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A deceitful teenage girl will be no easy thing to manage, but with patience and kindness I have total faith in Ludovico to muddle through! Poetry and presents are a great start, he only has to be careful she does not come to see him as a pushover. Still, I think he has made an excellent first impression and the marriage is starting off on the highest footing it possibly could. Though I believe Ludovico will always see himself as married to Ricciarda, in mind if not in reality, he seems on the right path to incorporate Tomasina into his family too!
Yes he has been somewhat succesful, though the start of his first marriage went even better, I think he realizes that things could've been worse and by showing his new wife respect she may do the same. Thank you very much for reading and commenting.
Oh yes, I get the feeling that she will prove herself to be a formidable woman, though hopefully a better stepmother than her own. You are very right in your claims, hopefully Tomasina doesn't take a mile for every inch of good treatment Ludovico gives her. He does seem to have made a good impression, but that can be negated through perceived slights. Yes Ludovico will likely view Ricciarda as his truest wife and love but hopefully he can mantain the balancing act of remembering his first wife while trying to appease his second wife. Thank you so much for reading and commenting!
Hello all:
I'm sorry but I don't think I'm going to be able to finish and release the usual update tonight because of all the classwork I've been doing over the past week: Rest assured that I will probably release the update over the weekend and then go back to releasing one every Thursday.
I'm sorry but I don't think I'm going to be able to finish and release the usual update tonight because of all the classwork I've been doing over the past week: Rest assured that I will probably release the update over the weekend and then go back to releasing one every Thursday.
20
December 1078
They sat in one of the Strazzi family palace’s sitting rooms, the four of them enjoyed various refreshments as they sat on cushioned benches. Ludovico set his metal goblet of wine down and asked,”Tell me Guillem, how is your family back in Hispania doing?”
“Decently enough, though when my mother visited a few months ago she said that my brother brings shame to our family.”
Ludovico raised an eyebrow at that,”Why does she say that?”
“Because… after my nephew Ermengol’s death he’s turned into a drunk, and she said that he collaborates with the Muslim invaders of Barcelona, as he enforces their Jizya tax, serves the Emir as his Grand Vizier and is his Chief Architect.”
“Well that’s unfortunate, yet I suppose I can understand how he coped with such loss.”
“There does seem to be hope for the people of Barcelona though, a war to reconquer the lands of Aragon has begun.”
Bianca, holding a hand to the swell of her belly then chimed in,”That is well I suppose, for it will prevent the Muslims from completely dominating those lands. These wars seem to be more about land more than they are about faith, though the people of Iberia are right to want to reclaim their lands from invaders.”
Ludovico nodded and turned to Adelaida,”How was it to see your grandmother again and to meet your Aunt Dolca and your cousin?”
.PNG "December 1078 Adelaida(Guilhem's mother).PNG")
As she finished eating a grape the young girl replied,”It was nice, though most of the time my grandmother and aunt were complaining about my uncle’s drunkenness. My cousin Dolca was quiet but seems like she will grow to be a nice girl.”
After a few minutes of a lull in the conversation, Guilhem bit into a fritter and asked,”So how is married life going for you.”
Ludovico nervously paused for a moment, and drank some more wine,”Well suffice it to say that things could be worse, but they could also be better.”
“Oh, why is that Ludovico?”
“Well we spent some time together a few months ago and it went well enough, but just last month she was angry with me due to the poem I dedicated to her, do you remember it Guilhem?”
The man nodded,”Yes, you praised her chastity and she seemed happy with it.”
Ludovico laughed,”That is true but in private she scolded me for it, and claimed that I spoke of her as if she was a nun.”
“Well I’m sorry to hear that my Patrician, we at least know that you meant well. The people of the city are at least grateful for the renovations you made to it’s walls. Perhaps one day you may put your skills to work as Venice's Serene Doge.”
Shortly after this, they were interrupted by a knock on the door, and Ludovico leaned his head backwards,”Come in.”
The door was then opened and a servant appeared,”Patrician Ludovico, Lady Tomasina requests your presence, she says it’s important.”
Ludovico sighed but got up,”I’m sorry, but I suppose I should go and see what is happening, I hope the three of you have a good rest of your day.”
Guildhem nodded,”Goodbye milord, it was a pleasure to spend some time with you.”
Ludovico followed the servant out of the sitting room and after a minute of walking made it outside his chambers and he turned to him and said,”You have my thanks, young man, have a good day.”
The servant gratefully smiled and walked off to the direction of the palace’s kitchens, and Ludovico lightly knocked on the door and entered, and regarded his wife, and his daughter, who both sat in chairs sewing. Ludovico then gave his wife a shallow bow,”You requested my presence madame?”
Tomasina narrowed her eyes as she finished a stitch on one of his shirts, and motioned with her now free hand towards a chair to her left,”Sit husband.”
Though slightly puzzled, he did so but just a moment later he was alarmed to hear a small yelp from the right side of the room, and he turned to see daughter drop the blanket she was working on and quickly grabbed a small cloth to cover her bleeding pointer finger on her right hand and she whimpered,”I’m sorry, I ruined it didn’t I? I’m no good at this.”
Tomasina then put down the shirt she was working on and hugged Camilla,”It’s fine, you just need to practice, as for the blanket…. Well, the materials were cheap enough.”
Camilla shook her head,”No I can’t do anything as I should, I can’t dance and I can’t sew, what kind of wife will I be to your brother?”
Tomasina ran her fingers through the girl’s hair,”You’ll be a good one, dancing doesn’t really matter, and you can always work on your sewing or have someone else do it instead.”
Camilla smiled a little,”Thank you.”
As Camilla and Tomasina sat back down Ludovico asked,”So Tomasina, what did you want to tell me?”
Tomasina smiled,”Well, it is very good news for both of us Ludovico and I already told your children. I am with child, and Alfontso and Camilla will soon have a half-sibling.”
Ludovico quickly rose from his chair, walked the short distance to Tomasina’s chair and kissed her,”Thank you, Tomasina, you and the child will want for nothing over the course of your lives, that much I promise you.”
Tomasina then nodded,”Thank you very much Ludovico, I confess that I wasn’t sure what to think of marrying you at first, but I am grateful for the courtesy that you’ve shown me.”
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Camilla's life will be hard, considering her affliction... Tomasina is kind to use her deceit to reassure her stepdaughter all will be well. I still am not entirely sure whether this young new wife will turn out good or bad for the Strazzi family overall, but I have to give her points for (apparently) embracing them all as kin. Keep swaying her, Ludovico!
Oh yes it will make things fairly challenging, though she is fortunate in that as a wealthier member of society her physical impediment won't be quite as bad as say a peasant who'd need to work the fields. Hopefully her husband treats her well and remains faithful, though I'm afraid he may not because of her being clubfooted. Due to her demeanor I can easily see Camilla being the sort of quiet dutifully wife who is willing to put up with whatever is thrown her way. As for Tomasina, I certainly do feel that her and Camilla have something of a connection, both are the second eldest child in families where their mother died quite early in their lives and both are part of the generation that has watched their fathers shape the republic. This makes me think that perhaps Tomasina feels a certain bit of sympathy for her stepdaughter who is after all only about 10 years her junior. I hope Tomasina will turn out to be a good thing for the family, I have no doubt that Camilla will be overjoyed to finally be a doting older sister, after all she was robbed of such an opportunity when her mother died years ago. It seems to me that Tomasina will probably be closer to Camilla then Alfonsto but will still treat him well. She has certainly done perhaps her most important duty as well, being pregnant within two years of marriage is always reassuring. Thank you so much for reading and commenting, your insight is always appreciated.
Life seems to go on. Good foundations of a relationship developing between stepmother and stepchild, though being clubfooted will provide much difficulty in the upcoming marriage depending on her betrothed's thoughts in it.
Spain being Spain as usual.
Spain being Spain as usual.
You are right, Camilla and Tomasina do have somethings in common, and it is especially useful for the two to be on good terms for not only is Camilla Tomasina's stepdaughter, she will one day be her sister-in-law as well. Hopefully being clubfooted does not make her husband less faithful, but it is still likely to cause some issues. Haha, yes Spain is anything but stable at the moment. Thank you very much for reading and commenting, I always look forward to reading your comments.
Hey everyone:This week has been crazy for me, I've had like 10 different assignments/tests to do for midterm and all SUNY Universities(including the one I go to) have moved their classes online and I'm visiting family in another state during spring break, with that being said you should expect an update to be released by sunday. I'm really sorry everyone, but things have been so chaotic.
The course of true love never did run smooth
Oh yes, there a number of cases when it doesn't, hopefully this second marriage is as good as the first for Ludovico. Thank you so much for commenting.
21
July 1079
“I would like you to oversee the improvements to our trading post outside the city,"
Vitale nodded,”Of course milord, it should be most profitable."
"Thank you, has Patrician Francesco found the accommodations to his liking?"
"Yes he has, his half siblings also like theirs as well."
Ludovico nodded and took a small sip of wine,"Good, I'm glad that they all wanted to visit again, especially as some say that Tomasina will birth our child soon."
"Yes, I wish you both the best of luck, how long until they say she is due."
"Three weeks I believe.”
Vitale quickly nodded, and opened the door, ready to leave Ludovico’s chambers,”Well I hope you have a good rest of your day milord.”
Ludovico smiled as he got up from his chair,”You too Vitale.”
After waiting for a moment, Ludovico followed Vitale out of his chambers, but after exiting walked to the left of the hallway, while Vitale took the right. After a couple of minutes he made it to the door outside of his wife’s chambers, and opened it, to find his heavily pregnant wife, her three siblings and his children sitting in chairs and benches by the fireplace, all chatting. As he entered he decided to take a seat on a beach, with Tomasina occupying most of the right side, and Camilla sitting on the left, and he sat in the middle. As he did so he heard his young sister-in-law Matilda ask,”How exactly did you find that mithing chalice?”
Tomasina laughed before Ludovico could respond,”Now that’s a tale, dear sister!”
Ludovico nodded and clasped his wife’s hand,”Indeed it is, so it all started when a priest came to me asking to retrieve a stolen chalice, an important relic to the church, I and eight of my men saddled up to track the bandits down. After an hour of searching we found them in the woods, there were only five of them, so it was simplicity itself to dispatch them. For two hours we searched every inch of their hideout, but we still couldn't find it, so we gave up and returned, only to find out that the old man had simply misplaced the chalice.”
Matilda laughed,”Yeth, that is a tale.”
As soon as she finished she reddened however, but her half brother Francesco, who sat to her left gave her a reassuring smile,”Sorry, about that, despite whatever her mother may say, she can’t help it.”
His half brother Antonio nodded,”Thank you brother, I love my mother but she can be rather mean to Matilda.”
Tomasina gravely nodded, with her hand on her large belly,”Yes, on the day that I left for my wedding I heard her complain that she wished it was Adriano that lived, and not her. We were all saddened when he died, but it’s unfair that she doesn't treasure Matilda, she is her only daughter after all.”
Matilda’s eyes welled up with tears and she shook her head,”I’m practically an orphan.”
Suddenly Tomasina drew a sharp breath and yelped,”Oww, I think the baby is coming!”
At this, pandamonian threatened to ensue as everyone practically leaped from their seats, and Ludovico decided to take charge of the situation,”Everyone try not to panic, Camilla and Matilda:I need the both of you to fetch Antoniotto as well as some midwives, Antonio, you need to stay in here and comfort your sister if she needs it, Francesco, Alfonsto and I will help Tomasina to her bed.”
At this all obeyed, the two younger girls left the room, Antonio awkwardly stood by the window, by the bed and Ludovico, his son and Francesco started to help Tomasina walk to her bed. However she nearly collapsed and Ludovico, though worried, calmly directed the others,”We’ll need to carry her to the bed, which shouldn’t be too hard.”
He for his part placed his arms under her back, while Francesco held the other side and Alfontso cautiously grabbed her legs, and in less than a minute the three managed to bring her to the bed and gently set her down and Francesco chuckled,”You’ve put on some weight Tomasina.”
After screaming from a sudden contraction she glared at him with venom, and Francesco backed away. While they waited for the midwives and court physician Tomasina asked her husband,”Will I die Ludovico?”
Ludovico shook his head,”You will probably survive, Lady Bianca survived giving birth to her second daughter Sibila a few months ago, so you should too.”
Tomasina quickly wiped some sweat from her brow,”But she’s old, and she’s done this before.”
He raised his eyebrows,”She’s a year younger than me, what does that make me?”
She then suffered through another contraction,”You know I didn't mean that husband.”
He nodded,”I know, the first birth tends to be the hardest anyways, my first wife Ricciarda took almost a day to give birth to Alfonsto.”
Tomasina’s eyes widened,”I hope it doesn't take that long.”
Ludovico tried to smile,”It might not, it can vary.”
As Tomasina frowned Matilda and Camilla burst through the door, followed by four midwives and Antoniotto. As the process of the birth continued Camilla and Matilda kneeled by the right side of the bed prayed fervently,”Domine dirige nos.” Ludovico held his wife’s right hand to comfort her, while her brothers gave words of encouragement. Two hours later… As the afternoon soon entered through the window with great intensity, Tomasina’s labor ended, and a midwife caught the baby, swaddled it and then gave it to it’s young mother. Tomasina smiled as she held the baby and quickly kissed it’s forehead, and she waved Ludovico over. As Ludovico looked down at the newborn Tomasina smiled and exclaimed,”It’s a boy Ludovico, a boy!”
He stroked his son’s dark hair,”Excellent my dear, I’m so happy you are both with me, what do you want to name him?”
Tomasina looked up to him, broadly smiling,”You really want me to name our son?”
He nodded,”Yes, he is your eldest after all.”
“Thank you so much, I think I’ll name him Marco, after my dead brother.”
“An excellent name my dear, I’m sure he’ll grow to be a fine boy.”
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I am not at all sure he is hte most comforting presence in teh birthing process tbh
Of whom do you speak? I assume you are talking about Ludovico telling Tomasina that the length of childbirth can vary. Yes that may not be comforting but I think she somewhat appreciates the fact that he's there and didn't just leave her by herself. Thank you again for reading.
I did mean Ludovico - but it was the ”She’s a year younger than me, what does that make me?” line I was more referring to, though I take your point about his simple presence. I read the whole scene of him trying to help, out of a genuine desire to, but being a little bit useless in this particular sphere (quite reasonably).
Crikey I really ended up with a lot of typos in that comment you quoted.
You do make a great point, Ludovico shows there that he's a little insecure about his age and this circumstance isn't the best time for him to act that way and it does highlight the age difference between the two as she lets it slip that she thinks(relatively speaking) people older than 30 are old. You are certainly right in how you evaluated the scene and as for the typos: I'm not exactly perfect myself so it's all good. Thank you very much for reading and commenting.