Free My Super Sweet Sixteenth Century by Rachel Harris

linked. “What I meant,” she says, “was that I am proud of you for controlling your tongue. It is not easy in the face of such antagonism.”
    First the mushy words and now a compliment. I literally don’t know what to do with myself. Alessandra joins us, taking her place on my other side, and we walk out of the dining room, our skirts swishing in unison.
    “Tonight’s party was the most interesting one I have ever attended, cousin.” Her eyes sparkle with amusement. “And witnessing Lorenzo put Antonia in her place was a rare treat indeed.”
    “Yeah, it’s a shame the night’s over. I had a whole second act planned. Maybe next time, right?”
    “Over?” Alessandra asks with a quick look to her mom. “Are we not staying for the music and entertainment?”
    “Of course we are, Daughter. A guest should not leave until dismissed by the host or has a pressing engagement like Signor di Rialto. Unless Patience truly is ill?” She turns to me, concern flashing in her eyes.
    It’s so tempting to lie. If I say I’m sick, this horrid night can end. The D’Angeli clan will pack themselves into the carriage and head on home, and I can safely avoid any additional embarrassment. But I don’t want to lie to them. They’ve been nothing but nice, especially the two worried women standing on either side of me. They don’t deserve that.
    Plus, if I were really being honest with myself, I wouldn’t mind hanging around with Lorenzo a little longer. On a strictly platonic level, of course. He did defend me, after all.
    “No, I’m fine,” I say, forcing a fake smile onto my face. “I can’t wait to see what else they have planned.”
    We follow the group into the Grand Sala, a room boasting several carved dark wood chairs and a harpsichord. I recognize it from the movie Amadeus. Instinctively, I start searching for Lorenzo and find him near the roaring fireplace, talking with Cipriano.
    But his gaze is connected with mine.
    I take a faltering step and trip, and a slow smile crosses his face. Alessandra grabs my arm, pulling me forward.
    “You can deny your feelings all you like, dear cousin, but you cannot fool me. We are blood relations, and I can decipher your thoughts as if they were my own.” She smiles wickedly and lifts her eyebrow, daring me to deny my interest. “Come, let us join the gentlemen, shall we?”
    I attempt to calm the fluttering in my stomach as we walk across the room. Lorenzo bites his lower lip and lazily watches us approach, which only makes the butterflies go more berserk. I sigh. Cipriano looks back and shakes his head.
    “Cousin, you are making it impossible to hold a conversation with my friend. I fear you have completely bewitched him.” He grins and playfully punches Lorenzo on the shoulder.
    Determined to get a hold of the situation, I throw my shoulders back and smirk. “Maybe it’s just that your conversational skills are lacking, dear cousin. ”
    Both boys stare at me for a moment and then break into raucous laughter, eliciting a round of disapproving glares. Alessandra’s mouth drops, and she turns to me. “You must teach me to speak with such a cunning tongue. Clearly you have a gift.”
    I smile, imagining sweet Alessandra tossing out verbal barbs. “It takes a lifetime of practice.”
    A dinging of crystal causes the crowd to quiet, and I look to the front of the room where Signora Stefani and Antonia stand.
    “Friends and guests, we are grateful for your presence this evening. My own Antonia has agreed to begin this night’s entertainment. And,” she says, casting her eyes at our small group, instantly making me nervous, “it is our shared hope that the younger Signor Cappelli will grace us with his accompaniment.”
    Lorenzo’s lips twitch as he tries to hide a confident grin. He glances at me and nods. “It would be my pleasure, Signora Stefani.”
    He walks to the front of the room, passing close enough behind me to slide his fingers along the back of my hand,