Chapter 14: Upside Down (I)

He felt happier to come back to Paserta. The thought of meeting Lavinia again had brought a smile to his face. They were going to discuss the topic. It excited him, as he looked upon her garden.

This was a sleepy city, even if when he was young, it was perhaps grand, pale compared to Ganeo, the capital of a maritime republic. After having so much more experience, it truly was sleepy.

This was his second visit in two months. Her groom had waited for him to come here. “Signora is expecting you inside, Signor de Moreni.”

Since he had sent someone saying that he’ll paying a call. But today wasn’t for that, but to meet her cousin and prospective wife. Even if he felt that in all cases, courtship should be about honesty, not about negotiations. Even as he watched his parents descend into excitement when negotiating an engagement for their daughter.

Thinking of his marriage, that only made him shiver at this point; but glad that he wasn’t alone in navigating this complicated idea.

The groom led him into her parlour. It was smaller than what his house was. But they were a grand estate, while this was a townhouse.

“You must be here to meet with my cousin.”

Lorenzo looked at the man wearing a hat with gray hair. He dressed in a fairly dour black jacket, looking at that. This was the Barone de Florgamo, her husband. His valet accompanied him, appearing to be leaving.

“Signore.” He tipped his hat, meeting him.

“You don’t need to be so formal with you. I’m close to your father.” He gave a coy smile to him.

He gave a sheepish smile to the man.

“I hope to see you in the assembly. Your father talks highly of you.” Baron de Florgamo was so.

It surprised Lorenzo that his father had an expert opinion of him.

“I’m here to learn and observe.”

He wanted to get to know the country he saw.

“Is his health fine?” The Baron asked.

“He was here recently. He’s recovered well,” Lorenzo said.

His father was as vigorous as he was ever.

“I hope you find her to our liking. I’ve always wanted to bind our families together in marriage.”

“Is this really the way? Isn’t word enough?”

“There has to be an action. Friendship is one thing, as it’s easy. Marriage and binding in oath make them an ally.” He told him. “Now I should get a move on.”

Lorenzo looked as the man left, desiring to express his opinion about it. His fists were clenching; it was a pointless one. But he could not keep that within him.

Marriage was a family matter; it saddened him the choice of their spouse to was not theirs. Not without cost, not unless they will lose it all. But that to him was not a choice.

Lorenzo gave a chuckle at the absurdity of it all. Everything was decided by fate and where you were born.

Gennaro looked at him. “Pardon me, but why so?”

Lorenzo had given him the chance to speak his mind.

“This is a problem of nobles. That marriage is a matter of the family, above all. It's the ability to decide.” He looked down.

“But I wouldn’t mind that, signore.” Gennaro told him. “If you ask me.”

“Why?” He asked, turning to meet Gennaro’s eyes,

He looked to the side, thinking whether he wanted to talk. But eventually, he did so. “I had an uncle, married with five children, and he never earned enough. One day, he felt like he needed a new start, so he deserted her and left town, deserting her. With that extra, I worked instead of going to school. Because I didn’t want them to starve. They don’t deserve it.”

“I didn’t know that.” Lorenzo looked. “But I don’t mind you telling me it. I will never fire you for telling me the truth, no matter how uncomfortable it is.”

Lorenzo was out of touch.

“Signora is waiting to see you.” Her head housekeeper looked at him. Though she did not judge. “You’re taking too long.”

Lorenzo looked, his eyes turning back.

Inside, he came to face Alicia, a blonde-haired girl with dark eyes; she looked quite similar to Lavinia dressed in a pale pink gown with a straw hat and a similar ribbon. It was a rather sweet but also masculine color. Lavinia chose one of purple, a light lavender.

He greeted them most as they returned. Lavinia was going to be their chaperone. But Lorenzo found his eyes looking at her.

“Pretend I’m not here. It’s annoying if you don’t want to talk to each other.” Lavinia smiled coyly, fanning herself.

Both Alicia and Lorenzo stared, unimpressed.

“Last time we were talking, I wanted to ask you about Sarponne, and how it is.”

Lorenzo looked, before curling into a smile. “You remembered, I remembered you were dancing with someone else.”

“You’re quite memorable, signore. Few ask me, most just look. They make an assessment based on what they see.”

He knew the topic, her health, which mattered in childbearing and, more of his mother’s concern; his father was more about money and influence of the family involved.

“As am I with you.” He smiled.

“Don’t jest with me.” Alicia picked up her cup. “You only danced with two people and left because your sister was exhausted.”

He gave a laugh.

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“Don’t tell me you’re not interested in getting married?” Alicia asked.

“I’m not thrilled at the prospect. But I think that romance is real.”

“The Marchese de Stressa is both honourable and faithful, loyal to his wife.” Lavinia looked. “A rare example of a man.”

Most were keeping lovers on the side, marriage was simply for them. They were free in affairs. Lorenzo didn't like the secrecy of it all. But he could see the reasoning behind them. And as long as it was something both understood, then he had no reason to do anything about it.

Alicia smiled.

He looked at how Lavinia was trying to push her to him. But she wasn’t too comfortable.

“What do you like to see about Sarponne?” Lorenzo asked, wanting to change his idea.

Alicia paused before answering. “I guess it’ll be the opera, the theatre and the salons, all of which make life exciting.”

He looked at her. “You’re not being entirely honest.”

Alicia looked away, darting to her cousin for answers, desiring to be a fascinating woman. She was very restrained.

“I like to ride. Whatever philosophy is based on nature, I prefer it; even if it’s about botany and animals. Because it’s there where I feel free.” She told him. “Riding especially, I have a lot of fun with it. But I know you don’t like to ride much.”

Lorenzo gave a laugh. “However, it feels fun, doesn’t it? And that there you can run, escape from it all.”

Alicia looked to the side, surprised at his reaction. “Yes, it does.”

He looked to Lavinia, giving her the confidence together. But he was happy that Alicia was being honest.

“I learned a lot about you, and I thought you would like it when someone lies to you. But cousin Lavinia disagreed with me.” She looked.

Lorenzo thought her smile was just gorgeous.

“I guess I dislike lies and fakeness above all. But now, when you tell me you liked something, I like you a lot more.”

“Although that’s ironic for society, about how everyone puts on a mask to hide ourselves?” She asked.

Alicia looked at her, surprised at the brazen change of topic.

“Yes, but I’m bad at facades. I’m bad for living lies.” He downed a cup of them. He wanted to show it all.

“Although I wonder, what do you think of inheriting the estate?”

“It’s the same. I wanted none of it. But I’ll do it so that I would never put my brother in the same situation. I’m trapped, but deep down, I want to change it too.” He looked, his eyes going to Lavinia.

Alicia looked at him before looking down. “I was wondering why my brother told me you’ll only bring me nothing more than grief should I go down this path.”

“Do you think this way?” He asked.

“No, I want to get to know you more. I found you intriguing, signore.” She looked. “I hope to see you again. I must go.”

Lavinia nodded at her housekeeper.

Lorenzo raised his eyebrow. “What is it?”

“She’s learning some etiquette. Her father sought it for her after his sister—married to a Ganean noble—saw her as not polite enough.”

“I thought she was fine.” He raised his eyebrow, looking. “She was so timid, but the moment she talked about what she liked. She came to life and became more vivacious.”

“That’s Alicia. She’s fine the way she is. There will be those she will scare and those she will attract. Courtship is all about attracting the right person more than, say, as many as you can. But doing your best is to find that person you get along with best.” She looked. "But I didn’t think you did it for such a noble reason. To protect your younger brother from the fate and the burden you carry.”

She was teasing him. But he was so.

“Yes,” he said. “Just like how you help her, even if it’s a system that you know doesn’t always work. So that she’ll never end up like you.”

Lavinia fanned herself. “Until there’s something better, then this is what we have to do.”

“But do you think there will be something better?” Loreno looked at her.

“When I hear it from you, I believe it.” She looked.

He smiled. “Thank you. I needed to hear that.”

“After I heard why you’re still here more than just changing, more than just duty, I pray for your success.”

He blushed. “I should get going, and I’ll see you in the next salon.”

He walked out, Gennaro raising his eyebrow, staring at him.

“Did the Signorina impress you?” Gennaro leaned in.

“Not quite.”

Before they headed off, into the carriage and all the way back to his townhouse, eager to throw himself back into work again. There was a letter from his cousin, attached was a party. Hosted by his cousin Antonia, and inside, was a scolding letter about how lax he was in trying to find a wife.

Lorenzo twitched and felt like groaning.

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