xix. dictated, action

[heloise]

Lana
How about an early morning ride?

Micheletto
You will help me with my crates. [ Because packing is tough. ]

Stephanie
Tell me if you mean to visit, even if not to see me. He would not find unexpected guests so pleasant.

What does it mean when the castle gave some no glimpse of old age?

[ Lucrezia is on her knees in the church in town, hands counting through her white rosary and reciting her prayers under her breath. She keeps her hood over her head.

It might seem foolish to believe that saying something over and over again gives it greater weight, or that time and voice can buy penance, but she feels she must at least-- try. She isn't praying for her own soul, she wonders if she would ever. But she loses count of how many times she has said the Ave Maria, and stands to go. ]

Comments

[ex_garroter234]

[Micheletto regards her coolly, expression passive.]

I am not a slave, my lady. Of course I may refuse.

[He goes back to packing these extremely delicate-looking things...]

But I do not wish to be dismissed.

[heloise]

[ She brings over a few pearly hairnets and places them on the bed beside the dresses, folding them up one by own. ]

Why not? I can easily free you from my service.

[ex_garroter234]

[He glances at her, still not very impressed. His words, soft-spoken as always, have a solid definitiveness to them. He is stating an actual fact.]

You will never find another in this world or in any other who is more loyal and deserving of trust than Micheletto.

[heloise]

[ She stops her fiddling to stare at him, judging his words. ]

No one, Micheletto? Not even my own brother?

[ex_garroter234]

[He has to think about it before he responds, really. His Eminence is trustworthy, truly, but only to his own ends. If it would advance his goals, he would surely betray Micheletto.

But Micheletto would never betray His Eminence.

When he finally does answer, he drops his gaze again, voice still soft, in volume as well as now in tone.]

Yes.

[heloise]

For you, perhaps. But not for me.

[ At least she dearly hopes so. She hands him the pile of hairnets. ]

Keep these ones with the dresses.

[ex_garroter234]

[He makes another quiet noise of understanding, not speaking on the subject any longer.]

Those you are keeping here or taking with you?

[heloise]

Keeping here. I rarely wear them now.

[ She moves away to survey the room. ]

What else must I bring?