Romance

Two young people (Bathilde and Wulfgar) meet in secret.

Wulfgar cleared his throat and looked back up. “Sit with me? I’ve brought a blanket and some bread and cheese from last night. To eat. To break our fast.”

Bathilde smiled at his thoughtfulness. “We don’t have much time. My mother will be up soon.”

“I know. So will my father. We’re working the great field today.”

They ate in silence, comfortable just being with each other. Shy glances gave way to direct smiles and soon they were gossiping and laughing about people and events in the village.

Wulfgar grew serious. “I have something for you.”

He reached into the pouch at his belt and withdrew a ring.

“I made this. For you.”

Bathilde gently took the ring from his palm. It was made from thin silver wire, twisted into an intricate knot.

“It’s beautiful.”

“I asked my father to get the wire when he went to town. I wanted to give you something.”

Bathilde knew what the silver must have cost him. “I love it. Thank you.”

Wulfgar took the ring back, turned over her hand and slipped it onto her finger. His fingertip traced her palm and moved slowly toward the sensitive skin at her wrist.

Bathilde leaned forward, closing her eyes.

Then Wulfgar suddenly drew back.

“Did you hear that?”

She opened her eyes. “I don’t hear—”

A scream broke through the morning. Then shouting.

“It’s an attack! We have to go!”

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Renaissance artist Elisabetta runs errands and meets the man she secretly loves (cousin of best friend Adelina)

Elisabetta looked forward to her errands in the following days. While the painting took up much of her attention, her thoughts wandered to the olive skin and deep eyes of her new acquaintance. Out with her sister and aunt, she’d nearly collected everything on her list when she saw Adelina across the piazza from the art shop.

“I knew if I waited here long enough, you were certain to appear.” Gianni was suddenly standing beside her. Barbara had also spotted Adelina and had rushed off into the crowd. Aunt Isotta was still gazing into a fabric window, as she usually did when supervising Elisabetta’s errands.

“I’m not sure that’s as clever as you think. Of course an artist will visit an art shop,” she said as seriously as she could, hoping she could contain the sudden burst of happiness she felt.

“True. But do I at least get credit for standing in the same spot for three days, waiting for one particular artist to decide she needed a paintbrush?”

“I didn’t buy a paintbrush, actually…” she stopped, seeing the glint in Gianni’s eyes. Frowning and raising her eyes to the sky, Elisabetta mocked him gently by pretending to think. Then, with a benevolent smile, she nodded. “You do deserve credit, I’ll allow. I must ask though, what will you purchase with this credit, should you receive it?”

“The heart of a maiden, of course.” Sweeping his arms out wide, as he’d done when they’d met, he bowed low before her and held it before standing tall again.

Enjoying herself, Elisabetta looked around to ensure her aunt and sister were still occupied. Isotta didn’t see her niece, and Barbara waved enthusiastically across the piazza. “Well then, Sir Knight, I award you a credit. Use it wisely.”

Expecting the young man to start laughing, instead, he took her hand, leaned down, and placed a quick kiss on the back.

The noise of the crowd around them dimmed, and the bustle of shoppers and promenaders disappeared until there were only the two of them. She withdrew her hand in shock, accidentally brushing him on the shoulder as she did so. Or, she had to admit, not so accidental. A part of her wanted to touch him.

Suddenly the noise and commotion of the busy piazza returned. “I must go. My aunt is waiting.” She hoped this time when she turned, Isotta would be looking for her.

Elisabetta breathed a sigh of relief when she saw her aunt waving impatiently at her.

“Until next time then.” With a smile and a bob of his head, he slowly returned to his cousin.

Elisabetta, still shocked, didn’t look back and missed the look of longing the man gave her as she walked away. Had she seen the emotion, it would only have been added to her own.

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Noblewoman Caterina speaks to her second husband while in bed.

A cold wind blew in through a partially open window, stirring the curtain. Caterina pulled the blankets over them and burrowed into Giacomo’s arm. His heat warmed her almost immediately.

As they lay there, enjoying the comfort and scent of the other, Caterina felt she could stay like this forever.

“My love?”

Giacomo, almost asleep with his arm around her, murmured, “Hmm?”

“I have news to share with you.”

He immediately woke and turned toward her. “What is it? Is something wrong?”

“Everything is fine. Indeed, more than just fine…”

Caterina hesitated. Part of her worried that she would receive the same lacklustre response she had once received from her first husband, Girolamo.

“I’m with child.”

Giacomo’s face lit up. He hugged her tightly, then suddenly released her as though afraid he might hurt her.

“Is it true? I’m going to be a father?”

Caterina nodded happily and moved back into his arms. This time he held her gently, stroking the back of her head.

“If it’s a boy, we’ll name him Bernardino, after my uncle.”

“And if the child is a girl?”

Giacomo put his hand on Caterina’s stomach.

“I can already tell it’s a boy.”

“We’ll see.”

Caterina once more nestled against his shoulder as he wrapped his arm around her.