The Sign of the Weeping Virgin (Five Star Mystery Series) by Alana White

Author:Alana White [White, Alana]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Five Star
Published: 2013-01-09T05:00:00+00:00

They took their leave with all outward signs of cordiality. Lorenzino and his cat, the latter's bushy gray tail unfurled like a banner over her furry back, accompanied them into the courtyard, the youth chatting with Amerigo about his betrothal to Semiramide d'Appiani and their wedding, set for two years hence.

“ 'Zino, where's your brother?” Lorenzo asked, one hand on the gate latch.

“At Castello with our grandmother. He chose to stay there rather than ride to town this week.” Lorenzino gathered up the cat and nuzzled her head with his cheek. “I wanted to return some books to Brother Giorgio and give him my Greek exercises for corrections. Amerigo, ride back with me tomorrow? We can amuse ourselves with my errors and escape the heat.”

Amerigo's face lit with pleasure. “I'll tell you about France.”

“No, you won't,” Guid'Antonio said.

Lorenzino looked owlish and surprised. Amerigo turned pink.

“Next week, perhaps,” Guid'Antonio said. “At present, life holds us here.”

“Of course it does,” Lorenzino said, glancing pointedly at his guardian.

“But only if that suits you and your grandmother Genevra,” Guid'Antonio said.

Lorenzino nodded and addressed the sullen-faced Amerigo: “Ride out when you're free to do as you please.” Patting the cat's head, smirking, he turned away.

Lorenzo chewed his lip. “I'm glad you two are friends, Amerigo, no error. He thinks of you as an older brother. Otherwise, he has only Giovanni, who's just thirteen.”

“ ‘Just’?” Amerigo said. “When last I saw Giovanni, he was barely eleven.” He cast a brooding look at Guid'Antonio. “Two years ago.”

“A lot changes in that much time,” Lorenzo said, smiling as they left the garden and stepped back out into the street. “Boys become men.”

“But often are not given credit,” Amerigo said.

“Credit comes when credit is due,” Guid'Antonio said. “You earned a lot of it in France.”

In silence the trio walked south along Via Larga to Lorenzo's main gate. “Well, friend,” Lorenzo said, “what's next on your list?”

“It's on my mind to seek Camilla's nurse,” Guid'Antonio said, his hawk's eyes keen on the steady stream of people traversing the thoroughfare. Some turned to the right at the corner of Via Larga and Via Gori, heading toward San Lorenzo Church and market; others kept straight in the direction of Florence Cathedral. He flicked his eyes away from Brunelleschi's red brick dome, toward the cheese and egg sellers hawking meager wares in the marketplace.

“Palla questioned the old woman. I told you yesterday.”

“I'll speak with her, nonetheless.”

“Only if you ride to the Rossi farm in Vinci, since that's where she is.”

A spasm of irritation shook Guid'Antonio. Why had he assumed Camilla's nurse was here in Florence and easily available? Because she was a member of Castruccio Senso's household. Or so he had thought. “And the slave boy?” he said.

“He's there, too. And now?”

Guid'Antonio had only one answer he cared to divulge. “Along with the nurse and boy, I mean to take a closer look at Ognissanti, or at least at the good brothers of the Humiliati residing there. They can't all be so cold and tight-lipped as they would have us believe.

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