Luciana paced back and forth in the cloistered garden of her father's villa, smoothing her hands down the long skirt of the dress he had bought for her to greet her prospective suitors in. Not that it mattered what she was wearing; after all, with his delightful blackmailing of her, she had no choice but to accept Cesare Romano. Whom she was waiting for now, of course. That is, she didn't have a choice. But there were ways she could try and convince him he really didn't want her at all.
There was a flap of sandals on stone, and she turned quickly, greeting her personal slave, Marcela, who pressed several freshly peeled cloves of garlic into her hand. Taking a breath, Luciana stuffed them all into her mouth, alternately chewing and pushing them around with her tongue, making sure every part of her mouth - and therefore her breath - was as pungent as possible. Let's see him try to stay a gentleman in the face of this.
Wearing the finery that his current mistress had so extravagantly purchashed for him, Cesare made his way up to the estate. The letters of marque as well as bank statements and an offering to the unwilling bride's father carried in a box under his arm. He stopped for a moment to pluck a dozen daisies, making sure to knock the bugs free of them. Before he knew it, leather soled wing tips were treading upon the fine gravel that led up to the manor, itself.
Squaring his shoulders as he approached the door, he lifted the knocker and rapped three times. Then he stood there, the epitome of Italian handsomeness with his dark curls slicked back, pitch black silk Armani with a tie to match his eyes. And that smile. Almost a smirk, but not quite so.
The head of the household slaves, and the factor who had put up the proclamations detailing Luciana's abilities as a prospective wife, answered.
"Master Romano," Perspicus greeted Cesare, bowing to him as he ushered him inside. "My master sends his apologies, but he is currently dealing with urgent matters of business, and states that you should avail yourself of the welcome of the young lady of the house." In truth, Paulinus was fed up of allowing these men to think they had a chance, only to see them run away after ten minutes with his unruly daughter.
Slight bow of his head when he was greeted and he followed the servant inside. "Any time I could spend with the lovely Luciana would be heaven." He smiled warmly, not once letting the facade slip. "Do you know when it might be possible that I may meet with your lord and master" I did bring my credentials." He showed the box, then tucked it back under his arm.
"I do believe he shall be done with his business in less than a half hour," Perspicus informed the lordling who thought he could tame the master's wild daughter. "I shall come to fetch you when it is so, if you still remain. This way, young master." He bowed again, and stepped back, leading the way towards the cloistered garden. On their journey there, they were passed by one rather alarmed looking young slave girl, who took one look at Cesare and rushed away, laughing.
"If I still remain?" He gave a purely curious look, though within he was chuckling. He could see why the over glorified butler would say such a thing. Two minutes under Luciana's acerbic tongue would have even the strongest of men running for their lives. "Very good." He bowed slightly and followed him to the cloistered garden. The sight of Luciana in a full length dress nearly took his breath away.
Luciana was already wincing at the burning foulness of her own breath when she heard the men approach, turning to greet Cesare with a long-suffering sigh hidden carefully behind her hand. It would not do for anyone but she and her maid to know what she was about to do to her erstwhile suitor. Perspicus announced Cesare, and stepped back within the cloister, leaving her father's sister sitting within earshot of the couple as chaperone. For herself, Luciana found herself staring at Cesare in utter astonishment. When had he become that attractive? Why hadn't she been prepared for it' Not wanting to show her dismay at her traitorous body's reaction to the handsome Italian, she bit her lip and curtsied to Cesare, making no move to approach him.
There was a flap of sandals on stone, and she turned quickly, greeting her personal slave, Marcela, who pressed several freshly peeled cloves of garlic into her hand. Taking a breath, Luciana stuffed them all into her mouth, alternately chewing and pushing them around with her tongue, making sure every part of her mouth - and therefore her breath - was as pungent as possible. Let's see him try to stay a gentleman in the face of this.
Wearing the finery that his current mistress had so extravagantly purchashed for him, Cesare made his way up to the estate. The letters of marque as well as bank statements and an offering to the unwilling bride's father carried in a box under his arm. He stopped for a moment to pluck a dozen daisies, making sure to knock the bugs free of them. Before he knew it, leather soled wing tips were treading upon the fine gravel that led up to the manor, itself.
Squaring his shoulders as he approached the door, he lifted the knocker and rapped three times. Then he stood there, the epitome of Italian handsomeness with his dark curls slicked back, pitch black silk Armani with a tie to match his eyes. And that smile. Almost a smirk, but not quite so.
The head of the household slaves, and the factor who had put up the proclamations detailing Luciana's abilities as a prospective wife, answered.
"Master Romano," Perspicus greeted Cesare, bowing to him as he ushered him inside. "My master sends his apologies, but he is currently dealing with urgent matters of business, and states that you should avail yourself of the welcome of the young lady of the house." In truth, Paulinus was fed up of allowing these men to think they had a chance, only to see them run away after ten minutes with his unruly daughter.
Slight bow of his head when he was greeted and he followed the servant inside. "Any time I could spend with the lovely Luciana would be heaven." He smiled warmly, not once letting the facade slip. "Do you know when it might be possible that I may meet with your lord and master" I did bring my credentials." He showed the box, then tucked it back under his arm.
"I do believe he shall be done with his business in less than a half hour," Perspicus informed the lordling who thought he could tame the master's wild daughter. "I shall come to fetch you when it is so, if you still remain. This way, young master." He bowed again, and stepped back, leading the way towards the cloistered garden. On their journey there, they were passed by one rather alarmed looking young slave girl, who took one look at Cesare and rushed away, laughing.
"If I still remain?" He gave a purely curious look, though within he was chuckling. He could see why the over glorified butler would say such a thing. Two minutes under Luciana's acerbic tongue would have even the strongest of men running for their lives. "Very good." He bowed slightly and followed him to the cloistered garden. The sight of Luciana in a full length dress nearly took his breath away.
Luciana was already wincing at the burning foulness of her own breath when she heard the men approach, turning to greet Cesare with a long-suffering sigh hidden carefully behind her hand. It would not do for anyone but she and her maid to know what she was about to do to her erstwhile suitor. Perspicus announced Cesare, and stepped back within the cloister, leaving her father's sister sitting within earshot of the couple as chaperone. For herself, Luciana found herself staring at Cesare in utter astonishment. When had he become that attractive? Why hadn't she been prepared for it' Not wanting to show her dismay at her traitorous body's reaction to the handsome Italian, she bit her lip and curtsied to Cesare, making no move to approach him.