Free Infinite Devotion by L.E. Waters

be bringing an envoy within the week to bring you back to St. Peters to prepare for the joyous event.” He gives me a kiss on the lips and leaves.

Chapter 11
    I write to Sancia immediately and beg her to come at once to Rome. It’s so nice having her with me again, but I know not to get too attached, since it’s only temporary. A month later, advisors sent from Ferrara come to have a marriage by proxy. Sancia stays away from wherever Cesare will be, so she declines coming to the wedding dinner. The whole capital is celebrating the much-talked-about union, and bells ring and beacons are lit as far as the eye can reach. Cesare and Father sit next to me and rejoice that night, but it’s bittersweet, since we all know Ferrara is quite a distance away.
    “Lucrezia, you will enjoy this.”
    Father pulls out from beside his chair a genealogy chart.
    “What is this?”
    “This is the Borgia family tree.” He starts smirking. “Ercole sent a request for our pedigree to be displayed for all at the wedding in Ferrara to see, so here it is.”
    Cesare examines it closely. “I didn’t know that Don Pedro de Atares, lord of Borgia and pretender to the throne of Aragon, was directly related to us.”
    Father begins to shake with laughter. “That’s because he’s not! He died childless, but not many know that.”
    “Why lie?” I ask.
    “Because Ercole is a smug son of a bitch and asked for this just to look better than us, so I spiced it up a bit.” He smiles proudly.
    ∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞
    I can’t sleep at all that night, knowing tomorrow will be the day I have to leave Rodrigo. I meet Sancia in the garden, and she holds my hand and pats my back.
    “Lucrezia, you have no choice.”
    Her eyes steady me. We both look on as nearly two-year-old Rodrigo runs around the garden, throwing rocks.
    “I can only leave knowing he’ll have you.”
    “I’ll take the best care of him and write to you about everything he does.”
    I begin crying again.
    “Will you tell him of me so he won’t forget?”
    “I’ll talk of you so much he’ll feel as though you’re there.”
    She gives me a long hug, and Rodrigo comes running into my arms, his cheeks rosy from the winter cold.
    “Give Mama a kiss! I’ll be leaving, but Auntie Sancia will take good care of you.”
    He puckers his tiny lips, gives me a kiss, and I watch them walk away with Sancia holding his little arm. When they’re out of sight, I break down.
    ∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞
    Downtrodden from the sadness of the morning, I go to Father’s apartment. He’s there discussing with some advisors, and I sit at his feet with my head rested on his knee.
    As soon as the advisors leave and we’re alone, he says, “Lucrezia, don’t look so distraught. This is the beginning of greatness for you.”
    I say nothing.
    “Cesare and I have worked very hard to achieve the unimaginable, something far beyond your birthright. You’ll someday be the Duchess of Ferrara!”
    “I only wish Rodrigo could have come with me.”
    “That’s a shame, but boys grow up fine without their mothers. He’ll have the best nurses to care for him and will want for nothing.”
    He turns my head toward him with his hand under my chin. “You look lovely today.”
    I’m dressed in a robe of curled cloth of gold cut with crimson thread, with a cloak of gold lined with ermine.
    “I’ll be frantic while you’re en route to Ferrara. These are dangerous times to be traveling. I’ll send my best men to ride with you, but you must promise me something.”
    He pauses to see I will agree. I nod.
    “You must promise to send messengers every hour to let me know you’re safe. Make sure to write in your own hand so I know it’s you.”
    “I promise.”
    I get up and look out the window to the large envoy waiting below.
    “There must be a hundred fifty mules gathered there!”
    “That’s how many we need to carry all your previous wedding presents to Ferrara.” He