Preys and Predators 3 Love Binds, Family Destroy Chapter 23

 23. 

 

The wedding was in the works then.

“Vlad Tepes, do you take this lady to be your lawful wedded wife?” The Wallachian ex-voivode was asked. The same was asked of the lady. Lady Justina Szilágyi had little to say but agreed then. She was told of the wedding three days ago by the king.

“Are you referring to the Impaler?” Lady Justina Szilágyi turned her stare at the King. She was called to meet the king in the chamber where he was attended by the advisers of the state.

“Vlad Tepes’ reputation was overexaggerated. He is not a killer but a warrior who defies the Turks.” One of the attending advisers spoke out. “In war……”

“I am aware of the acts of war, Lord Gaudino.” The lady said. “My ex-husband was a soldier. He did not hold a ……”

“That will be enough, Justina. I am planning for your wedding to the new Voivode of Wallachia. He will ride with my army.”

“And if I disagreed?” Lady Justina was defiant.

“You are without any... assets. Your ……. Ladislaus Pongrác of Szentmiklós does not own any left.”

“Taken by you.” The lady burst out in anger.

“Watch your words, lady. I am still the king, and all the land here belongs to me.” King Corvinus looked at the lady. “However, as a token of my gratitude to your ex-husband, you may have the Transylvanian estates that were jointly owned by Pongrác and yourself.”

“Thereafter, with your wedding to Vlad Tepes, more estates will be made available.”

Lady Justina knew her position to dispute was over. She agreed, and the wedding took place. It was a small reception, and only the selected lords were there.

“Lord Dante Montague begs your forgiveness. He is at Genoa on urgent matters.” The staff of the Montague family bowed to the king. “He has the gifts for the newlywed.”

“Lord Gencio Capulet here. I had just arrived from Genoa. I had come bearing gifts to the new couple.”

Vlad was glad that Lord Gencio Capulet was there. He was not sure if his letter yesterday reached the Lord, but he will ask. The wedding was done casually, and the feast was modest at best. When the moment was right, Vlad approached the Lord of Capulet. They spoke at the corner, distanced from the guests.

“I got your letter. It was given to me here.” Lord Gencio Capulet patted his tunic. “I will arrange for Katharina and your family to go to Genoa today after the feast. It will be done. You do take care of yourself.”

“I have no intention of offending the King. I have another favor to ask of you. Please look out for Radu also. He may be in Moldavia or here.”

“I met with Radu at Wallachia. He is fine. However, his position is weak. He holds no army there. The Turks may support him, but they are few in Wallachia.” Lord Gencio Capulet looked at Vlad. “He was concerned about his family and had me send them to Genoa.”

“They will reside there. I had arranged it.” Lord Gencio Capulet spoke out in caution.

“My family?” Vlad asked.

“They are not aware of each other. I can place them at different corners.”

“Thank you.” Vlad sighed. “I …… I have only my thanks to you. Your works will be rewarded.”

“It will be done.” Lord Gencio Capulet smiled. “Your past deeds to me with the land and trade are already generous.”

“And it will be more when I am the Voivode again.” Vlad looked to his new wife. “For now, I need to put aside family and attend to my new lover.”

Lady Justina, soon after the feast, waited for her husband at his chamber there. She did have a look around and found the furnishing was bare. It was not as lavish as she was used to. She had changed into a flimsy gown and wore the dressing gown over it. It was her wedding night, though not her first.

“Hello, Lady Justina.” Vlad appeared there at the chamber. “I duly apologize for the lords being insistent on discussing the new arrangement of mine.”

“The arrangement of the state is important.” Lady Justina, who was seated on the chair, stood to approach the man. “Do you wish to be bathed before we sleep?”

“Oh, yes. I feel dirty.” Vlad stepped to the washbasin and pulled his tunic off. Lady Justina was shocked at the sight of the wounds on the man’s back. He was, however, sponging his chest then.

“Could you do my back, please?” Vlad asked. She took up the cloth available and sponged him there. She gently rubbed at the wounds, then dried them, and they remained as scars.

“It is okay for you to scrub me. I hold no pain there.” Vlad told her. “Those are old wounds and have healed.”

“Does it hurt then?” Lady Justina asked.

“It may have been, but in the wars, I have grown immune to the pain.” Vlad removed his pants with his back still to her. She sees the marks of more scars on the rear of the knees. She leaned over to bathe him, and then he turned towards her. She stepped back and averted her eyes. It was not that she had not seen a man before, but her only other lover was the ex-husband.

“Did I scare you?” Vlad looked at her. He looked at himself and smiled. He was without a lover for some years. It was not that the whores were allowed at the dungeon then.

“We will sleep now.” Vlad told her. She walked to the bedding and removed the dressing gown. She climbed onto the bedding and lay on her back with her eyes closed. She was nervous then. She waited, and her husband was not there. She looked and saw he was sleeping sideways on the flooring with a loose cover over him. She got up and approached him.

“Are you well, my sire?”

“I am. It is that I have become comfortable sleeping on the hard flooring over the years. You can sleep on the bedding without me.” Vlad replied to her without looking at her. She lay down next to him, and they slept that night.

Sleep was beyond the need of Juliet that night. She had her evening discussion with her parents, and the subject matter was intense.

“No, I do not want to wed what's-his-name.” Juliet was insistent. “I hardly know him, or should I say, need to know him.”

“Juliet, you must behave.” The mother looked at her daughter. “You must know that the arrangement of the wedding is the decision of the parents. You cannot deny or refuse any arrangement.”

“Mother, I am aware, but you do not just wed me to a man I hardly know. Who is she anyway?” Juliet asked.

“He is Count Paris Deville from Venice. You may have seen him before. He has of you.” Lord Dante Montague explained. “I met him……”

“You had met him, and he knows of you, but how did he know of me?” Juliet asked.

“I do ……” Lord Dante Montague was lost for words. He was not very good at dealing with his daughter, unlike his bargaining with the traders.

“Juliet Montague, please behave.” That was the stern voice of Lady Angeline. “We are to wed you immediately. We are just telling you that, Lord… No. Count Paris has indicated his intention to wed you. You should be honoured there.”

“I am? Why, that man may be looking for a virgin to tick on his …….” Juliet was cut off by the father.

“Juliet, I shall not have that tone spoken in the family.” Lord Dante Montague exploded.

“Fine then. You can wed him. You may have to be a virgin there.” Juliet stormed off before the father could say anything. Lord Dante Montague glared at the girl’s mother.

“I did not coach her. She may have learned it from the friends.” Lady Angeline laughed. “Are you a virgin there? I do recall you tried, but I know how to keep mine.”

“God, what is with you women? I am to the guild now.” Lord Dante Montague in turn walked away.

“Bloody excuse. At this hour, the guild is closed.” Lady Angeline looked to the departing man. “I am sure he will be at the tavern tonight, and it will be a cold bedding for me.”

It was another night for Leah, who had lost their second child. She went into early labour, but the child was delivered stillborn. The cord of the child had tangled on the neck. The child was to be a girl. She was told to rest and recuperate.

“Shylock, can we try again?” Leah leaned towards her husband on the bedding. “I think we……”

“Sleep, Leah. I need to work out some ……” Shylock was not keen. He had given up on having any more children.

“Shylock Judas, I want to.” Leah was upset. “I want to have another child.”

“Leah, it is too soon. You are not fully recovered.” Shylock turned towards his wife. “We will, but not now. Maybe next autumn.”

“I may be too old then.” Leah sighed. “And you are ……”

“I still hold my pound of flesh, Leah. But we must pay heed to your health.” Shylock held out his hands to her. “I……”

“Jessica is seeing the Lorenzo boy.” Leah dropped the tale to Shylock. “I heard from the……”

“Lorenzo Capulet, the bastard son of the Capulet.” Shylock was upset. “He is not of the Lord but a bastard adopted by the family. He is not …….”

“Jewish? I know. But she likes him. Jessica told me so.”

“That cannot be allowed. She must wed a Jew. What did she say of Abram?” Shylock asked.

“She will not accept that man. He is …….”

“He is of the same faith as us. He is a good man.” Shylock defended Abram as his choice. “He works for the Montague, but he can work for us when he is family.”

“Does it matter if he is of a different faith? If he loves her.” Leah looked at Shylock. “I love you despite our families’ differences.

“Families and love are different.” Shylock states his reasoning. “My …… mother did not reject you.”

“And why are you saying no to Lorenzo?” Leah asked.

“Let us sleep. I have a long day tomorrow.”