Aimnéise Place of Pendants 2

Chapter Eleven

The Half Pendant

Lucia arrived home with the coins and pouch from cleaning Leonardo da Vinci’s rooms at the castle. She hated working only to have her husband take everything she earned or stole, not that she wanted to steal in the first place. Cleaning houses seven days a week was getting to her as well as keeping house for Henricus.

It didn’t matter what she did to try and please him, nothing worked. The results were always the same. Bloody noses, black eyes, more than she had ever had in her life. Lucia kept her house clean and tidy, made his dinner when he was home, and washed his clothing not daring to go to bed until he had drunk himself into a stupor. Only then would she sleep on a blanket beside the bed. The thought of him touching her made her sick, not that he wanted to touch her unless he was drunk or in a bad mood. He had to show her he was boss, having his way with her through beatings or rapes. How she hated being stuck in this life with him.

Since her only son Giano had joined the army there was only Lucia and her husband. Henricus’s drinking had become so much worse of late, along with his demands for her to steal.

Lucia stealing from her clients, but it was better than being his punching bag most often than not. It was almost an everyday event being left broken, aching and sore for days. Lucia knew that if she was caught she would be executed, regardless of the circumstances. There were times she almost wished she was caught. Execution would be a reprieve from the punishment Henricus lambasted on her.

“Lucia, where are you?” There is no mistaking his slurred voice reverberating through the house. She froze knowing he was drunk again.

“I am here Henricus.” She swallowed the lump in her throat.

“What have you brought me today?” He snatched the things from her hands taking the coins for cleaning Leonardo da Vinci’s rooms and a pouch.

“Is this all you have? You are getting lazy Lucia; you have to do better.” He drawled in his drunkenness. Opening the pouch and emptying the contents in his hand, he scowled. “What is this supposed to be? It’s only half a necklace.”

“I didn’t look at it before I took it. It is silver Henricus surely it is worth something even if it is melted down.” He backhanded her hard across the mouth splitting her lip, sending her crashing to the floor.

“Get your lazy arse out there and get more or I will sell you to Sirus de Rubeis for his whorehouse, you lazy good for nothing!” He yelled before giving her a hard-swift kick to her stomach.

Henricus left the house his wife groaning, lying on the floor in a pool of blood. He mumbled to himself that he should just give her to Rubeis and be done with her. Making his way down the street the only thing he wanted was a drink, and a night with his favourite belle, Franchesca.

Stopping at the tavern he downed two shots, then headed on over to the Merry Widows house. A whorehouse considered to be the best in town. Also, the place that Franchesca lived and worked.

As usual Franchesca was waiting for him. Her face lights up when he gives her the pouch. He did not miss a flicker of disappointment in her eyes as she held the necklace.

“Do you not like it my countess?”

She smiles at him. “Of course, my handsome prince. I...I love it.”

Much later when Henricus is too drunk to wake up or move, Franchesca called down for the bouncers to come up immediately. She had, had enough of this Henricus, it was time to end their relationship.

When they picked him up by his arms and legs Franchesca leaned over to one of them. “I don’t want him to come back again will you take care of it for me Antonius. He winked at her; he had done this numerous times. For his beloved Franchesca he would do it as often as she needed. He would do anything for this woman, no matter what.

“No worries sweetheart I will take care of that for you.” He gave her a salacious wink. But what will you give me in return?” There was no question as to what she would do, he always like to ask to gauge ger reaction. This was a game he played with her.

Franchesca gave him a sensual look fluttering her lashes. “Come back later and let me take care of you. You know I always make you feel good.” A wide grin flashed across his face; oh he knew she would.

“Good riddance.” She says to the last of Henricus as they shuffle out carrying him between them.

Sitting on her bed waiting for Antonius to come back to tell her that Henricus had been dealt with filled her with relief. For her, it was worth it to spend a small amount of time with Antonius, he always found an answer to her problems. After all his body wasn’t too bad and he certainly knew how to please her.

Picking up the necklace that Henricus had given her, mumbled to herself that she deserved better than an ugly half of one. It didn’t even have a design that made sense. Franchesca couldn’t understand why someone would make something like this.

Didn’t she deserve the best jewels, furs and riches. The answer was to pick better clientele. Those that had money, and not, half necklaces by scums such as Henricus. There had been many of such she had dealt with in the past year. Franchesca felt she deserved to live in a fine house, travel the world and be treated like a queen.

That was where Antonius was such a help. When she became bored with them or they gave her rubbish like this stupid trinket, he would take care of them.

Franchesca sat on her bed for hours lost in though. Only now realizing that Antonius should have returned by now. Chewing on one of her fingernails worried that something had gone wrong, questions filled her mind. What if they had been caught, or Henricus had awoken and gotten free before they could do the deed?

A knock came at the door, Franchesca rushed to open it thinking Antonius had returned and all was well.

Opening the door, it was not to Antonius but Fiora, a barmaid from the Coda di Cani tavern two doors down.

The girl curtsied as if Franchesca was a dame or baroness. Franchesca half smiled at the girl, of course she should be treated as someone of importance. After all didn’t she deserved at least that much?

“Sorry to interrupt my lady but a man at the tavern sent me to ask you if you would be interested in spending the night with him at his home.”

“Who is this man and why could he not come himself?”

“I’m not sure my lady, but he seems very rich. He is offering two hundred soldi for your company, for the night.”

“Two hundred soldi?” Franchesca’s eyes lit up, that’s more than she made in three months. “Are you sure he asked for me?”

“Yes, my lady quite sure.” Franchesca looked down to see she was still holding the ugly pendant. With what she had saved already plus this two hundred it was enough to leave this miserable city and never come back. Her mind buzzed with a plan. She could go to France, catch the king’s eye and be set to sit in the royal court. She smiled to herself. Isn’t it where she should be, where she belonged?

“Here you may have this.” She said handing the pendant to the girl.

“Thank you, my lady that is…very generous of you. When you come to the tavern I will be there to point the gentleman out for you.”

“You may go now.” Franchesca said curtly, waving her hand in the air as if she was already in court dismissing her staff.

Fiora thanked Franchesca and hurried off down the hall putting the pendant in her pocket.

Franchesca spent time washing and dressing. When she was happy with the way she looked, slipped on her cape and hood and headed to the tavern. The tavern was full mostly of drunks and tables where card playing was in progress.

Catching Fiora’s attention, the barmaid nodded her in the direction of a table on the far right towards the back where a lone man was sitting.

Making her way to the table, Franchesca stood waiting to be noticed. The stranger continued to drink his beverage. Franchesca coughed. “I believe you have…requested my company for the evening?”

The man although covered by a cape nodded and pointed to a seat across the table from him.

Franchesca sat in the most ladylike position she could.

“I will give you two hundred soldi for your company for the night at my home. Does that suit you, senora?”

“That sounds favorable if I do say. It has to be said, I am not into anything…strange or insidious, you must understand.” Barely able to see his face under the hood Franchesca determined his clothes to be that of someone with money and influence.

“I would not dream of such thing’s senora. If you would follow me I have a carriage waiting beside the tavern.” Franchesca noticed he hadn’t finished his drink. Even though it gave her a small thrill that he was anxious to have her in private, this was all simply about the money he was paying. This was something she had been waiting for. A way out of the city towards a life of deserved opulence.