Chapter 13: Causatum (III)

Lorenzo looked upon the room. His father had not vetoed him, wanting to have someone else to observe with him.

“She’s doing well.” Beatrice smiled, coming out. “I wouldn’t worry too much about her.”

Cecelia, dressed in her best gown of blue, that brought out her blue eyes. Cosimo looked at her. His expression always softened with his daughter around.

“So, I’m here to see whether he’s useful.” Lorenzo made the observation based on what he was getting, folding his arms.

It was annoying.

Cecelia kept her own silence.

“And if he’s a prospective brother-in-law, you better get to know him.” Cosimo said, staring at his son. “It will help you know more people."

But in the undercurrent was that Lorenzo was there to provoke. He wanted to see the man that his sister was charmed enough by, and likewise, that he was here to court her.

Lorenzo let go of his arms. “I can’t disagree with that.”

“He’s coming in. Go to take your sister to greet him.” Beatrice gave a suggestion, pushing her son to go down.

Lorenzo raised his eyebrow as he followed the orders and looked at Cecelia.

Cecelia followed him, grabbing her skirts as she went down. He turned to watch her. She was clenching her skirts.

“Did he speak our dialect?”

“I talked to him in Rancien.” She looked with a smile. “I think that’s what he’ll be speaking to.”

“Fair point. He’s from Terragia after all.”

She learned Rancien—the language of diplomacy and high culture. Even despite the Duchess’ work to make Pasertan culture of focus. But it was still a focus for them, because of the sheer dominance.

Terragia was similar. They didn’t have a grand duke until this generation, and he was their duchess’ brother.

They stood in the courtyard, in the sunlight, Cecelia appreciating the sight, since she was rarely out. She could only shop for clothes, which she also doubled to shop for novels,.

All their servants were waiting. The footmen stood at the gate, watching as the carriage made their way inside.

“Is it too late to back out?” She asked. “I’m just so nervous, and it’s Signor Sozzini. I already feel so bad when he helped me since he caught me in the weather. And he’s the first person to see my hosting.”

Lorenzo didn’t feel like answering, but Cecelia tried her best and it wasn’t too lacking.. “If he didn’t want to come, he would have prolonged or decline. Him agreeing so fast, it’s a good sign.”

“Signore.” Their steward stepped forward. “His carriage has arrived and they’re getting out.”

Lorenzo briskly walked towards him. Cecelia remained just a step behind, as they were in the courtyard. A carriage came down, it was grander than theirs.

A valet was standing beside them as his master got out of the carriage. Signor Sozzini had the typical wig, so it was difficult to see his hair. But his clear blue eyes, aquiline nose, dressed in a colorful ensemble even compared to Lorenzo’s duller brown.

Signor Sozzini went past Lorenzo to kiss the hand of Cecelia first, before greeting Lorenzo.

The footmen had gone to take his things; they were inviting and hosting him for dinner tonight. Further amusements may be arranged for the next couple of days.

“We’ll show you in, signore.” The valet stepped in. He had decades of experience and knew what to do. Even though he wondered why.

“You didn’t have to come and see me.” Signor Sozzini looked at her. “I didn’t think you would since you were faint.”

“I feel very much fine. But how do you like Paserta?” She held her hands together.

“It’s quiet.” Fausto noted it. “And I find it quite fresh, and not that different from Terragia. A nice breather from my travels, the last stop before I go home.”

“It’s not that far, if I’m not wrong?” She asked.

“My home is quite far, and so far Paserta had quite a few things to offer. It surprised me.” He looked. “But so many see Terragia as backward, albeit a bigger backwater than Paserta.”

Lorenzo had to laugh. He did like him. Just as they had arrived at the parlour.

Cosimo was already seated with Beatrice. In their best outfits, and mostly some light chatting with each other. It ceased the moment the three of them came in.

Signor Sozzini had taken Cecelia’s chair for her, and she smiled at him although he barely met anyone else’s eyes, and followed with a seat. Beatrice smiled, Cosimo looked worried and Lorenzo plopped down onto his chair, not quite getting what was going on.

The servants had begun the dinner, starting with plates of the finest Pasertan cuisine offered.

Lorenzo sat on Signor Sozzini’s side, next to Beatrice, while Cosimo sat next to his daughter Cecelia.

“So, you’re quite a distance away from home?”

“I was returning home, as I was trying to seek a wife.”

“And you didn’t find anyone suitable?”

Lorenzo looked askance, almost bored at the topic. He couldn’t care less, or even wonder why there was so much charade and pomp. All this trouble just to make a marriage.

Beatrice gave him a glare, and he focused. Despite all, he didn’t wish to disappoint his mother.

“There maybe one.” He smiled, looking at Cecelia.

“We’ll be having a hunt the next day. Would you be interested in joining?” Cosimo asked.

“I’m quite good at it,” he said. “I would be glad to do so.”

Lorenzo never quite liked the idea of a hunt much. Though this was also the first, his father rarely hunted ever since the death of his brother. But this had to be special.

His father was trying to slowly

“Do you like the nature?” Cecelia asked.

“I enjoy riding a lot. It’s a lot of fun to run through the valleys, and close to the mountains and just take in the sights you’re seeing. Nothing else matters then.” He smiled. “It’s a respite from my responsibilities. As much as hunting is, I hunt a lot with my brothers and my mother is an accomplished hunter.”

“I prefer keeping a garden, mostly water the plants, and ensuring the plants are just beautiful.”

“Do you like to hunt?” Signor Sozzini asked. “I don’t see you liking it.”

“I’m a little wary since his dogs ripped our last Duke to death after being shredded.” Lorenzo tried to avoid the question.

“That’s an unfortunate death.”

Cosimo looked before giving a laugh.

“What sort of land does your family own?” He asked.

“Mostly grain farms and raising pigs and cows.” Signor Sozzini answered them.

Cosimo heard that was a good sign. They were not rich. The Marquisate of Stressa mostly took a cut from the cheese that every peasant created and for each use of the grain mill, unless they could

“So, this must be your domain? Once I got out of Paserta, and in just a few hours I heard that this was all under the name of the Marquis of Stressa.” Signor Sozzini looked down, trying to confirm.

“Yes, this is very much all mine and one day, Lorenzo’s.” Cosimo narrowed his eyes.

“What grows here?” He asked. “I’m guessing cheese from what I saw, grain and maybe some meat?”

“You’re correct,” Lorenzo said. “We do a lot of trade with Paserta but also Ganeo, in the republic of Ganeo.”

Signor Sozzini nodded. “I’ll hope to see more. Maybe I can hop over there before I make the trip home.”

Beatrice smiled at it. Lorenzo could tell that they liked him as a prospective husband for their only daughter.

“It’ll be a sight to behold.” Beatrice told him.

“Did you come from there?” Signor Sozzini asked.

“Yes, I did.” Beatrice took a glass of wine.

There was mostly some small talk, asking about Terragia. They all spoke in Rancien.

“Do you want to retire?” Cecelia whispered to him.

He smiled before calling.

Cecelia had looked to her father, who had fetched a servant to take him to a guest room for him. Until he was missing, Beatrice was still sipping her wine.

“What do you think, Papa?” Cecelia asked.

She trusted her parents, as they knew better.

“I would say that he’s a fine man, a good choice. Well, I had to see what his response was finding out that we’re relatively powerful.” Cosimo folded his arms.

It was still too early to know whether he was just hungering after her money

“So, by the end of this, he’s supposed to offer an engagement?”

“If all goes well, my dear.” Beatrice reassured her. “He’s quite charmed, but this is the first time we’ve known each other. He’s a complete stranger with no connection, not nearly as easy. I always thought that I would have to use my connections here or his connections all over Itoro.”

“Then, why didn’t you?”

“I underestimated your charm and your wit.” Beatrice touched her daughter’s hair. “Three suitors who only have the barest of connections to each other.”

Lorenzo wasn’t sure, but they encouraged Cecelia to pursue him of her own accord in the small ways she could. Whether it was by her manners, or by her concern for him.

“It worries me much that you’re so popular and well-received amongst the men. I suppose I’ll just have to do better.” Cosimo told his daughter.

“Having more choice isn’t a bad thing. It means that she always has another option for her future.”

She blushed.

“Now, let’s go off to bed.” Beatrice told her, before sending her off. “You still have to entertain Signor Certusi in a couple of days and to talk to him.”

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Cosimo smiled. “Above all, I want someone who can protect you with his own life, no matter what. That’s what I’m seeing at tomorrow. There’s always someone more, and Lorenzo, you’ll promise to ensure that she’ll never settle for anything less than?”

“Yes, I can assure that.” Lorenzo answered.

Cecelia had made her choice, that she wanted to do this. He’ll do his best for her.

“Good, I’m glad that you understand why this is so important.”

“For me, she chose this path, so I’ll help her. It has nothing to do that this is the best option for her.” Lorenzo got up, leaving. “And she seems to like Signor Sozzini.”

---

Over the next few days, Signor Sozzini had stayed and liked his stay enough that he told them he’ll come back with his father’s approval to negotiate marriage. The hunt had gone well, leaving his father smiling and Signor Sozzini beaming, too. Lorenzo lagged, just mostly riding and getting used to it.

Cecelia had a smile on her face, and Cosimo insisted upon an engagement of a year, at least beforehand.

But it would be weeks before they would hear from him, even as summer was ending soon.

“He was supposed to be the first, but he canceled his appointment.” Cecelia looked at him, fanning herself while waiting. They lined her gown with floral patterns, one of her best, in light pale blue, with a white underskirt, a large straw hat, with a blue ribbon over her powdered hair.

For a day gown, they typically wore it with a scarf, which would be bare during the evening.

“Also, I wanted to show you this?” Lorenzo asked. “Signor Certusi is going to show up today, but it’s hard to tell.”

It was a paper, including her poem. Cecelia burst into the biggest smile and hugged him. “I’m so glad that I could achieve this dream.”

“Also, he told me that if you want to send anymore, he’ll be open to. I told him everything.” Lorenzo smiled, donning a wine red coat, with brown breeches, finished with a white cravat. He had hid his black hair under a white wig, freshly powdered.

Cecelia looked in shock before it morphed into surprise. “Even despite my gender.”

“He likes it. He finds it enjoyable. And he can even give you recommendations on where to go. They don’t care if you’re anonymous, as long as you can collect the money.”

Her maid had gone to collect before coming back.

“I don’t know,” she said.

“Maybe send in one of your older favourite poems. See what he tells you,” he said. “Regardless, it’ll give you some wealth of your own.”

She looked up. “You’re right, this could help me gain some money. But I want to tell him, and I couldn’t.”

“Then tell him the next time you see him.” He looked.

Lorenzo didn’t quite know.

“So, did Signorina Candida return your proposal?” She asked.

“She did. I’m going to go to her cousin’s seeing her. The Baroness de Florgamo.”

Cecelia nodded. “So, she was scouting for her cousin? Antonia had a lot of opinions about every single man there that she scared me off most of them. Except Signor Sozzini and Comte de Castellane because they were foreigners.”

The Comte de Castellane had mostly dropped off the list as she was of too low a rank and too low an importance. He could always get a better deal back home, but offered his much less rich cousin. His father sought it as an affront and rejected it.

“Why not Signor Certusi?”

“I didn’t remember why.” Cecelia smiled.

“That sounded confusing.”

“She wanted to warn me about every single man, since no one ever told her about Cousin Francesco and his womanizing ways until she was wedded.” Cecelia said, almost exasperated with it.

Lorenzo sighed, before nodding, realising that he never spent that long in her company.

“She was my guide, in how to respond, since she’s been there a few years ago.” Cecelia looked.

“I just don’t get why it’s this complicated. It’s just between two people. The only people who truly have to live with each other are the partners who are together in the marriage.”

“I guess it helps if your family doesn’t hate him?” Cecelia gave a laugh.

“That’s sound, but not enough. What if everyone wants the marriage except you?” He asked.

It was an obvious question, even if he knew too well. This was the case for almost all royal marriages. Most knew who or even when they were getting married. And yet, they never were happy. They consoled themselves with power, with leisure, and with pleasure elsewhere.

Gennaro opened the door. “Signor Certusi’s arrived.”

Lorenzo went to meet him in the parlour, opening the door for his sister. Cecelia walked in after him.

Signor Certusi had blonde hair, long, hidden under his white wig. He had dark brown eyes, dark like the color of chestnut, with a button nose, and thin lips and a firm jaw. His dress was fine, in a fine light blue coat, with white breeches.

He kissed the hand of Cecelia, smiling at her. “Here’s a gift from me.”

Cecelia saw an envelope before keeping it.

“You must be an excellent poet,” he said, observing it.

“I know I am. As much as your sister could recognize some famous poems by heart, and I thought it would be the best gift for her.” He looked.

Cecelia only gave a wry smile, keeping it.

“What do you do in court?” Lorenzo asked. “I hope to one day take a position there, either as a minister or something else..”

“Why do you feel the need to do so? You already have the best position: becoming a premier noble once your father dies. You may attend all meetings regardless, or you can even beg your father to take him along.” Signor Certusi looked at him.

Just as his father entered inside the room. Today, his mother was not around.

“Marchese de Stressa.” He greeted him.

There was a sternness in his character. He returned it with what most of him and nothing more. Cosimo invited him.

“So, what department do you work for?” Lorenzo started the questioning.

“I’m getting used to the finance department.” Signor Certusi looked towards his father. “I work mostly for His Grace. It’s difficult, but it’s normal.”

He mostly brushed it off, not interested in the topic. But Lorenzo wanted to know more, and would not hesitate to dig it out of him.

Cecelia was almost afraid to ask anything—Cosimo acted with courtesy. But he’ll be sent packing, most likely.

Cecelia looked up, finally knowing what to ask. “Do you have ambitions for something greater?”

“Yes, working myself into a position of wealth and influence and working towards the duchy granting me a title and some revenue to support it.” He looked at her, expecting her to feel assured of that.

Although Lorenzo didn’t think that titles were going to be that useful, he envied Signor Certusi for his position.

“How is it like to serve the duchy?” Lorenzo asked. He wanted to know more. “I want to know how it’s being run.”

Lorenzo imagined projects, developments. Other than the obvious charity being given by the duke and duchess, and the relief. Even their family gave generously to the church and to the poor.

Signor Certusi tried to see anyone, his father.

“I would just say be honest, there are no outsiders here.” Cosimo smiled.

Lorenzo took a sip of his coffee before asking. “Mind telling me a little?”

“It’s mostly quite simple. I record whatever the duchy spends, and whatever the court spends. Then, I follow their orders to purchase anything. If there’s not enough money, I either tell them or I borrow from the banks. And of course, allocate the money appropriately.”

Lorenzo looked. “So, you propose nothing?”

“That’s not my job,” he said. “I’m there to make sure the books are balanced. Anything else isn’t my issue.”

Lorenzo felt almost deflated. He was clearly there to further his own position. Cecelia looked at her cup.

“But why my daughter, particularly?” Cosimo asked.

“I found Signorina de Moreni quite charming enough to throw my name into the ring.” He glanced at her. “I believe we could make a good marriage.”

While it took days for Signor Sozzini—who preferred to be called Fausto privately. And he insisted he call him Lorenzo.

“I see. So what can you offer her?” Cosimo asked.

“A future. I have grand ambitions.” He smiled. “She’ll want for nothing.”

Lorenzo was certain she’ll want for something, that was definitely affection and love if she married him.

Soon, with a few more moments of some small talk. Lorenzo trying to pry more details and getting shallow answers, before the servants led him out.

Cosimo had given a nod of approval. “You did admirably well?”

“All I wanted to know was how the finance department worked.” Lorenzo turned to him. “I know its basic functions from him, but nothing more. He’s conceited with his own ambitions and his talents.”

It was disappointing.

“I thought that wasn’t for me exactly.” Cecelia looked away. “I didn’t want to stop him because the more I hear, the less impressed I am. And I just felt nothing. He’s a great poet, though.”

“You’ve done well.” Cosimo told him.

“Why don’t you like him, Papa?” Cecelia asked. “You never gave him a chance to show anything.”

Cosimo explained. “It’s probably my own, but well, he used to be a groom for the duchess. One of her famous bodyguards, I'm prejudicial against the duchess. But I don’t like her grooms the most. Becoming her groom is mostly a way for you to end up in better positions, as she would put in a good word for you. But I don’t like someone who can see it that way who uses favour to get ahead.”

“That is something that I also dislike.” Lorenzo agreed. “But I thought this could have at least blossomed into a wonderful friendship. Though even as a source of information, he’s poor. But you’re right about them.”

“I was right, wasn’t I? He was venial and self-serving, but I thought it would be better for you to come to that realisation yourself.” Cosimo sipped the cup.

They both shared a look, though they were glad that their father had not immediately vetoed it. Instead, letting them see it.

Lorenzo smiled. He appreciated it.

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