25.
The days to Christmas were
met with anticipation, but not so for Vlad III. He had joined with Stefan
Bathory in pursuit of the Ottomans, and this army then continued into
Wallachia. Basarab the Elder flees as Târgoviște and Bucharest are conquered in
November.
“Victory was not on my mind,
but Radu, my brother. He is dead, as I was told.” Vlad III was addressing the
gathering of the boyars at the home of the revived voivode.
“Radu III attempted to
retake Wallachia a few times from Basarab III and later Stephen III. It was the
final battle at Vaslui that Radu III also participated in. It is presumed
that he was killed around this time.” One of the boyars told Vlad III.
“Presumed dead is not
confirmation of his death.” Vlad III shook his head. “He is family, and I still
love him. What of Katharina and my children?”
“We have no words from them,
Voivode. We have sent words to Genoa and Venice, but no replies.” The boyar who
managed that matter replied. “I have requested Lord Gencio Capulet to attend.”
“Yes.” Vlad III was torn
between his two lovers; one held his children, and the other was at his side,
but never was on his bed on the floor. It was his fault, for he could not find
his own desire at all.
“Was it something I had
done, my husband?” Lady Justina asked during one of their evenings. They were
lying on the floor.
“No, my lover. I am just
tired. I can ……” Vlad turned towards her, but she declined his advance.
“No, my husband. You may
rest, and when done, we can ……” Lady Justina stood up. “I will take my rest on
the bedding.”
“No…… I mean, okay. I will
rest here.” Vlad lay back on the floor. His mind flitted towards Katharina and
his children.
“Has your brother wedded?”
Lady Justina asked about the bedding.
“Which one?” For a while,
Vlad was unsure of which brother. “I have two brothers: Mircea II and Radu. The
former died fighting with my father.”
“Radu was my asking.”
“Oh, you meant Radu. I heard
he had married a Maria Despina, and they have a daughter.”
“Good for him. Did he return
to the palace?” Lady Justina asked. “He is back with the Sultan?”
“That I am unsure. He was
here, and upon defeat, he was at Moldavia or Targovishte. Or dead, as I was
told, but none even saw his body.”
“What of you? Should you
need to leave if defeated?” Vlad was stunned by the question from the lady.
“I do not know. Maybe back
to King Corvinus.” Vlad replied. “I hold no place at the lands that Radu is
with, or even at the palace. I am only at home here.”
“What about Genoa?”
“Genoa… is the home of my
friend, Lord Gencio Capulet.” Vlad paused then. “Why do you ask?”
“I am unsure.” Lady Justina
was then, if she meant anything to Vlad at all. She heard rumours of his other
family residing there. She was unsure then.
Unsure was how Romeo was to
disguise himself for the ball. He knew that it was a masquerade ball, and masks
would be worn. He was undecided between the dark mask and the silvery one. He
was also unsure of his dressing attire, switching between the dark blue and the
green tunic.
“I am unsure, Gregory.”
Romeo looked at the guard of his.
“Do not ask me, young
master. I am... or, well, had never been to one before. The events I was to
partake in were at the taverns or private homes, and ……. Dressing was simple,
as it was discarded soon with the revelries of the night.”
“You are of no help at all,
Gregory. I am in the lion’s lair, and yet you hold not a thought of …” Romeo
sighed.
“Then do not go, young
master. We could see ……”
“No, Gregory. I must go. How
could the Montague host a ball with less grandeur than ours?” Romeo cried out.
“We have not had a ball
since you turned puberty. And that was a children’s ball.” Gregory smiled. It
was an afternoon of games and fun in the garden.
“Do not mock me, Gregory, or
I will have you ……” Romeo was upset then.
“Fine. Go ahead, and Sampson
and I will be just outside. If you are in any difficulty, we will rush in.”
“Yes, but keep your
distance. I will be fine. Mercutio is there with his friend, Count Paris. I do
have some others; I do know them.” Romeo looked out of the window. He saw then
Rosaline was approaching the house. “I must hurry. Pick one costume for me.”
“I will pick the red.”
Gregory smiled. “It looked devilish.”
Red was the choice of
Juliet. She decided to be at the ball in the garish red gown, unheard of then.
Lady Angeline was stunned by her choice, but she held back her comments.
Juliet’s choice for the headdress was the escoffion, a piece of female medieval
headwear that was popular. The headpiece was made from a thick, circular roll
of material like wool, felt, or silk. The material was shaped, by sewing or
starching, into a double-horned configuration, with each horn sometimes being
up to a yard long.
“You could wear the hennin.”
Lady Angeline suggested. The hennin was a headdress in the
shape of a truncated cone worn by women of the nobility. “I am to wear one
tonight.”
“No, Mother. I am fine with
my hairdresser.” Juliet smiled. “I do not like the hennin. It looks more like
a… phallic will be my best reply to that.”
“Juliet!” Lady Angeline
reproves her daughter. “You may be grown up, but please behave like a lady.”
“Yes, Mother. I will.”
Juliet smiled. She saw the arrival of Jessica, who was not dressed for the
ball. They met in the garden.
“I could not make it. Mother
had me stay at home for my insolence; her words towards Abram.” Jessica told
her friend. “I do not want to miss it, but little choice do I have.”
“I am sorry. How can I
help?”
“Nothing that you could do.
I have told Lorenzo we can meet then, but it will be near my house.” Jessica
smiled. “That will complete my evening.”
“I am so happy. Do as you
think is needed.” Juliet smiled.
“Needed? You know what is
needed, but could I? It will betray my faith and family.” Jessica laughed. “How
I wish we lived in a different era.”
“Well, I was referring to a
kiss, and not that, but there are options.” Juliet smiled. “I heard……”
Juliet whispered in the ears
of Jessica, who, in turn, blushed.
“I cannot be… No! I am not
to do so.” Jessica laughed. “It will be embarrassing.”
“I would have taught you,
but I am a lady. However, I ……” Juliet continued her whispering. “That I
could.”
“Juliet Montague, you are
a……”
“Friend, indeed I am. Now
wait here. I will get it for you.” Juliet ran back to the house.
Running was what could be
termed an act of desperation. Shylock heard the running steps when he was on
his way back to the house. He stopped and leaned on the wall there. He wanted
to see who was to approach him.
“Shylock, I meet
you…finally. I thought you were gone.” It was Antonio, the trader, who was the
friend of Lord Gencio Capulet. Shylock was cautious of the needs of that
trader.
“If it is ducats, I am short
of supply, Antonio. See your friend, Lord Gencio Capulet.”
“It is ducats, but not for
me. I am asking on behalf of one named Bassanio, Galuco Bassanio.” Antonio
smiled. “He is new here and trades in the ……”
“Not keen. I only deal with
those I know.” Shylock pushed the trader aside.
“You may not know him, but
what of Portia of Belmont? He is Chester……”
“We all know of the Lord of
Belmont. He had passed away this season, leaving his wealth to his only
daughter. She cannot spend on his entrusted wealth until she marries.”
“Which she was to decide on
the man of character from the selection of the boxes assigned by her father.
Her other family members manage it.” Shylock smiled. “Were there three caskets?
Gold, silver, and lead.”
“That tale was known in
Genoa,” Antonio said. “She had the choice of the three eligible suitors. That
was good, as the street would have been too crowded to be selected.”
“It was hasty of the father.
Whom she decides will be the final choice.” Shylock sighed. He was thinking of
his own, then when Leah chose him.
“Hear me out. The caskets
were gold, silver, and lead. Three suitors were to choose then.”
“I know that too. Neapolitan
prince, the Count Palatine, a French lord, Monsieur Le Bon, a young English
baron, Falconbridge a Scottish lord, and a young German, the Duke of Saxony's
nephew.” Shylock sighed. “All of them are lords and wealthy. But only three can cshoose."
“I will attest to that. If it were me, I would have made my selection of the gold.” Shylock laughed.
No comments:
Post a Comment