Merchants of Milan by Edale Lane

Author:Edale Lane [Lane, Edale]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Past and Prologue Press
Published: 2020-01-20T16:00:00+00:00

Maddie had not been looking forward to Friday morning. She stood with Portia and Alessandro in their entry hall. Florentina was upstairs with her children and her niece and nephew were off to their respective classes.

Ally lifted his travel bag and looped the strap over his shoulder. “I will only be gone for a week,” he promised with a smile. “Madelena can look after the business and you, Tesoro, can administer the household.”

“But we haven’t even acquired a new chief butler yet to replace Iseppo,” she pouted as she secured a belt around his overcoat.

“Then promote another member of the staff, at least temporarily. You know my client in Bern is a very important one.”

“But that is in the Swiss Confederation,” Madelena pointed out, “and you will need to cross the Alps.”

“Which is why I am leaving now, before the snows get too deep. You two women behave as if I’m a lad taking his first trip away from home,” he laughed. “I’ll be safe, you will behave, and all shall be well.”

He hugged them both, kissed his wife, and struck out before they could put up even more of a fuss. But Maddie had reason to be apprehensive; the last time she sent a man of the house out on a journey he didn’t return alive. However, she did not voice her concerns to Portia. “Oh, he’ll be as safe as treasure on the moon,” she said dismissively. “We women are perfectly capable of running things for a week.”

“You know,” Portia mused placing a hand to her narrow chin, “every year about this time he has to travel somewhere far away on business. Last year it was Napoli, and before that Vienna. Do you remember a few years ago he traveled to Paris and brought us each back such lovely parasols?”

“Yes, I remember,” Maddie said with a smile. “That’s what happens when you are married to the most successful merchant in the city known around the world for its merchants. I’m surprised he hasn’t voyaged as far as the Orient!”

“Shush,” Portia demanded as she drew in her lips. “Don’t even think such a thing!”

Maddie tried not to worry. She was confident Ally could handle himself and she knew there were men she may call on in a pinch just down the street at the production house. Alessandro had asked the friendly watchman, Salvador Sfondrati, to look in on them daily. Still, unease needled the back of her mind.

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