowns tonight," Rafaello said when they had returned to the castello. "I would make it a special occasion," he told them. And when he was alone again with Valiant he said, "Tonight I will choose."

"Which one?" his friend asked.

"You must wait and be surprised with all the rest," Rafaello said, "but I will keep my promise to you, Valiant. You shall have your Louisa."

Chapter 4.

Terza looked at Oriel, Aceline's maidservant, and said, "You have monopolized the women servants long enough. Elda and I need help with the preparations for tonight's announcement. Our mistresses are part of this too."

"But it is my beautiful mistress who this duke's son will choose," Oriel said smugly. "Be careful, girl, with that undergown!" she called out sharply to a little maid. Do you wish to iron it again?"

"Put the undergown there across the chair," Terza instructed the nervous girl. "Then go help Elda with Signorina Louisa."

When Oriel began to protest, Terza silenced the older Frenchwoman with a hard look and a sharp word. "Enough! I do not care which of them is chosen, but the other two will have the opportunity to look their best."

"Your mistress has the finest clothes," Oriel whined. "And the little Genoese may be born on the wrong side of the blanket, but her mother is loved and respected by her duke. They will have other chances for marriage. This may be my mistress's only opportunity."