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The House of Marchesi
In 18th century Milan, a duchessa is thrusted from her horse and into the estate of another esteemed member of the king's court. Lilliana is unable to remember her accident or her identity. Duca Emmanuele notices that Duchessa Rosetta is complacent about their daughter's absence from the House of Montanari. During the duchessa's convalescence, she and the duca grow in affection towards one another. The maidservant, Noemi of the House of Montanari silently volunteers to help locate and retrieve the missing duchessa. Noemi enlists the help of her fellow maidservant, Gabriella. Noemi leaves the House of Montanari and encounters a proud vendor of pomegranates. He speaks of a tale of a fallen maiden taken into the care of a duca. He guides her to the House of Marchesi. The duchessa finally recalls her father's identity. The duchessa wishes to learn more of the duca. He introduces her to various quarters of the Marchesi mansion. The king and queen gather evidence and secure it in the royal vault. Alessandro proposes to her. Lilliana accepts. The Crown decides to proceed with the planned royal ball. All of the esteemed of the Milanese king's court are to attend.. The night of the royal grand affair arrives. Servants of the Houses of Montanari and Marchesi enter with the assistance of a royal servant. In separate royal chambers, the king and queen officiate Duca Alessandro and Duchessa Lilliana's nuptials. Duca Emmanuele is right to be concerned for his daughter, for someone has conspired a dastardly plan against the duchessa, but who? The king and queen have the answer and reveals it before the entire king's court.
❤️❤️Sweeter Romance
"You have quite
the tendency for unfortunate events."
Duchessa Lilliana heard a voice.
It was that of a man. A gentleman
she presumed. A handsome courtier stood
over her. The duchessa was correct. "Do I dare give you advice mademoiselle,
while you lay in this unfortunate state before me?" The duca crouched at her left side with his
feet only two paces apart. He rested his
forearms on his thighs with his hands clinging to one another. The duchessa swallowed.
"He is but a
figment of my tossed mind, a wonderful one at that," she whispered. The duca smiled until he noticed that her
eyes began to fade away right before his sight.He leaned his left arm over her and
placed his right ear near to her nose and mouth. He could hear her breathing. A few of his houseservants and another
gardener finally approached. Duca
Alessandro moved away and stood.
"Is she...?" The servant lowered his head and only
partially raised it again. He quieted
his voice in solemn sincerity. "My lord,
is she...?"
"She lives." Alessandro looked to the one gardener who
gathered several blankets and used his body to help catch her. "...and you have done quite well." Her rescuer nodded once. "Shall we remove her to the manor?" Several of the servants quickly gathered her,
still using the blankets as a cushion.
"Here...here. These bedchambers are best," Duca Alessandro
said as he escorted them from behind. "Remove
the blankets and take them with you." He
watched as they quickly pulled some from beneath her. She rolled partially onto her right
side. "Carefully. She may be alive, but injuries likely persist." One of the maidservants waved the others away
as she completed the task. Then she
looked woefully at the duca. "The maiden
is only in shock." The servant nodded to
appease him, but she did not believe much hope remained for the duchessa. Lilliana still laid on her right side, her
left leg folded over her right at the ankles the most. The duca understood the maidservant's doubt,
but he possessed none. "I will set her
aright." After their careless removal of
the coverings, Duca Alessandro resigned himself not to trust any of them with
such care again. "All of you, leave from
here at once...and you, have the cook prepare coffee and fruit and bring it to
these quarters." They all turned away
while the one he directly addressed nodded.
"Si, mio signore," she said. The maidservant carried the other blankets
tucked under her right arm. She
believed, however, that it was Duca Alessandro who bore theheaviest burden-the premature death of a
beautiful young maiden. "Che vergogna terribile. Potrebbe essere stat sua-por sempre." The duca still heard her as her voice trailed
off.
"Now
I must perform what I have requested of them..."
the duca said. He held his chin
with his right hand. Finally, he heard
the door close behind him. Alessandro
went to the other side of the bed. He
leveraged his body on his fists which he bore on the bedding. The duca listened for her breaths again. "She is still viable." He still thought of the best way to sit the
duchessa up. She began to sir and tried
to hold herself up with her left hand. A
futile attempt. Lilliana plopped against
the luxe coverings. The duca rushed to
assist her. He realized that her sleeves were torn. His hands touched her skin. It was soft.
He first lifted her head. Her eyes
kept closed again. "This cannot be good." She tried again, still with closed eyes. "Take ease, mademoiselle..." The duchessa heard an enchanting, deep,
voice. 'Could it be the same of handsome grace which hovered over me from
before?' Lilliana thought. The duca used
the side of his body to steady and gently lift her. He watched her neck which she held on her
own. Duca Alessandra was finally able to
have her rest against her back. Duchessa
Lilliana wobbled her head from left then to the center. She saw his face again.
"Do not lay so
hard, dear maiden." Alessandro raised
his right hand against the side of her face.
"You are quite..." He lowered his
head. "...so beautiful." The duchessa thought she was still
delirious. She leaned her head towards
his cupped hand. The duca felt the
weight become heavier. "No...no, mio bella." He gently guided it back towards the
pillow. Alessandro could see the shadow
of a servant against the wall. He wanted
to remove his hand. It was no longer a
burden. The duca refused to leave her
bedside but only turned to see which of the servants was at the bedchamber's
door."Send
word to the nearest physician. There is
no time for telegram. Have the butler instruct the coachman. The House of Marchesi calls upon him." She quickly acknowledged Alessandro and
excused herself. The duca looked again
at the fallen duchessa. "All you can do
is rest, bella." Lilliana struggled
to open her eyes again.