Chapter 10: Fulfill (III)

Lorenzo joined back, finding already a call being paid.

“There’s a hint, signore, someone wants to dance with you. But you know the rules.” The man always made the first move. Though he wasn’t sure but it was of his family. “I saw the Baroness talking to her.”

He turned around. This was intentional. The baroness was also doing it for a reason. There was an assurance, as he agreed.

He dotted upon it to give her name.

“I’m sorry I couldn’t help you. I was busy with the horse.” Gennaro give a smile.

Though he can’t blame him for not doing so.

“It’s no matter,” he said.

“I heard everything from Francesco’s valet. He considered it a job well done.” Gennaro gave a grin.

Lorenzo was almost speechless.

“Well, it’s my cousin’s idea of helping me.” Though he wondered why does he need to learn to seduce? There were just a few more things he thought was known.

Her name was Alicia Candida, one that he recognized from his childhood. So, he started, and he was a little more easy. There was a mystery. There was a second reason Lavinia danced.

She was trying to test him out, perhaps. So, he danced one round with her.

“So, what did she tell you?”

“If I wanted to dance with you, go ahead. She looks out for me,” Alicia explained, but she started.

They were going to hope around with his hand wrapped around her arm as they went in circles around the ballroom. He supposed it was not. And when he passed Francesco, there was a wink.

He avoided his gaze. As though expecting him to land that courtship, even if the next following thing was well pressing his suit to

“So does my cousin, but in a very uncalled and unhelpful way,” Lorenzo said, trying to avert his. And then, they continued their dance until they reached the end, when he was ready to let go. And move on, this time to a bunch of wholly new ones. A chance to meet all of them.

He stopped once he was getting dizzy, and then making his retreat. He was expecting to find her dancing, but she was standing here giving him a glass of wine.

“You look parched.” She passed it to him.

“You came out.”

“I found no reason to continue. I wanted to talk to you. Besides, I’ve danced with most of them, or will do so in the future.” She looked at him. “And my brother wanted to talk to you. I might as well take the chance to get to know you.”

In a respectable fashion that would not call her reputation into question.

“I haven’t seen you in such a long time, Signor de Moreni.” Her brother appeared. He saw the same dark blonde hair and vivid brown eyes. There was a handsomeness to him, with broad shoulders, a tan to him.

“You should call me Lorenzo. We were childhood friends, after all. Even though we parted.”

“It was always him that held us together, wasn’t it?” Benedetto asked, with a certain flair “You’re always quite preoccupied with your books, and seeing you, reminds me of him.”

“It’s fine. I don’t blame you for drifting. I wasn’t ready either.”

“Was that why you went to Sarponne? I almost thought you abandoned them the moment you did.”

“I didn’t. I was just tied up there. Papa never told me.” He looked.

“I see, but you’re back here again. That’s what that matters. You must be glad to be back home.”

Lorenzo couldn’t agree. He would rather be in Erandel than experience something new. But that was done.

“I can’t say I am too excited. But I have to do it.” That was his answer.

“Sarponne must have been an eye-opener. I read so many novels to get that. But I’m not of a family with the means to get me to Sarponne,” she lamented. “But I want to go there, to host salons, to be in the center of culture.”

“I’ve been to a few, indeed. The conversation there is quite enlightening.” He turned to answer her.

“I have my curiosity about them,” she said, before she looked down.

“I want to hear more. Maybe I can give you a bit more details about what went on.” He asked her to reveal herself to him.

Benedetto looked on, with pursed lips and curiosity.

“You’re very honest, aren’t you?” She asked. “You don’t enjoy being here. You speak your mind. She said that I’ll find it refreshing to be with someone who tells me what’s on their mind. Because then they’re not hiding anything from you.”

“But do you like sweet words?” He asked.

“Who doesn’t enjoy being flattered?” She asked, as they made a corner. And he was figuring this out.

“I hate being lied to.” Lorenzo told her.

“So, how do you feel about this whole charade?”

“I have another reason I’m here,” he said. “But for you, it’s survival, isn’t it?”

“Yes, how are you so wise?”

“I’m not. I just asked my sister, and she told me everything,” he said. “The days when I was in Sarponne, I never felt more free. It was nurturing, even if it was not perfect. But there, I didn’t feel trapped.”

“It is the center where all the writers and thinkers must go. It’s an education.”

“Yes, I enjoyed it. There were so many things there, and when I was summoned back. I think I don’t want to come back, to live the same old life that has been promised to me,” he said.

“So, you seek reform?” Alicia asked. “That’s clearly not what I expected from my brother’s words. He said you were soft-spoken, quiet, and eager to dive into books.”

“That was years ago,” he answered.

“People change. That was too premature of me, sister,” Benedetto said. “I went there too, but I remember something quite different.”

“It’s quite wonderful that a city can have so many aspects. It’s vibrant.” Though she held something back.

“You have a new caller, Signorina. Do you ask to answer?”

Alicia looked with a smile. “I’ll be there soon.”

“I hope to see you again, sometime, signore.” Before she went.

He might send. This was the first person who he quite liked.

“I’m surprised that you changed so much, you’re almost unrecognizable. You have his confidence now, but it’s different,” he said.

“We’re not the same person, despite being from the same family.” He took a cup. All that talking parched his throat again.

“Yes, you’re not. That was clear from the day you were born,” he said. “I’m sorry for what happened to your brother. I wished I could have done something then.”

“I think we got to bring this conversation to somewhere a little more private.” Lorenzo finished the glass, thanking them, before in the moonlight got out to the garden. A much better place.

“You carried him all the way back, even though you didn’t need to. It was unfortunate, and is this why you want to foist your sister on me?” He asked.

He gave a laugh. “Well, more like I trust you and with your personality. I think you’ll be good for her.”

“It’s still too early to tell.” Lorenzo reminded him. “I want to get to know her. Don’t be afraid of telling her to show everything. I think it’s best when a marriage isn’t built on two people hiding themselves.”

“But what’s the joy in that?” He grinned. “I’m affianced, so I’m sorry that I can’t take your sister.”

Lorenzo didn’t wish to pass judgement, but personally, he doubted he would catch Cecelia’s fancy. Even if he didn’t quite know, but he was far from erudite.

“You don’t owe us anything, though I guess you could tell me about the potential suitors here.”

You are reading story Ignite at novel35.com

“She’s danced with two complete foreigners. One’s from Terragia, he speaks it with the accent; the other is Rancien in all his elaborate court dress here, to show off his wealth. The last one is a sharp and dashing young civil servant, with a hand for poetry,” he said. “I would be careful about the last one. He’s quite famed as a seducer.”

“I trust her judgement.” Lorenzo looked at her, realising that Antonia had been eyeing them the whole time with a few glares at him. "If anything goes awry, she has my aunt. I don’t think my parents trusted me.”

“Because, as a protector and future patriarch, you’re objectively terrible.” Benedetto told him.

“But why should I be the one who tells her what to do? And then do the same to everyone?” He asked. “It may be the way it has been, but I don’t want to force them into a position like I was.”

He thought the grass was looking fascinating.

“Ludovico’s death. It had such an impact on you.” He looked at him with sorrowful eyes. “Or did you never feel you ever deserved it, because it was always Ludovico’s?”

Lorenzo looked at him. “I looked up to him. I never wanted to be with him, however. He had it all, not me. But above all, once I got it, everyone expected me to act more like Ludovico did—assured, always calm, and always willing to push on. Not Lorenzo, not the quiet, studious, meticulous child that they wanted when I wasn’t the heir, so I wouldn’t be a threat to my brother.”

He let it all out, just right before him. A truth that he can’t unsay.

“I never knew, I never knew that you had it like that.” Benedetto looked at him, the moonlight reflecting. They were standing just before the bushes. They were going to go soon. But there was little talk between them.

“I’m sorry, I let it all out. With my ascension, I realised just how much they didn’t value me. They encouraged me to go in a direction because it was more convenient only to change it once it didn’t.”

His mother stayed by him, encouraging him to keep his pursuits. But there was often a time that he went to her. Often just to share his grief, and listen to his problems. She always did without a single complaint and wanted him to stay away from horses. But he could barely look at them without being reminded of his brother.

“So, I saw the whole thing, the ugliness of it all. And how much I despised it. I hated it, the heir to the estate. And I couldn’t do anything about it. Now, the only hope I have.”

“Which is?”

“To create something better, something new, to think and dream of a new reality.” He looked. “I refused to just count my blessings and cast aside it. I can’t ignore errors, mistakes or anything. Those just fuel me to change things. It fuels me to dream and to reform. I just can’t accept reality the way it is, the sheer irrationality.”

Benedetto looked. “I don’t quite know, but perhaps your father can help.”

“He knows, everyone knows. This is a way to fix me, to find a reason for me to stop.” Lorenzo told them. “But I won’t let them beat me. I have my own way.”

“You’re now the craziest person who I ever met, and I’m frankly afraid of what you might do to my sister. So, please, stay away from her.” He looked. “Forget I ever said any of this.”

Benedetto he went back, alone without saying his goodbyes; Lorenzo watched as he went out. Without a single protest, and then surprise, before a smile slipped.

He kept his plan hidden, perhaps to give them the illusion. If Cecelia didn’t want to, then he would. But he had no plan. He was going to delay. But if this was working so well with Bendetto, perhaps this was a worthy plan after all.

He could state his true intentions, and both ways he’ll still win. Though he thought about Alicia, but if she wanted to associate with him, she’ll send the letter to him. That was her choice, though he could see some common ground with her.

Besides, he still had to return. He still had to see Cecelia. So, he started strolling again, to walk back towards the ballroom. He had spent enough time here, but he may have stumbled on a way to protest on his own.

Once inside, he took a glass of wine, eager to continue, drinking from the side, and wanting to look. There, Francesco had stopped dancing, although he only took a break while making sure Lorenzo was fine. This was personally so.

“I suppose he wanted to size you up.” Francesco smiled. “Lavinia told me about her young cousin that she was looking out for.”

“Antonia is looking for you,” he said.

“Thank you,” he said. “Are you going to join?”

“Yes, I was.”

He spotted Antonia spending time with Cecelia, already done with all the dancing tonight, though the floor was still busy. But it was personal why he didn’t. He hated. She was sitting down at the side.

“I felt faint, so I’m returning. Signor Sozzini offered to take me here. I didn’t see you at all, as I’m ready to go.” She got up, smoothening her skirts.

“Of course, I was speaking with Signor Candida about a few matters.”

“Alicia’s brother, I forget he was friends with Ludovico and you.”

“I was not aware of that. I should have interfered.”

“We’re both fine. In fact, I think it was better that we both got the chance to catch up.”

Lorenzo looked to the side, knowing that he doubted it was just that case. But he didn’t wish to tell them. He was indeed happy about discovering a way. If his opinions were inflammatory enough, then he’ll keep using it.

“Come along,” Francesco said. “Do you need me to escort you?”

“I’m fine.” Cecelia smiled, mostly her brother followed her outside as they had sent Gennaro outside.

Gennaro said, with the carriage ready. “I was getting ready to look for you. Signor Boncompagni told me to get the carriage first, so I went first.”

He explained why he wasn’t there.

“I didn’t notice, to be fair. I wasn’t really going back to dance.” He smiled.

“You’re really not trying,” Cecelia said, staring at Lorenzo. “I danced with a dozen different suitors or potential suitors.”

Lorenzo answered. “That is the point.”

She shook her head.

Gennaro said. “I had a few more people who wanted to dance with you. And I told them I would tell you and then you decide. They were disappointed.”

Lorenzo blinked before getting up.

“It’s kind of customary, and some of them are looking to expand their options. Although they will now gossip about you, not dancing.” Cecelia told her.

“Let them,” Lorenzo said. “It’s not as though I was doing anything scandalous.”

Cecelia looked at him as the carriage started moving. “I didn’t really want to spend time with cousin Francesco. I wanted him to have a little more time with his wife together, alone.”

“Why?” Lorenzo asked.

“Cousin Antonia could only keep staring at the women that he keeps bringing, even though she subtly accepted it, but there’s so much in her that tolerates it. She’s envious and paranoid.” She looked. “And that was all she talked about. I don’t think I want to give you that interrogation.”

“The list of people he was dancing and eyeing, and his whoring ways. That was the first thing he told me.”

Cecelia laughed. “So, he offered to find you one?”

“A lover or a prostitute, but that’s not what I’m doing with the Baroness. I got invited to her salon. I’m going,” he said. “She’s a very fascinating woman.”

“I’m happy that you were. But what went on with Signor Candida?” She asked.

“I think I may have kept myself independent. I really don’t care about my reputation. But I don’t want to lie to people about what I believe in,” he said. “He didn’t quite like that. We’ll see about whether I’ll get to see Signorina Candida again.”

“Do you want to?”

“I think we could talk and be friends,” he said. “I still have to keep the pretense that I’m at least trying to settle down.”

“Mama would probably see through that.” Cecelia pointed out.

“Enough of me, so how about you?” He asked.

“I liked most of them,” she shyly said. “I’ll need to see.”

“Are there any who interests you?”

Cecelia blushed. “I’ll tell you later. Though this isn’t my first time entertaining suitors, just joining all these balls to find eligible men.”

“Papa has invited suitors into our house before?” Lorenzo raised his brow, never hearing of it.

“Yes, a few times. Mostly family friends, but he refused them all, or they didn’t exactly work out,” Cecelia told him. Now, I do it so that he will be at peace, that I’m taken care of.”

Lorenzo looked, perhaps grasping why Cecelia tried so hard even to deny herself. More than just the reality of her existence. It wasn’t monetary; it was also his father’s wish.

You can find story with these keywords: Ignite, Read Ignite, Ignite novel, Ignite book, Ignite story, Ignite full, Ignite Latest Chapter