A Slave To Kings E-Book

Dodie Bishop

• Herausgeber: Next Chapter
• Kategorie: Gesellschafts- und Liebesromane
• Sprache: Englisch

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2022

Beschreibung

Florence, 1677. While Sam assumes a new identity as part of his mother’s Cardinale family, Raphael introduces his new family to his Florentine one, only to unearth life-changing revelations.

Meanwhile in London, Noah seeks revenge on those behind the attempt on Sam's life, and Susannah unwittingly confirms to the Duke of Monmouth that Sam is alive.

Will Raphael finally discover why his father seems to despise him, and can Susannah face her worst fears?

For Sam, Florence offers safety after his brush with death in Jamaica... but are his enemies already closing in?

A riveting historical mystery set in 17th century Europe, A Slave To Kings is the third novel in Dodie Bishop's 'Silence And Shadows' series.

Leseprobe

A Slave To Kings

SILENCE AND SHADOWS BOOK 3

DODIE BISHOP

Contents

1. Raphael

2. Noah

3. Susannah

4. Noah

5. Raphael

6. Susannah

7. Noah

8. Susannah

9. Raphael

10. Noah

11. Raphael

12. Susannah

13. Noah

14. Susannah

15. Hal

16. Noah

17. Raphael

18. Susannah

19. Raphael

20. Noah

21. Raphael

22. Hal

23. Susannah

24. Raphael

25. Susannah

26. Noah

27. Susannah

28. Hal

29. Raphael

30. Noah

31. Susannah

32. Raphael

33. Noah

34. Hal

35. Raphael

36. Hal

37. Raphael

38. Susannah

39. Noah

40. Susannah

41. Noah

42. Susannah

43. Raphael

44. Hal

45. Noah

46. Susannah

47. Noah

Epilogue

Author’s Note

Next in the Series

About the Author

Copyright (C) 2022 Dodie Bishop

Layout design and Copyright (C) 2022 by Next Chapter

Published 2022 by Next Chapter

Edited by Lorna Read

Cover art by CoverMint

This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without the author’s permission.

For Alan, Chris and Alex

And soonest our best men with thee do go,

Rest of their bones, and soul’s delivery.

Thou art slave to fate, chance, kings and

desperate men

John Donne, Death, be not proud

CHAPTER1

Raphael

FLORENCE 1677

After the track snaked its way around a steep hillside and dropped down into a small vale filled with olive trees, I was startled to find I knew where I was, despite the coach’s lurching and the horses’ snorts of protest as their hooves slid over the loose ground. This was the landscape Sam had told me of the year before when travelling to Westminster Hall on trial for his life.

Though he had never been in these hills near Maiano before today, his mother had described this place so vividly, he had been able to pass it on clearly enough for me to recognise it now. I reined in my horse. ‘Wait, Noah.’ I signalled the coach to halt, too. Sam was already hanging out of the open window. ‘Do you see where we are?’ I called to him, riding back and quickly dismounting.

‘My God. It’s just as she said. We’re on Cardinale land already. I hadn’t realised.’ Sam jumped out and walked down into the shade beneath the gnarled trees, heavy with green and black olives. Nets were pegged out on the ground beneath them to catch the fruit when it fell. He stood, hands on hips, turning full circle to take it all in.

The weeks of sickness had left him pale, his chestnut hair darker, no longer bleached by the sun. Though the voyage from Lisbon, through the Mediterranean and on to Livorno on the Tuscany coast, had given him more time to recuperate. Thank God, he now seemed nearly back to full health after such a close brush with death, following his stabbing in Jamaica.

‘I recognised it, just from your words.’ I took Susannah’s hand to help her down from the coach, Penny jumping out behind her and running to Sam, who swept her up in his arms to kiss her. She was his daughter, after all, though she called me Papa. Pearl passed my son down to me before climbing out herself. The hot air, heavy with the fruity-spice scent of olives, was filled with the calling song of cicadas. I led Susannah into the shade. Of all of us, she was the only one untouched by the Caribbean sun, her pale, creamy skin and moonbeam hair unsuited to such exposure. Though Penny appeared just as fair, her skin had proved more resilient than her mother’s, suffering nothing more than some rather pretty freckles.

‘Raphael, this is wonderful. I’ve never seen an olive grove before. The trees are so beautiful.’ She reached out to touch one. ‘This pitted, gnarled bark. The silver-green of the leaves.’

Taking care not to wake Paolo, I lifted a green fruit from the net and passed it to her, taking one myself and eating it. ‘Bellissima.’

Pearl joined us, relieving me of my sleeping child. How glad we were she had decided to leave Jamaica – where she had been housekeeper to Sam and Noah – to be nursemaid to our children. And how well she had taken every new experience in her stride. I imagined London would prove the ultimate test though, as it did for all of us used to warmer climes. Indeed, it had proved something of a shock to me when I arrived there some years before. Cold. Wet. Overcrowded. And filthy.

‘How much longer now? I’s had more a-nuff a-bumpin’ an a-bouncin’.’ She smiled down at Paolo. ‘Him happy nuff wid it.’

‘Well, my arse has had more than enough of a saddle which now feels made from iron. Though, I think it can’t be too far as this is a Cardinale olive grove.’

Sam and Penny joined us. ‘If I remember my mother correctly, I’d expect the house to be on the other side of that ridge.’ He pointed.

Noah rode down the slope to us, like a Viking coming out of the sun. ‘I’ve been up to the brow and that’s where it is, all right. With a rather fine view of Florence in the distance behind it.’ He swung his leg over the pommel and dismounted, before tilting his head to study Sam. ‘How are you feeling?’

Sam smiled. ‘Well, relieved to be here … yet sad, too, of course.’

Without discussion, we all moved away back up to the coach to give them some privacy. They would soon part, for they could no longer live as they had in Jamaica, hiding their true relationship behind the pretence of being half-brothers. Noah would return to London with his sons – left behind with the Mirabel in Pisa after sailing up the Canale dei Navicelli from Livorno – to go after those who had conspired to murder Sam. What he would do after that seemed uncertain. I hoped they could find a way to be together. ‘How is he really?’

Susannah sighed. ‘Better. Yet melancholy, which is understandable I suppose, with the prospect of losing both Noah and Penny.’

I squeezed her hand. ‘And you, cara.’

‘May I ride with you, Papa?’ Penny said. ‘I’ve had enough of the carriage. It smells too much of Paolo’s shit.’

Susannah raised her eyebrows and laughed, turning to me. ‘You’ve been a bad influence on us, Raphael. We no longer use good English euphemisms.’

‘Of course you can ride with me, piccola.’ I climbed into the carriage to help the others back inside. ‘It was hard enough learning plain English without all those strange substitutions that make no sense.’ I bent to kiss my wife. Her hand came up behind my head and we smiled at each other.

Once mounted with Penny in front of me, I followed Noah up the slope to the ridge, where we stopped to view the house. It was more impressive than I had expected for a villa so far outside the city, though very much in the typical Tuscan style, with its single square tower at the end of a long three-storey building with many small, shuttered windows. Villa Falconieri. Home of the Cardinale family for several generations. And down the slope behind it was that view of Florence Noah had spoken of. The great dome of the basilica was starkly visible in late sunlight, its terracotta tiles glowing like fire, filling me with such joy to look on it once more and also trepidation at the thought of seeing my father again. I took a long breath.

Sam’s aunt Serafina had generously offered to accommodate us all, so I would not be obliged to call upon my family to lodge us. Artemisia and Claudia already lived in crowded family households, and I refused to stay in my childhood home with Papà while he lived there with his mistress. Somewhat hypocritical of me perhaps, after having had many illicit relationships myself, though not since my marriage.

I would take my new family down into the city tomorrow and introduce them to my old one. What would Susannah make of them? What would they make of her? Surely, they would be astonished at my good fortune in finding such a wife, never mind by our beautiful son and my stepdaughter, who is the very image of her mother.

CHAPTER2

Noah

Noah stood on the gravel expanse in front of the villa’s porticoed entrance, flanked by many outsized marble urns full of trailing scarlet hibiscus, the air heavy with their scent. Serafina was tiny and slender, dressed in cream silk, her dark, grey-streaked hair elaborately styled and dressed with jewelled pins. He saw Sam in her immediately. How strange it must be for him to see how his mother would look now, had she lived, for Serafina and Sofia had been twins, and his aunt surely saw her sister in this, her only child.

She held tightly to his hands. ‘Samuele. Sofia’s letters were always so full of you.’ She shook her head. ‘Looking at you now is like seeing her all those years ago … seeing myself then, too, of course. None of my own children have such a likeness.’ She touched his face. ‘You’ll meet them all this evening when they join us for dinner.’

‘I look forward to it.’ Sam brushed away a tear. ‘This seems the only good thing to come from my exile. To see you like this and meet my family here. I can’t thank you enough for welcoming me so warmly and my companions, too.’ He turned around and beckoned to Penny. ‘Come and meet your great-aunt,’ he said in English.

Penny went to them, smiling, hugging Serafina when she bent to kiss her. ‘Thank you for having us here.’

Serafina patted her face. ‘I’m so very glad to meet you, Penelope.’ She turned back to Sam, though she continued to speak in English. ‘You must introduce me to your friends and then I’ll have someone show you all to your chambers.’

Sam’s room at the back of the house had a large balcony and a fine view of the grounds with the backdrop of the city beyond. Noah had soon joined him there after he had quickly bathed in his much smaller room at the side, looking out over olive groves. Sam was still in the bathtub when he entered without knocking.

He opened his eyes and smiled. ‘I hope you weren’t seen.’

Noah laughed. ‘Strange how easily old instincts come back.’ He knelt beside the bath and gently touched the ugly scar on the front of Sam’s shoulder. This was the poisoned wound that had come so close to killing him. He bent to kiss it.

Sam placed his hand on Noah’s face, before moving it round to the back of his head to pull him down for a kiss. And then for rather more than that. ‘Did you lock the door?’

‘I most certainly did. I’d prefer not to scandalise your aunt quite so soon.’

‘But you do intend to scandalise her at some point?’

‘I think we must tell her about us …’ And then he stopped talking for a while. How intense their coming together was now when they knew how little time remained for them. Later, Noah lay holding Sam close in the fading light. Someone had tried the door, presumably to light the candles. Thank Christ he had, indeed, thought to lock it. He laughed thinking of it.

Sam turned his head, opening his eyes. ‘What?’

‘No matter.’ He sighed. ‘I should go and get ready for dinner.’

Sam sat up. ‘My aunt wishes to talk to me afterwards. She wants to know everything about my situation. I’ve made her aware there may be some danger attached to my being here, but she needs to know the full extent of it, I think.’ He ran his hand down over Noah’s chest. ‘And, as you are part of my situation, I agree she needs to know about you, too. So, I’d like you with me when we talk.’

‘Very well.’ He swung his legs to the floor and began to dress. ‘I sincerely hope she won’t banish me immediately.’ He lit the candles himself in the twilight.

‘Let’s hope not. But we have no choice, do we?’ Sam left the bed and began selecting clothes for dinner, already unpacked into cabinets and wardrobes by servants. ‘We can’t explain so much of what happened without including your part in it.’

CHAPTER3

Susannah

After Paolo had been fed and handed to Pearl, and we had all bathed and dressed for dinner, we made the necessary finishing touches to ourselves in front of the huge, gold-framed looking glass. Penny and I wore the indigo satin Raphael loved. What an act of optimism bringing her gown had been. The sugar planter in Barbados – who had bought Penny from kidnappers, claiming to be her natural father – had provided her with many fine gowns she had told us, but they were abandoned when she was rescued. We had brought clothing for both Penny and Kitty with us. I closed my eyes thinking of the poor lost little girl whose gowns remained folded in the trunk.

I watched my husband now, brushing her pale hair after pinning mine up so skilfully, as he always did, reminding myself to thank his sisters for teaching their little slave so well when I finally met them tomorrow.

He wore a moss green satin coat and waistcoat embroidered in gold that so perfectly matched his eyes. He could not see it, of course. How could he be so blind to himself? I smiled. ‘Doesn’t Papa look especially handsome tonight, Penny?’

Penny grinned at his embarrassment. She knew this foible as well as I did by now. ‘You look very pretty, Papa.’

He snorted. ‘Impossible, when I’m in the shadow of two such beautiful ladies. How can I be anything other than a nonentity?’

I moved to kiss the back of his neck beneath his ribbon-clubbed hair. ‘Well, then, an extremely handsome nonentity, my love.’

He bowed, offering an arm to each of us. ‘Let’s go down.’

We met Sam and Noah outside on the terrazza at the back of the house, brightly lit by wall sconces and many candles in gilded candelabra flickering wildly, stirred by the night breeze. Noah and Sam, too, had dressed in finery. So different from our relaxed time in Jamaica. Sam in cerulean satin and Noah like us in indigo, a shade which showed off his flaxen hair, just as it did for Penny and me. Punch was served by liveried servants and many carefree children ran around, smiled at indulgently by the adults. This was so charmingly un-English. Children were not expected to be present at night-time entertainments there. Penny soon slipped away to join in, finding her lack of Italian very little handicap, it appeared. Raphael’s arm came around my waist. ‘It’s lovely to see her so happy.’

It was Sam who answered. ‘I want to fix her in my mind just as she is now, to remember after she’s gone.’

Poor Sam; my heart ached for him that he must so soon be parted from those he loved most. ‘She’ll write. We all will.’ How meagre a compensation it sounded.

He touched my arm. ‘And I’ll be grateful for every word.’

Soon, we were ushered to the other side of the terrazza, where a long table, decorated with garlands and aglitter with candlelight sparkling on crystal and silverware, was positioned beneath a vine-covered pergola. Serafina’s family were assembled there for the introductions.

First came Antonio with his wife Tullia and their children, Piero, Lorenzo and Livia. Next came Tommaso, dressed in the black and purple soutane of a monsignor – Raphael whispered to inform me – then Sofia and Marcello and their son Vincenzo, and lastly, Camilla with her husband Niccolo and children Caterina and Lionardo. I knew I would never remember which name went with which face. There seemed so many of them. Though all Serafina’s children were glossily good-looking – only Camilla’s husband stood out as a match for her in appearance – none showed any likeness to their mother, just as she had said. The priest was the best looking of all of them, though, which seemed rather a waste.

Penny sat between Sam and me, obviously enchanted by it all. ‘Oh, it’s so pretty. Just like fairyland.’ She turned to Sam. ‘You’re so lucky to be able to live here.’

He smiled, ruefully. ‘I’d far rather come home with you, little one.’ He glanced across at Noah, who was talking earnestly with the priest.

Was he Lorenzo or Antonio? Or perhaps Niccolo? No. That was the handsome husband, I thought. I turned to Raphael and found his eyes fixed upon me. ‘What?’

He smiled and I blushed, of course. How did this still happen? ‘It’s a long time since I’ve seen you in a setting like this. You take my breath away, cara.’

‘As you do mine.’ I took a long drink of wine and quickly felt its rush in my blood. I moved my head close to his and spoke into his ear. ‘I do desire you rather intensely at this moment.’

He grinned. ‘Well, I think it might be noticed if we slipped beneath the table, but I’m up for it if you are?’ He lifted my hand to his lips before moving it down to feel his arousal concealed beneath the table. ‘Or, amore mio, we could wait until we’re alone on a rather fine feather bed, if you prefer?’

I held his gaze for a moment before moving to whisper in his ear again. ‘I love you beyond words, my Raphael.’

‘And I thank God for it.’

As each Tuscan dish was brought to the table, Raphael described its ingredients to me. All were truly delicious. Before long, the children left the table to run and shriek in the darkness with servants watching over them. How wonderful to have such freedom. I wondered how they could still be so boisterous at this time of night.

Raphael seemed to read my mind. ‘A rest is usually taken in the heat of the day.’

Gradually others, too, began to move away, carrying their wine to stone benches at the other side of the terrazza. Sam bent to kiss my cheek before leaving to join Noah, who was still deep in conversation with the priest a little way away on the grass. I touched Raphael’s arm. ‘Let’s take a stroll.’

He drained his glass. ‘An excellent idea.’

We stood and he took my arm in his to lead me away into the warm darkness. The full moon was now directly overhead; its brilliance had not been fully discernible on the brightly lit terrace. Now, we walked over silvered grass, moving away from the house and making our way off to the side where there were a number of outbuildings, including what was clearly a stable block. Could he really be thinking what I thought he was? He guided me inside, into air full of the warm scent of horses and fresh hay … and ripe dung. Soft whickering and forward-pointed ears welcomed us. The interior was lit by a high slatted cupola where cold, broad shafts of moonlight streamed in.

He held my hand as he walked along the row of stalls, stroking velvet noses and speaking softly in Italian to each beast as he passed, until he found what he sought. A vacant stall, its brick floor bare of straw. He led me inside. ‘I think this will do very well, cara.’

‘Do for what, pray?’ Yet we had done rather a lot of this secret, hidden coupling since our long-enforced abstinence onboard ship. And here we were seemingly about to do so again, despite our chamber with its lockable door and feather bed. Just the thought of doing this now was disconcertingly arousing.

He leaned in to kiss me, cupping my breast before lowering the satin to uncover me. I looked down at the brick floor, which I was sure smelt a little of horse piss. ‘You can’t be serious? Not on that.’

With his mouth firmly back over mine, he walked me backwards until I was pressed against the wooden boarded wall. He moved his mouth down onto my breasts. ‘Christ, Raphael.’

He stood back and smiled. ‘Lift your skirts.’

I licked my lips, my heart pounding, my body already burning with need. I lifted them. ‘Against a wall? Really?’ I heard desire thickening my voice.

‘Higher. I want to see you.’ He unbuttoned his breeches and freed himself before moving to me to grasp my thigh and lift it, exploring me first with his fingers.

Things were fast and hard after that, leaving us both gasping and panting. When he stepped away to right himself, I shook out my skirts, doubting the creases could be removed without the attentions of a smoothing iron. ‘Well, I’ve never done that before.’ I tilted my head, watching him in the moonlight. ‘I imagine the same can’t be said of you?’

He grinned before attempting to look a little shamefaced. ‘I can’t deny it, amore mio.’ He moved in to kiss me again. ‘But never quite so well,’ he said, against my lips.

CHAPTER4

Noah

Noah was unaware of Sam’s presence until he felt a light touch on his back. He turned then, to smile. ‘Your cousin has shown a keen interest in transatlantic trade and the Indies sugar plantations in particular.’

Sam bowed. ‘Cousin Tommaso. I believe we know rather more about how such plantations operate than we entirely care to. Noah especially so.’

‘Sì. He described the slave auction he witnessed.’ He crossed himself. ‘Such a wicked thing. For are we not all God’s children?’

Noah rather thought the Pope would not turn down a share in sugar profits should they come his way.

Tommaso Cardinale eyed them both, shrewdly. ‘You speak excellent Italian, gentlemen. My cousin not surprisingly. Your mamma taught you, no?’ Sam nodded. ‘And, perhaps in turn, you taught your friend?’

Sam smiled, shaking his head. ‘We’ve not been acquainted long enough for him to acquire such fluency from me.’

Noah grinned. ‘Though I can’t claim mine to be much polished. I learnt from a sailor on my father’s ship, so not an educated man, but I do have a certain facility with cursing, as a compensation.’

Tommaso laughed.

Sam turned to Noah. ‘I believe it’s time for me to speak with my aunt. Might you accompany me?’

‘Will you tell her about the nature of your … attachment, Cousin?’

Noah frowned. ‘What? What the–’

‘Yes,’ Sam said softly. ‘I shall tell her everything. If she is to offer me a home here, I must.’

Tommaso nodded. ‘You’re right to.’ He touched Sam’s arm. ‘Such things are not unknown to her.’ He glanced around the terrazza. ‘She’s already left. Come. Let me show you both to the drawing room.’

He led Noah and Sam inside, through the white marble hall embellished with Carrara marble panels and a somewhat – to Noah’s eyes at least – garishly painted ceiling of cherubim and seraphim surrounded by plump, frolicking putti. The floor, too, was of streaked white marble. The priest led them to ceiling-height double door, which he opened with something of a flourish.

Serafina Cardinale sat on an ornately carved and gilded chair, upholstered in crimson silk brocade in a room furnished in dark wood, reflecting a more rustic Tuscan tradition, Noah imagined. They bowed. She quickly gestured them to chairs close beside her. ‘Tommaso. Would you pour wine for us all? I should like you to stay.’

He moved into the room, closing the great doors behind him. ‘Of course, Mamma.’

She sighed. ‘Since your uncle’s death last year, I’ve rather depended upon Tommaso’s support. Now, perhaps you’d like to tell your tale, Samuele. Your letter gave me an outline only, if an alarming one.’

With wine dispensed in rather fine cut crystal goblets – Murano glass, Noah recognised – he turned to Sam, watching him steel himself ready to speak. ‘Take your time,’ he said, quietly.

Sam smiled. ‘Indeed, Aunt. I must begin with what happened to me in the spring of last year. This is where my predicament seemed to start, though at the time I was unaware that the true origins were in certain information I had learned the year before at the court of Louis XIV in the Palais du Louvre.’ He sipped his wine. ‘So, in the early months of ‘76, I was imprisoned in the Tower of London, accused of a murder that had been judged high treason against the King. Though I was innocent, evidence had been contrived to prove my guilt. I had an alibi.’ He glanced at Noah. ‘But I wasn’t at liberty to reveal it for, in truth, it would have done nothing to assist me.’

Serafina frowned. ‘How can that be?’

Sam looked at Noah, who nodded and cleared his throat. ‘Sam was with me that night. We were in … are in a liaison that is proscribed by law on pain of death.’

Her frown deepened. ‘I see.’ She waved her hand towards Sam. ‘Go on, please.’

Noah watched Sam tell his tale unflinchingly, and his heart ached for him. Eventually, he recounted how, after the King ordered his release, they had escaped to Jamaica, living there contentedly for a time with Hal until Susannah and Raphael had arrived with news of Penny’s kidnap.

Finally, he explained how they learned this was linked with shadowy interests in England, still working against him, ending with the attempt made on his life. An attempt that had so nearly succeeded. ‘I won’t tell you who these parties are, or what I know that puts me in danger, but I want you to understand that having me here is not without risk to you and your family.’ He drained his glass and smiled at his aunt. ‘Please believe me when I say, I would understand completely if you prefer I should go elsewhere.’ He glanced at Noah. ‘We can find an alternative, I’m certain. Noah’s a very resourceful man.’

Serafina sighed. ‘From all you’ve told me, I can see that is undoubtedly so. But, Samuele, there will be no need. You are my dear sister’s child and I’ll do my utmost to protect you here. Just as she would have done for any of my children, I’m certain.’

Tommaso rose and refilled all their glasses. ‘We are not without resources ourselves. I believe we can keep you safe.’ He handed his mother her glass and held her gaze. ‘Perhaps we can discuss what might be done about Sam and Noah’s living arrangements?’

She nodded, slightly. ‘Go ahead.’

Noah found the priest’s acceptance of what to him must go against the teachings of his church, startling, to say the least. ‘I won’t stay long here. I must take my sons and the Rossi family back to London. Then I have some business to attend to with various individuals there. I hope I might visit Sam here after it’s concluded. If there are no objections, of course?’

The priest steepled his fingers. ‘There will be none. I’m sure you know all about the sort of discretion that will be required?’ He looked from Sam to Noah. ‘I can see my attitude surprises you.’ He took a long breath. ‘I have chosen to renounce my own … predilections.’ He held up his hand when both men seemed about to interrupt. ‘That was my choice and not one I would seek to impose on anyone else. I fully understand you feel you have no choice but to be as you are …’ He crossed himself. ‘God knows, it is not a path anyone would wish for. No, I forswore it because I know it’s what God requires of me.’ He sounded angry, suddenly. ‘And believe me, there are too many in the church who seem not to have done any such thing.’ He calmed himself with another long breath. ‘But that is between them and God.’

When Tommaso smiled, it transformed his face and Noah thought for a moment he could see something of his mother … and of Sam, too.

‘But I have strayed from my purpose. What I intended to tell you is that some years ago, I had a small house built higher up in the hills where I was able to live discreetly, without bringing any scandal down upon the family. I believe it has fallen into some disrepair in the intervening years, but I’m sure it can be restored for you.’ He turned to Sam with a smile. ‘It would also make an excellent artist’s studio, I think.’

‘Aunt. Cousin.’ He looked from one to the other. ‘I don’t know what to say. Your generosity overwhelms me.’ He stood and moved to hug Serafina.

Tommaso rose then, to embraced Sam. ‘We might ride out tomorrow so I can show you both the place, if you wish?’

‘We should like that.’ He glanced at Noah. ‘You have our deep gratitude.’

When they were alone once more in his chamber, Sam sat on the bed shaking his head. ‘Well, whatever I expected of the Cardinale family, it wasn’t this.’

‘Your aunt didn’t say much, did she? I assume she approves of us having the house.’

‘She loves Tommaso very much. Her eyes hardly left him. Did you notice?’

‘Can’t say I did. I was too busy watching him.’

CHAPTER5

Raphael

I stood at the window with the drapes parted just enough to see dawn begin to fill the sky. Sleep had proved elusive. I was, of course, uneasy about seeing my family again later today. Or more precisely, about seeing my father. Just as my three-year absence in Rome had given me a fresh perspective on my relationship with him on my return, I understood my changed life now would do the same.

In truth, what I did not want to face, finally, was the knowledge that he did not love me and probably never had. And that I had no idea why. Yet how could I not be certain of it now? For I loved Susannah and our children with all my heart and knew this would be transparent when I looked at them. I had never seen such a thing from him. Had I ever seen it for any of us?

I turned at the sound of Susannah’s footsteps approaching over the polished oak and reached out to place my arm around her waist, pulling her close. ‘Did I wake you, cara?’

She kissed my shoulder. ‘No. I woke suddenly, wondering why Pearl hadn’t brought Paolo to me. Then I realised he’s slept through the night. Isn’t that wonderful?’

‘It is.’ I must admit I missed his presence with us in his cradle now he slept in Pearl’s chamber. Hearing his snuffles and soft snores. I cupped her heavy breast. ‘Though he must need less from you now she feeds him panada, I imagine.’

She touched my face. ‘You’re concerned about today. Are you worried they won’t like us?’

I laughed. ‘How could they not love my beautiful wife and family?’ I opened the curtains fully to the brightening sky and kissed her before leading her back to the bed. ‘I think it’s time I faced a few things with my father, that’s all. I hope seeing him today might help me to do it. It’s certainly overdue.’

‘What about your sisters? Will seeing them be difficult, too?’

I moved onto my elbow to look down at her, stroking moonbeam hair back from her face. ‘I’m sad you’ll never meet Gianna. I was closer to her than to Artemisia and Claudia.’

She held my gaze. ‘What is it with your father? Can you tell me?’

I sat up higher against the pillows, unsure I wished to talk about it, though I understood she would need some sort of answer. ‘I’m not sure I know, entirely. A reserve?’ I shrugged. What I did know was there was a vague sense of humiliation surrounding it … about the way I had allowed him to dominate me. And I was unsure if I wished my wife to know of it. In truth, it left me feeling a little unmanned. So, it was clearly more than just sensing his lack of love for me.

She sat up beside me. ‘I understand, I think.’

But before we could say more, the sound of an infant’s cries could be heard approaching and we both turned to other things.

Later, in Serafina’s coach, kindly loaned to us for our purpose, I regarded my family, feeling only pride to be taking them to visit my father and sisters … and to show Susannah my beautiful city, at last. Pearl held a sleeping Paolo with Penny beside her, chattering her excitement.

I hoped my father would make an effort to welcome Susannah. Mamma had reluctantly told me of his spiteful remarks about my taking on another man’s child. ‘Another man’s bastard’ were his exact words, I believe. I wondered if I should have warned her of it. Yet, for some reason, I did not wish to prejudice her against him before they even met. Now, I worried I had been mistaken. But it was too late, of course.

The coachman knew to take us down to the Arno and into the heart of Duomo Quarter, starting in the piazza so they could see the brownstone basilica. I explained how its façade had been removed by Duke Francesco dei Medici at the end of the last century with the intention of replacing it, which had never happened. The baptistry and campanile were still faced in white marble striped with green, just as designed four hundred years before.

Then on to the Piazza della Signoria and the elegant Loggia dei Lanzi,an open-air sculpture gallery, where such wonders as Cellini’s Perseus with the head of Medusa could be seen. Christ, how it had haunted my nightmares as a child. I somehow thought Penny was made of sterner stuff.

Next, a stunning view of Michelangelo’s David outside the Palazzo Vecchio,before crossing the Ponte Vecchio – whereI pointed out our tiny shop amongst all the other jewellers and goldsmiths – then passing beside the Palazzo Pitti and on to the Piazza Santo Spirito,where my father’s business premises and house could be found.

Susannah’s response to all I had shown her was everything I had hoped for, yet there was so much more I wanted her to see.

‘How could you ever bear to leave such a place?’ she said, shaking her head.

‘I had little choice.’ I lifted her hand to my lips. ‘And how glad I am that I didn’t, amore mio.’

We pulled up in the piazzashaded by a stand of cork oaks at its centre. The shop premises looked much the same as the one Susannah and Penny were so familiar with in Cheapside, though the adjoining house could only be accessed via large wooden gates in a high stone wall, through to a courtyard with a small, lively fountain. I led everyone to the front door, mounting the steps to open it. We were expected and Nina, the elderly housekeeper – slight as a child, her hair white now and worn in her usual severe bun – was there almost immediately, pulling me down into a fierce embrace.

‘Sweetest boy, I can scarce believe you’re here at last.’ She held me away, looking up at me, her lined old face lit up with joy.

She spoke in rapid Italian, regaling me with much rather garbled news about distant family outliers. ‘She speaks no English,’ I told Susannah, before introducing my family to her. How odd it felt that Mamma and Gianna did not join her in the receiving hall. Thank God only Gianna was forever lost to me and Mamma was safe in London. I crossed myself.

When Nina suddenly seized Paolo from Pearl’s arms to smother him in kisses, Susannah appeared alarmed. ‘She’s a safe pair of hands, you have my word.’ Though, we all set off in pursuit when she scurried upstairs to the drawing room, intent on taking my son to meet his Italian family herself.

Nothing had changed there. And why should I expect it, for I had been away but three years once again. I was pleased to see Fulvia Ferranti had done nothing to impose her taste upon it. It bore a remarkable resemblance to our drawing room in Cheapside and I saw Susannah notice the same Carrara marble and bright silk furnishings, though this room had glazed doors leading to a large balcony looking out over the extensive rear gardens.

Artemisia and Claudia were already smiling their admiration over my son when I brought Susannah into the room. My father was absent, I noticed, immediately seeing it as a deliberate slight and then wondering why I did. And, more importantly, why I even bothered to care? My sisters, being of a somewhat calmer disposition than the housekeeper, quickly turned to my wife to make her welcome. Both had a little English and Susannah was able to make some rudimentary, polite conversation with them about our sightseeing before Nina remembered herself enough to see us all seated, assuring us refreshments were already on their way.

I turned to Artemisia. Thinner than I remember. Very noticeably older. Yet dressed rather fetchingly in russet taffeta. ‘Where the devil is Father?’

She frowned. ‘He promised he’d be in here before you arrived.’ She made a disparaging noise through her teeth. ‘There’s been some disagreement about that woman’s presence. Be warned, I think it likely she will be with him.’ She glanced across at my son, now in Susannah’s arms, with Penny sitting close beside her, looking a little overawed by it all. ‘You have a fine son, Raffaello.’ She smiled, appearing younger as soon as she did. ‘He will favour you, I think. Just as the little girl does her mother.’

I watched Claudia talking with Susannah and Penny, grateful she was doing her best to make them feel welcome. She, too, looked older, her black hair threaded with grey. Did I appear older to them? ‘Mamma said you never come here now. I hope our visit hasn’t made things difficult for you? I should have called upon you rather than agreeing to this.’

‘No, it must be here, Raffaello. Elena will join us later with someone we want you to see.’

‘As you wish, of course.’ Some obscure member of the family newly arrived in Florence, no doubt. I sighed. ‘Well, I’m glad Susannah can meet Elena, at least.’

Artemisia’s face softened, thinking of her youngest daughter. ‘She is very fond of you, Raffaello. She’s eighteen now and very pretty, even if I do say so myself.’

‘She always was.’

My sister’s eyes moved to Penny just as the door opened and Papà walked in, with a tall, heavy-set woman following close behind him. She was dressed in dark green velvet, her thick black hair arranged plainly. Large dark eyes gave her a certain handsomeness. It was hard to imagine anyone less like my mother, though. In truth, she seemed in every way to be her opposite. All Mamma’s vivacity and quickness of movement were seemingly replaced in her by a kind of blank passivity. I stood. ‘Papà.’ He looked heavier, the angles of his face lost to fat, his white hair polled and thinning. I wondered why he wore no wig. Perhaps our visit did not merit one?

He looked at me, his expression unreadable. ‘Raffaello.’ He tilted his head, his eyes flitting over Penny without interest, before alighting on my wife and son.

Christ. I moved quickly to Susannah, anger already beginning to surge. Let him dare slight them and he would find me a very different man to the one who had left for England! ‘Papà.’ I gestured to my family and spoke in English. ‘My wife Susannah, my son Paolo and daughter Penny.’

He bowed to Susannah. ‘Signora.’ He made no move towards her, seating himself instead and directing Fulvia with steely eyes, and a slight nod, to do the same.

Instead, she spoke in surprisingly good English. ‘How lovely to meet you all and what beautiful children.’

My father scowled at her. ‘Why would you imagine anyone wishes to hear from you, Fulvia?’

Her eyes quickly brimmed with tears, though she lifted her chin. ‘In that case, Alessandro, I shall leave you alone, just as your daughters requested I should.’

I found myself pitying her. Belittlement in front of others had often been a tactic my father used against me. When I stepped ahead of her towards the door, I felt I had to say something. ‘Best to go,’ I whispered. ‘He wishes to hurt and you’re his easiest target.’

She squeezed my arm, her smile transforming her face, the indifference I had thought I saw there replaced by kindness. ‘Try not to think too badly of him,’ she murmured.

I smiled in return, doubting I could do anything of the sort, even had I wished to. When I opened the door, Elena stood outside, clearly having just arrived there. Fulvia slipped away unnoticed as I hugged my niece. ‘Elena.’ I held her away to look at her. Her mother was right about her prettiness. Another with large, luminous eyes. I had just turned to Susannah to introduce her when the look of shock on her face alarmed me. I was with her in three strides. ‘What? Amore mio, what’s wrong? Are you unwell?’

She handed Paolo to Pearl, whose eyes were as wide as her own. Chalk white, she pointed behind me. ‘Jesu, Raphael. Who is she? Who is that child?’

‘What?’ I turned to look behind me and there, holding tightly to Elena’s hand now, was a small girl, a little younger than Penny. Black hair hanging loose like glossy silk to her waist. My heart began to pound. Susannah was clutching my arm tightly. ‘Holy God.’ I crossed myself. How could I not see myself in this child, for she was as like me as Penny was Susannah. I turned to look at Artemisia, standing close beside Claudia, clutching her. ‘I don’t understand. Who is–’

‘She’s your daughter, Raffaello,’ Claudia answered in English.

Susannah gasped a breath. ‘What?’ she turned to me, her eyes full of accusation and hurt. ‘So, who in God’s name is her mother?’

‘Valentina Gentileschi,’ Artemisia said, quietly.

I found myself quite speechless. It was my wife who found her voice.

‘But the child died. How can this be?’

‘Oh, she didn’t die,’ Artemisia spat. She turned to Papà. ‘He just said she had.’

Susannah shook my arm, for I seemed frozen to the spot. ‘Oh, Jesu, go to her, Raphael. Look at her. She has no idea what’s going on. She looks quite terrified.’

I crossed the floor unaware I had moved, finding myself kneeling before her, taking her small, cold hands into mine, and smiling. Hardly able to think coherently, my mind in mad turmoil. ‘Don’t be frightened, little one. Will you tell me your name?’ I whispered, scarcely recognising my own voice.

‘Francesca. My name is Francesca. Are you my papà?’

‘Yes.’ I choked on the word, unable to hold back tears. Susannah arrived on her knees beside me then, holding me to her and smiling at my daughter.

She made me look at her. ‘Tell her. Tell her what I say, Raphael. I will be her mama and Penny and Paolo will be her sister and brother.’ She touched her breast, holding my gaze for the short moment I could take it away from my daughter. ‘She will be in my heart just as Penny is in yours, my love.’

As I told her what Susannah had said, I saw all her uncertainty and confusion and somehow, it brought me back to myself. I kissed her on both cheeks just as Penny ran to her, beaming.

‘We’re sisters. I have a sister.’ She clutched a bewildered Francesca into her arms and kissed her, too.

I translated and watched my daughter finally smile. How beautiful she was. I tried not to weep again with little success, especially as Susannah wept also. I wish I had not glanced at my father then and seen his contempt. All soft sentiment died in an instant. Instead, I felt only blind rage. ‘Perhaps you could all take the children into the garden.’ My eyes swept the room. ‘I wish to speak with Papà alone.’ My voice sounded brutal, even to me.

Susannah looked up at Pearl. ‘Take them out. I shall stay.’

‘As shall we,’ Claudia said.

Elena took Francesca’s hand to lead her out onto the balcony, which had steps down to the garden. Pearl followed, carrying Paolo. Penny held Francesca’s other hand. Again, God help me, I wanted to weep. But fury won. ‘Explain, if you please, Papà. How does my child still live?’ I spoke in English, looking at Susannah. When he answered in Italian, I laughed, watching his outrage at it, and pleased how he tried to hide it. I moved to kiss my wife and pulled her close. ‘He said what he did was for the best, cara. I think we both know that wasn’t so, don’t we?’

‘Oh, indeed we do.’

My father lifted his chin. ‘I didn’t think she was yours. I only had that old harlot’s word. You seemed such an easy dupe, Raffaello. Can’t you see that? I was only trying to protect you.’

I took a stride towards him. Susannah clutched my arm. ‘No. God damn you, that’s not what I see at all, you prick. I don’t see that in any of it.’ I had tried so hard to keep speaking in English, but could no longer. Susannah, though, remained beside me, her arm around my waist, simply standing by me, even when she could not know what was being said. I had never loved her more.

Artemisia took a step towards our papà. ‘It was for his own good you told him she was dead? You told Mamma she was dead? Why? When we all would have loved her?’

He stood. ‘What! A whore’s child? She could have been anybody’s. Raffaello was to go to Paris. He didn’t need a bastard in tow. We didn’t need a bastard child to raise when he lost interest in her.’

I tried to move towards him again, but Susannah restrained me once more. ‘I would have loved her. She would have been with me wherever you sent me. I would never have been parted from her.’

‘And a man with a careless bastard would have won patrons in Paris … in London? A rich wife, perhaps?’ He smiled, unpleasantly. ‘Unless she had one of her own, of course. Always the dupe, eh, Raffaello?’

I closed my eyes and took a breath, feeling Susannah pressing close. I would not allow him to do this to me. ‘No.’ I spoke again in English. ‘Truly loved.’ I turned to her, taking her hand, and we walked away to join our children in the garden. My sisters followed us down the steps.

Artemisia was the first to speak. ‘She was fostered out. After the wife died, the man went to Papà saying he could no longer care for her properly. When he sent him away, Nina, God bless her, sent them to me. She’s been with me these last months and when out of the blue we learnt you were to visit, well, we knew you must see her.’

I watched Francesca and Penny in the garden. They looked so happy together even though they understood very little of what the other said. Smiles and laughter served them well enough. My sisters left us then, to join Elena. ‘I’m sorry you weren’t able to understand any of that.’ I repeated it all in English, unable not to feel some shame at having to admit how he belittled me. ‘It was only hearing how he spoke to Fulvia that made me see, finally, how often he did that to me. It was so much a part of my life I simply hadn’t challenged it.’

‘Did he do it to your sisters, too?’

I nodded. ‘To all of us. I think Mamma probably most of all. Yet it was just what he did. Mostly he wasn’t with us, anyway. Sometimes my sisters would use some of his crueller jibes against me, too. I still don’t really understand why they did. To make me cry, I suppose, until I was old enough to understand I must ignore it and they stopped.’

My sisters were watching the girls and talking with Elena. I led Susannah to join them. ‘They’ll learn each other’s language by needing to.’

Claudia glanced at me. ‘I suppose you had to do the same in London? I never quite understood why he didn’t see you better prepared with English.’

I translated for Susannah. ‘When he saw me so fluent in French.’ I shrugged. ‘Perhaps he couldn’t decide which appealed more, that I make a good impression, or that I struggled to.’

My sisters rolled their eyes in unison. ‘That’s probably not too far from the truth,’ Artemisia said.

Penny ran to us then, holding Francesca’s hand. Both had flushed cheeks and sparkling eyes. I could scarcely believe I was seeing them together like this. One so dark, the other fair as moonbeams. How could it be possible? God had been unbelievably good to me. Why, when I was so undeserving? ‘Can Francesca come home with us, Papa? I’ve told her all about London and she really wants to, don’t you, Francesca?’

‘Yes,’ she said, grinning.

‘Please may I?’ Penny murmured, close to her ear.

‘Please. May. I?’ Francesca repeated, slowly and carefully.

I laughed. ‘Of course Francesca shall come home with us.’ I turned to Susannah. ‘It’s where she belongs.’

‘With her family,’ Susannah added, before turning at the sound of Paolo’s cries.

After Pearl had brought him to her, I took her hand to lead her to a stone bench beneath an umbrella pine, where she could feed him in shade. ‘We’ll need to collect her belongings from Artemisia.’

‘You’d better arrange it.’

I stood. ‘Will you be all right?’

She laughed. ‘Of course.’ She looked around her. ‘This is hardly Port Royal, now is it?’

I sent Pearl to her anyway

CHAPTER6

Susannah

We both watched Raphael, his eyes never leaving Francesca, though he talked to his sisters.

‘Them a odd pair. The grey-hair seem more his mama, she so old. They no pretty like him.’ Pearl frowned. ‘Mebe, no easy for them, dat.’

‘No,’ I agreed. Perhaps that might explain their taunting to some extent. ‘And their mother certainly looks little older than Artemisia. I’m grateful to her, though. That poor child has haunted Raphael for seven years. It’s hard to believe he has her now, after thinking her dead all this time.’

‘He look like he ‘spec to wake any time soon an’ find he been a-dreaming.’

I smiled. ‘He does.’ I looked down at my suckling infant. ‘So, he has another sister.’ I saw she watched me now. ‘He slept through the night. He needs less from me.’ I held her shrewd gaze. ‘Is that because you feed him other things? Or that I no longer have enough for him?’ I had been feeling vaguely anxious about it.

She shrugged. ‘He need more an you got for him now. It happen.’

‘But why?’ I was still relying on feeding him to prevent another child. Something I could not bring myself to contemplate. Should I talk to Raphael about it? I had no idea what it would be like to place constraints on our lovemaking but, Jesu, I could not risk another one so soon. In truth, I could not imagine wanting it ever. And now, with Francesca, we had even less reason to add to our family. I looked up to see my husband approaching and handed a sleeping Paolo into Pearl’s arms. I stood.

‘We should be on our way. Artemisia has Francesca’s box with her.’ He rolled his eyes. ‘Just in case I was willing to take her. Christ, how could she think I might not?’

‘She can’t know you very well.’ But then they had not lived in the same household for many years.

‘She wrote to Mamma as she had no address for me in Jamaica. Then she had my letter from Lisbon and hoped my seeing her would help persuade me.’ He turned to stare at his daughter, who was still playing happily with Penny. ‘I still can’t believe it’s true. How can I be so blessed?’ His eyes moved from the girls to me and then to Paolo. ‘With all of you.’

I put my arms around his neck and pulled him to me. ‘I’m so glad for you, my love.’ I leaned away to look at him. ‘Your mother will be thrilled with all the grandchildren we’ll bring home for her.’