The Art of Power and Love ( A Medici Masters of Florence the Magnificent fanfic)

Chapter 17

"It's normal that rich men like him find lovers" Giacomo avoided to talk about it since the party, when he had to comfort a broken Ginevra who barely had been able to explain why she came back and what happened next.
She refused to meet Lorenzo, as Clarice refused to see both of them. The three of them very like the extremity of a triangle that were meant not to meet each other.
"Poor lovers. Just brainless spoilt ladies who love his power and money".
Giacomo smiled dryly "Now you know what jealousy means".
"It hurts" she patted a hand on her chest "The last time he talked he looked so broken, I can't understand why he decided to break my heart even more. I can't understand anything anymore".
"Speaking of the devil...".
She followed his gaze and recognized the figure that was approaching them.
"No way" she turned to take the opposite direction, but Lorenzo's voice ordered loudly "Stop right where you are, Ginevra. Don't run away from me".
"I don't give a shit of your orders" she cursed under her breath without stopping.
"I need your help" Lorenzo added.
"Why would she help you, after what you did?" Giacomo crossed his path to stop him.
"Maybe it's not only me who needs help. She doesn't even know what it is about" Lorenzo pushed him away "Do you want to run away without knowing how you could have been helpful, Ginevra?".
She bit her lip and turned angrily "Do you think you can blackmail me now? You don't even ask for forgiveness? You just come and boss me around".
"Forgiveness?" He scoffed at her "I tried to fix things, should I feel regretful? Do you mind if I slept with another woman? Who cares if it's my wife or someone else? You told me to sleep with my wife. My wife hates me because I can't stop thinking about you. I picked someone else so she can't blame you this time and you can't blame me for not making my duties. What did I do wrong now?".
She stared at him feeling offended and angry.
"If you were not the master of Florence, I would have slapped you" she hissed.
"Well, I'm just Lorenzo to you, so feel free to slap me" he replied offering her his face.
"I don't want to talk to Lorenzo. I just stopped to hear what the master of Florence wanted from me".
"As you wish" he shrugged "I have to go to meet the Vespucci. Marco got married and he is back with his wife, so I have to pay a visit to them. And since you're familiar with them, you should come too".
"So I would just help you" she commented dryly.
"Not me, my family" he corrected "And I'd like to ask you to wear some more elegant dress, although I could easily explain that you refused to dress as you were used to do when you worked for them".
She felt in deep discomfort at the thought. She remembered clearly the last time he asked her to wear a fancy dress. She also remembered how she was used to enjoy wearing those clothes when she lived with the Vespucci.
As fear, Lorenzo offered her an expensive, beautiful dress.
Then when she wore it, he approached her with some small boxes, opening them under her eyes to reveal sparkling objects.
She glanced ar him, her mouth dry.
"You must be kidding".
"Do I look like I'm kidding?" He walked around her taking the jewels into his fingers "I know you always refused to wear jewels and I never understood why since I always knew that jewels could become more valuable on someone like you".
"These are the most precious jewels. I can't wear them" she turned to him shaking her head.
"You can. At least wear the pendant" he moved around her again, gently moving her hair to one side and laced the pendant around her neck.
She stood still, overwhelmed by contrasting feelings, and lowered her head when he stepped in front of her "What if I lose it? Or your mother or your wife see it on me?".
"You won't lose it because I'll be by your side all the time. And they are not coming, so they won't see it".
He handed her a veil, then placed a warm cloak on her shoulders.
She was grateful when they hurried, walking helped her recovering from the awkward moments.
A carriage was waiting for them, but Giuliano crossed their path.
"Where are you going such in  a hurry?".
"Not now, brother" Lorenzo pushed him aside and opened the door.
"You don't want me around, brother?" Giuliano mocked his tone full of authority.
Lorenzo rolled his eyes "Alright then, come. Just don't make a mess".
Giuliano scanned his companion, recognizing her under her cloak and the hood that was covering her head.
"Woah, Ginevra, you look breathtaking. What did I miss?" Giuliano helped her climb on the carriage and followed her, but Lorenzo hurried to catch the seat next to her.
"The Vespucci were her previous masters. I guessed they'd like to meet her again after these years".
"And they'll want her back so you will ask a lot of money to cover our debts?" Giuliano raised a brow to him.
Ginevra glanced between the two of them, hating to be at the center of the conversation like she was merely an object.
"Don't be a fool. I'd never sell her. She's more valuable than money" Lorenzo said looking out of the curtains.
"More valuable than our grandmother's necklace? Is that what you hope to sell? And she's the perfect model to wear it" Giuliano winked at the speechless woman.
"Brother, if you don't shut up, I'll push you out of the carriage" Lorenzo scowled at him.
Giuliano winked at the woman again "Told you I was just ruining your tender moment together".
Luckily the journey was short and they jumped down from the carriage. Lorenzo offered Ginevra his hand and helped her down, then didn't leave her hand while she watched the Vespucci palace feeling overwhelmed by memories, specially those about the day she moved away from there.
They were warmly welcomed from the family.
Lorenzo insisted to unlaced Ginevra's cloak replacing the humble servants who gathered around them, then took place the rituals of hand shaking and kissed with the wealthy people of that house.
"Ginevra! It's so nice to see you again. You're more beautiful than I remember" messer Vespucci immediately laid his eyes on her and hurried to hug her and kiss her cheeks.
"Thank you" when he stepped back she bowed her head with a warm smile "And you're kind as I recall".
The man waved to a younger man who approached them "This is Marco. I don't remember if you met him. He was just a boy then".
She offered her hand, that he gently kissed "I do remember you. It's nice to see you again".
"The pleasure is all mine. Can I introduce you to my wife?" He waved to another young woman who joined the group.
Ginevra heard about the bride, Simonetta. Rumours referred to her as the most beautiful girl who arrived in Florence and she realized that rumours were true.
The new Madonna Vespucci had the gift of modesty, but she was still a very young girl. And beauty was known to be very ephemeral.
Giuliano could barely keep his eyes off of her and as soon as they left that family, the two brothers started chatting about her.
"She's really beautiful. Of that rare kind of beauty" Giuliano didn't even blink since they dismissed and he kissed her hand.
"I agree, brother".
Giuliano chuckled, playfully kicking his foot "You have already the beautiful Ginevra, let some beauty also for me".
Lorenzo glanced at her, swallowing, but didn't reply.
They all turned thoughtful and silent until they reached their palace.
Lorenzo thanked her for joining the visit, then she gave him back the dress and the jewels.
"They looked very nice on you" he just commented in a whisper before walking fast away.