Blood & Beauty by Sarah Dunant

Author:Sarah Dunant [Dunant, Sarah]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: Historical, Historical Fiction, General Fiction
ISBN: 9780748128723
Google: 19ojTanAdU8C
Amazon: 1400069297
Goodreads: 16142157
Publisher: Random House
Published: 2013-05-02T07:00:00+00:00

PART V

A Father’s Grief

Rather, had we seven papacies we would give them all to have him alive again.

POPE ALEXANDER VI, JUNE 1497

CHAPTER 27

Mid-June. The days are balmy and long, swelling heat under brilliant skies, but with enough of a breeze to bring respite. Deep in the cellars of the greatest palaces, servants are lowered into the ice store to chisel scrapings for the making of lemon sorbets or the chilling of summer wines. There is a bean harvest in the markets and the last of the apricots melt like honey in the mouth. The sewage-filled river sparkles under the sun and the boatmen, stripped to the waist, take their time as the slow barges pull wood and supplies between landing posts, while away from the centre of the city, shepherds and goatherds lie half asleep in the grasses of various ruins as their flocks munch contentedly at the leftovers of history.

In her vineyard near the ancient baths of Diocletian, Vannozza is overseeing preparations for a family dinner. The news of Lucrezia’s flight a week before has upset everyone, but there is little she can do to help. Her daughter had been taken from her when she was barely six years old, and unlike Cesare, she has retained no closeness. Vannozza has learned to live with it. Now, however, she tastes the loss again: a girl who flees to the convent of her childhood as her marriage disintegrates is in need of a mother’s care. She writes a careful letter. I understand that you must bow to your father’s wishes, but sometimes such a thing is not easy to do. I, more than many, know that. Should you need me…

She signs herself, as she always does: Your unfortunate mother, Vannozza dei Catanei.

As yet there is no reply. She has heard that Alexander, furious at Lucrezia’s unauthorised leaving, has sent a cohort of the papal troops to follow her and bring her home, but he bargained without the stalwart Dominican prioress of San Sisto, who met them at the gate using God as her shield: ‘A young woman seeks sanctuary with us. It is not for us to deny her that right. Tell His Holiness that we will protect her with our lives and care for her until she is ready to leave.’ Not even Alexander VI can storm a convent and get away with it.

The glee of the gossip is everywhere. The Pope’s daughter is to become a nun! Marriage – or something more unspeakable – has turned her to God and the Pope is beside himself because he cannot get her out.

‘Foul slander!’ Alexander bluffs in response to Vice-Chancellor Sforza’s worries over what is happening. ‘I sent her there myself because a convent is a proper place for her to be until your recalcitrant cousin makes up his mind. Perhaps you would tell him that. Or shall I? I cannot believe you and the Duke of Milan would put his miserable concerns before the deep and necessary friendship between our two families.

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