Infinite Devotion by L.E. Waters Read Free Book Online Page B

the fawn in the back. The poor thing runs back frantically to the courtyard for shelter. But as it reaches the illusion of safety, a brown wolf pounces and drags the fawn under the bushes.
    One morning, there’s a large commotion outside St. Peters. The triumphant son returns with horses, soldiers, and plunder of war. One of the pope’s grooms comes knocking on our door for us to greet Cesare and celebrate. Alfonso stays behind as I hurry down the stairs to stand next to Father on his balcony. Cesare leads the way in his usual black attire but with the addition of a thick gold collar and gold and black cap. Father yells to circle the Vatican to show Rome how victorious he is, and I see Father’s eyes well up with tears as he heartily laughs with joy. When Cesare goes around one side, Father runs to the next side to watch him go all around the palace, waving for me to follow him.
    When the procession’s over, we hurry out to greet him, and he jumps off his horse. He gives father a quick kiss on both cheeks and then his ring and gives me two kisses also.
    “Guards! Bring Caterina to dine with us,” Cesare yells back to his men, and two guards drag out a raging beauty: a dark-haired and brown-eyed slender woman with small faint freckles on her nose and under her eyes. She wears a crushed velvet dress with a pale blue robe, and she keeps struggling to free herself as she curses the guards.
    Cesare motions for us to go in and not to wait for her, who I deduce is one of his prisoners. My stomach wrenches for what’s going to play out at dinner with the poor woman seated with us.
    Father sits first, and then we all take our seats. The woman is brought in and tied sitting in her chair so that her back and legs are tight to the chair, but her hands are free. The knots are tied out of her reach behind her back. She looks fierce and angry, which is impressive, since Cesare hadn’t intimidated her yet. I sit across from her, and she stares at me while our course is served.
    “You’re the lying whore who’s sleeping with her papal father and pig brother?”
    I avert my eyes, completely caught off guard by her hatred.
    Cesare starts laughing. “Isn’t she charming?” He grabs her hair and holds her head back. “Now be nice if you want to be fed tonight.”
    “Lucrezia, this is Caterina Sforza, Ruler of Forli, relative of your impotent first husband,” my father says.
    Caterina guffaws at the word impotent.
    My father continues, “This lovely duchess has been so kind as to have attempted to kill me twice in the last month. Trying to preempt the attack on Forli, she sent me letters steeped in poison that sickened two of my messengers and also tried wrapping her letters in clothes worn by plague victims.”
    She purses her lips and gives Father a burning stare.
    Cesare speaks. “All other provinces gave way to me like cheap whores, but Caterina fought to the very end.” She pulls at her ropes, and Cesare laughs. “She’s still fighting!”
    She shakes her head back and forth like she’s gone mad and screams while doing so. “Why have you not killed me yet!”
    Father and Cesare are enjoying the show.
    “Why would I do something that could make me more enemies than I already have?” Father says with his eyes wide. “If you had only relented as the others had, then you’d still be in Forli.”
    “I will never sell my soul!”
    “I’m sure Don Michelotto could find your price,” Cesare says, but Father puts his hand up to keep him from going such places.
    “Caterina, you’re such a lovely young woman, and I respect your fight, but you must understand I’ve only two choices. Either I can accommodate you and your children very comfortably in St. Peter’s—”
    “What will you make me do, sleep with you and have your child as you forced your daughter to?” She looks back at me and enunciates the words. “The Roman Infant.” She can see she strikes a sore spot with my father.
    He pushes back slightly from the