The sound of the guard’s armour clanging against the flagstones echoed into her narrow, dirty cell. Caterina Sforza, ‘Il Tigre’, the Countess of Forli and Imola, daughter of the Duke of Milan and mother of three wonderful, beloved children spat into Cesare Borgia’s handsome face and cursed him.
One of the guards moved as though to stab her through the bars, but Cesare’s outstretched hand stopped him. With great dignity he pulled out a handkerchief, unfolded it and dabbed away the offending moisture. He refolded it, replaced it, and reached through the bars to take hold of her shift.
“Lady Sforza, I am a powerful man. More powerful by far than those pathetic, disgusting excuses for men you called husbands.” He pulled her up against the bars, and leaned in close enough for him to smell the faint scent of vanilla and roses in her hair. That scent had driven him mad all during the carriage ride they’d spent together.
“I realize that you are used to dealing with weak men, so I will forgive you once.” He tugged harshly and heard a little of her bodice rip. “But I warn you; do not try my patience again.”
“Oh yes, a powerful man indeed.” Caterina mocked, eyes blazing defiance. “But then so did my pathetic disgusting husbands refer to themselves. A man’s worth is measured by how he commands his power, and from what I have seen of you, Borgia,” She looked him up and down, sneering. “There is little worth to be had.”
Cesare’s dark eyes burned as he released her, shoving her back from the door. A sharp nod to one of his guards and the door was unlocked. Caterina shrank away from the swordsman who entered the cell to keep her back as Cesare handed over his weapons to the waiting footman. A few moments to remove the larger pieces of his armour, and then he replaced the swordsman in her cell. The click of the lock behind him was as ominous as his expression.
She dared not look away from him as the footman and the guards backed away, turning to make conversation amongst themselves. He studied her intently, and she shuddered at his cruel little smile.
Later, when Ezio is rescuing her and asks if she was touched, she will lie to him.
“Now, why don’t I show you just how I command my power?”
Mini-Fill: Power Play
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The sound of the guard’s armour clanging against the flagstones echoed into her narrow, dirty cell. Caterina Sforza, ‘Il Tigre’, the Countess of Forli and Imola, daughter of the Duke of Milan and mother of three wonderful, beloved children spat into Cesare Borgia’s handsome face and cursed him.
One of the guards moved as though to stab her through the bars, but Cesare’s outstretched hand stopped him. With great dignity he pulled out a handkerchief, unfolded it and dabbed away the offending moisture. He refolded it, replaced it, and reached through the bars to take hold of her shift.
“Lady Sforza, I am a powerful man. More powerful by far than those pathetic, disgusting excuses for men you called husbands.” He pulled her up against the bars, and leaned in close enough for him to smell the faint scent of vanilla and roses in her hair. That scent had driven him mad all during the carriage ride they’d spent together.
“I realize that you are used to dealing with weak men, so I will forgive you once.” He tugged harshly and heard a little of her bodice rip. “But I warn you; do not try my patience again.”
“Oh yes, a powerful man indeed.” Caterina mocked, eyes blazing defiance. “But then so did my pathetic disgusting husbands refer to themselves. A man’s worth is measured by how he commands his power, and from what I have seen of you, Borgia,” She looked him up and down, sneering. “There is little worth to be had.”
Cesare’s dark eyes burned as he released her, shoving her back from the door. A sharp nod to one of his guards and the door was unlocked. Caterina shrank away from the swordsman who entered the cell to keep her back as Cesare handed over his weapons to the waiting footman. A few moments to remove the larger pieces of his armour, and then he replaced the swordsman in her cell. The click of the lock behind him was as ominous as his expression.
She dared not look away from him as the footman and the guards backed away, turning to make conversation amongst themselves. He studied her intently, and she shuddered at his cruel little smile.
Later, when Ezio is rescuing her and asks if she was touched, she will lie to him.
“Now, why don’t I show you just how I command my power?”