In The Lion's Sign. Stefano Vignaroli

to the community of friars who have worked so hard to make it.»

      «Well, Bernardino, if it’s your will, I’ll be happy to carry out this mission on your behalf.»

      Lucia almost made the tome disappear by putting it under her arm. Then she approached the printer with delicacy, touching one cheek with her lips, like a greeting. Bernardino pretended nothing, but his heart was in turmoil. As he watched her go, he abandoned himself sitting on a wooden bench, near the entrance to the store. He put his hand in his pocket and squeezed the bottle that Lucia had given him. But he didn’t have time to put a few drops of the medicine in his mouth, because he collapsed earlier. He panting, looking for air, his eyelids lowered. He felt that his heart was no longer beating, it was still. He slipped off the bench, until he reached the ground, then everything around him went dark. When he opened his eyes again he saw Valentino above him, holding his nose with his fingers and pushing his breath hard into his mouth. He beckoned him to stop, finding the strength to carry the bottle he was still holding in his hand to his mouth. He managed to pour a few drops, holding it under his tongue. In a few moments he felt a strange heat pervade him, regained his strength, retreated to his feet, refusing the help of Valentino who was holding his hand, and went back inside the store.

      «Paolo! Valentino! Prepare the machines. We are going to press!»

       

       CHAPTER 9

      Spring is ecstasy.

      Flowering is an act of love.

      (Anonymous)

      Before leaving the city; Lucia went to the Bishop’s Palace to greet Monsignor Piersimone Ghislieri, who was pleased to receive she in the audience hall.

      «My dear Countess, I am very happy to see you», he said, extending his ringed hand towards the young woman, prostrate at her feet. «Come, come, stand up, and tell me, rather! Any news from your betrothed? Is it known when he will return? When will I finally be able to join you in marriage?»

      «Eh, how many questions, Your Eminence. If I had the answers, I would be very happy to share them with you. Unfortunately, my informers report to me that Andrea was sent last autumn to fight in the Netherlands, to accompany the French soldiers in the dirty war against Charles V of Habsburg. The winter has been long, and nothing more has been known about Andrea and his comrades-in-arms. But my heart tells me he is certainly alive.»

      «From what I know, the French are having the worst, so much so that our Pope Clement VII, in order not to be overwhelmed by events, is trying to make a possible alliance with the Emperor, in order to safeguard the State of the Church.»

      «Really? And our beloved Pope doesn’t think to the rest of Italy? In doing so he would open the way for the Lansquenets, who could reach as far as Milan, plunder it, and from there go as far as Florence and even Rome. And what will happen to our people, who are giving hand in hand to the French army, what will happen to them?»

      «We must have faith in our Holy Father. You will see, everything will go well. But tell me the real reason why you came to see me. I don’t believe, Countess Lucia, that you have come here to talk about war and politics. So?», and the Cardinal took an attitude of listening, looking at the young lady of subtext, with cunning eyes.

      Lucia blushed slightly, feeling so observed by a high prelate. She tried to conceal the embarrassment, detaching her gaze from the Cardinal’s eyes and staring at the cheerful flames of the large fireplace.

      «For a few days I will stay away from Jesi, and therefore I will not be able to follow, as I did all winter, the government and administration of the city. Therefore, in my absence, I put these functions, which you have entrusted to me with such confidence, back into your hands. Clearly, until my return.»

      «Well, I have no problem with that, even though I am more experienced in governing souls, rather than material and earthly matters. But, gracefully, tell me where you wish to go, and for how long you will be absent. Are you not going to join your beloved in the Netherlands, risking your own life?»

      «No, don’t worry. My intention is to stay away only a few days. I’ll go to the Apennines and reach the abbey of St. Urbano. I have a mission to accomplish on behalf of Bernardino, the printer. I have to deliver to the Benedictine monks, brothers dear to you, a copy of the Divine Comedy made by my dear friend the printer and enriched with illustrations drawn by the hand of the monks themselves. I will take the opportunity to gather a few days in meditation and prayer and do penance. After the long winter that has passed, I need it.»

      «Well, my dear little countess. I don’t want to hinder in any way this will of yours. But allow me to have you accompanied by some men of my confidence. They will be your escort, and I will feel more at ease.»

      Lucia, who had no intention of being controlled day and night by the Cardinal’s thugs, pretended to think a little bit about it, then took up her word again.

      «I thank you, Your Eminence», and Lucia lowered herself a little to take back the Cardinal’s hand and kiss the ring to say goodbye. «I have already given orders to four of my men to prepare the horses and provisions. I am already well escorted. Don’t worry about me.»

      Of course, the next morning at an early hour, even before dawn, Lucia gave instructions to the girls’ housekeepers, woke up the stable boy, saddled Morocco, and galloped off, without any escort or provisions.

      She arrived at the abbey of St. Urbano which was late afternoon. The air was sparkling. Although the sun was shining, the mountains around were still snowy. Going up from Esinante towards the abbey, Lucia had stopped in a wide clearing dotted with colourful flowers. The characteristic of these flowers, called Crocus, was to sprout in mountain meadows immediately after the snow had melted. The stigmas of the Crocus were much sought after by housewives and healers. The first ones, from the cultivated seedlings that blossomed in autumn, obtained saffron, an excellent reddish yellow spice to be used to make tasty dishes. The healers used instead the medicinal properties of wild flowers, which in nature blossomed in spring. The stigmas of the latter had to be dried as soon as they were picked and then stored in well closed glass jars. Crocus, in addition to having digestive, sedative and tranquilizing properties, could in fact be toxic, especially if taken in high doses or if the stigmas had not been dried properly, according to the rules handed down from mother to daughter. Therefore, once satisfied with the harvest, Lucia was quick to jump back on her steed to reach the abbey. Among other things, she would have asked the Prior, Father Gerolamo, to use the drying room, which no doubt was provided by the convent’s pharmacy. But when she arrived on the spot, the first thing that caught her eye, and that made everything else take second place, was Father Ignazio Amici’s cart, abandoned in the grassy square. Of course, it was covered with a beautiful layer of dust, which shows it had been there for quite a while. But the fact that Father Ignazio could arrive there from one moment to the next put a lot of anxiety on her.

      The Prior, in all probability, had noticed the hesitant lady in the abbey square from the window of his cell. And so he had gone out to help her get off her horse and to welcome her.

      «My Lady, I am truly honoured by your presence. But, tell me, how is it that you have come so far, in this still harsh season, and moreover alone, without any escort? Isn’t it unwise for a noblewoman to go around as you do?»

      «Well, now that I see that cart, some fear is also beginning to come over me.»

      «Don't worry», Father Gerolamo smiled. «If you are referring to Father Ignazio Amici, I believe we’ll no longer have to deal with him and his inquisitorial manias. A year and a half ago, after staging that farce of a trial up on the Colle dell’Aggiogo, he disappeared and no one knew anything about him anymore. But I assure you he certainly doesn’t roam these woods like a wolf. Someone would have sighted him sooner or later. I myself have made some inspections and found irrefutable convincing me our brother Ignazio, on the very day of the vile executions, has put his feet in foul, falling inside a sulphurous resurgence. Satan has called him back to himself, he has fallen straight to hell!»

      «Well, although I never wish death