Affair with the Borgia 5.2

"Sardinia is very beautiful! You should try bringing your mother there Carlotta! The sea is so majestic!" Angela said as she pranced about in her bedroom in her house gown.
Carlotta snickered a bit. How she missed her best friend and her story-tellings.

Gerardo was telling them of his adventures in Pisa and Perugia however he cut off his stories where Cesare was in it.
"By the way, why did you suddenly come back Angela? I thought you were supposed to return until you are twenty" Carlotta said making the girl stop in her tracks.

"Um well you see, my sister has finally decided I'm a proper lady and thatI should be returned to Rome to marry someone." Angela told her "Oh that is lovely! So have you chosen someone?"
Angela shook her head at them, she wanted to tell them 'I can never because I only have one man in mind.' She instead smiled and told them about the poems she wrote in her journal.

Carlotta and Gerardo read them and they were beautiful and so full of life.
"You've become talented over the years cara," Carlotta said
"And so did you. I met up with Giovanni today, I thought he should be in Gandia to help the Spanish against the French?" Angela took note of Carlotta's eyes, they seemed to have dilate a bit.

"Oh well. . .He wanted to visit his father and sister as well as his mother." Carlotta reasoned. "That is very kind of him, I understand how he feels for his family."
Gerardo smiled "Hey Angela, are you doing anything this week? I was hoping to invite you to one of my annual banquets." "Ah the founding of the family right? OF course I'll come. I can't wait to see the others."

After saying goodbye, Carlotta and Gerardo headed down to the Leonine City back to that palazzo. They felt a pang in their chests when they saw luggages in the courtyard.
"It can't be-!" Gerardo muttered and went upstairs leaving Carlotta behind.
He saw her, she was there.

Lucrezia turned her head, her golden locks swaying a bit. Her brother's servant boy was standing there like an idiot. "What?" she asked of him "Y-You're home! Welcome back Signorina Lucrezia" Gerardo said.
The Borgia princess merely huffed and told him to bring her things inside. She was called all the way from Pesaro because she had been told that her brother was returning today.
Lucrezia wasted no time and returned.

Her brother was in the Vatican, ready to receive his title of a Cardinal.
When she came back, he embraced her like always and kissed her cheek. Lucrezia sighed at the thought and sat down in front of her vanity table.
Carlotta slolwy passed by hoping not to be seen by her but she was caught eventually.

"What are you doing here?" Lucrezia questioned her
"Well, I AM a friend of your brother for a very long time at that and he has given me rights to this palazzo." Carlotta meekly replied.
Lucrezia scoffed and crossed her arms. "What? Now you think you're a Borgia? Just go home and return to your dying mother or something."

Carlotta tried hard not to clench her fists but failed. Lucrezia smirked.
"Fine. But don't be surprised if one of your brothers invite me to any ocassion. Goodbye" Carlotta turned to leave and met face-to-face with Giovanni.

"Tell your sister to be kind inside and out" she said and left.
Giovanni groaned and massaged his temples, he had too many problems today.

Cristina smiled at Cesare when he emerged from the meeting room in his Cardinal attire.
She was there because her parents wanted her to enter the convent and she was alright with their decision.
"Congratulations Signore Borgia" she said, surprising Cesare.

The young man smiled and ruffled Cristina's hair.
"I thank you amica. You've always been there through thick and thin."
"Of course we are all attached with a red thread. How was your schooling by the way? I've heard you were a top student."
"Si but it was tiresome. Always repeating the same thing over and over." Cesare said expressing with his hands.

Cristina laughed a bit. With a smile still plastered on her face she asked him, "Do you still dream of her?" Cesare paused from his walk that Cristina was a step ahead. She turned around to look at him.

His face was blank, nothing else was written there. "Of course you do," Cristina said "Even if you keep your face straight, your eyes will always hold the truth."
Cesare chuckled deeply "Are you sure you're younger than me?" Cristina giggled and opened her arms for him.

Cesare hugged her tighty "Welcome home Cesare" "Grazie amica mio."

Angela stood on her balcony looking at the dome of the Vatican City.
The winds were cool and mild and the sun had begun to set. Caligula sat on the ledge watching the city with her.
She placed a hand on her chest, bowed her head and closed her eyes.
"Do you think I still have a chance at this?" she questioned herself. Caligula looked up at her tilting his head to the side.
She opened her eyes and smiled down at her fox.
Angela turned away from the sight until a voice called out to her.

"Angela?"

She returned to the ledge and saw who called her name.
"Federico!" she exclaimed.
The man, now twenty-six, spread his arms wide at her. Angela told him to wait as she hurried downstairs to meet him. She burst out the door and engulfed the man in an embrace,
"Federico I missed you so much. I thought you'd never return" Angela said
"So have I"

Federico Gambino placed a hand on her cheek and Angela leaned in to the touch.
"Your hands are still warm like they used to be" she whispered until his fingers moved to touch her lips. "And you are still beautiful amore."
Angela sighed at his voice and closed her eyes when he leaned down for a kiss.
Their lips touched only for a fraction of a second but it felt like forever to them.

"Since when did you arrive?" Angela asked him. They were in the Drawing Room that Salome and a few servants cleaned just recently. Federico was sitting on the cerulean couch admiring the lovely decorations adorning the walls and ceilings.
"Just today. My father said that I am now the new owner of the Gambino bank. Pleasant isn't it?"
"Si. You must be very proud" Angela said picking up her tea cup and placed the rim to her lips.

Federico smiled and slowly approached her. He sat down next to her in her own velvet couch and watched her put her tea down. Angela stared at him and smiled back.
"Now that I've returned I have decided" he took her hand in his and gave it a kiss.
Angela knew what he was going to say. Because her heart had skipped two beats.
A part of her was happy while the other was not.

She forced a smile to remain on her face and let Federico continue.
"I have decided to make you my wife, your long wait is over now." Angela almost couldn't breathe when she saw a beautiful diamond ring Federico took out from his pocket.
She grinned widely as he placed the gold band on her ring finger.

"Ti amo Maria Angioletta Pantaleone"
"Ti amo anche Federico"

But was there truth in her words?