Murderous Suitor | Rebekah Mikaelson

Chapter Five

 Lucrezia and Rebekah did not see much of each other for the next week or so. Rebekah spent much of her time in the company of the duke, and Lucrezia stayed away. If Vittorio was smitten with Rebekah, Lucrezia did not want to do anything to anger him. She didn't know whether or not it would actually make him happy if she and the other woman became friends and spent time together.

 Really, the truth of it was that, deep down, Lucrezia was afraid of her brother. He was pleasant and charming one day, and then bad-tempered and demanding the next. She could find no explanation for it other than it was simply the way he was, and she knew there was no cure for that if it was just the way he was. So, she did what she could to stay out of his way and not make trouble for him. If staying away from Rebekah was a way, she would do it, even if she didn't want to have to do it.

 Lucrezia knew things about Vittorio that Rebekah probably didn't, things he wasn't going to share with her if he wanted her to love him. She could use that, she thought. There was a chance she could use it without her brother having to know.

 Kol Mikaelson seemed quite fond of Lucrezia, always wanting to chat or flirt. The young woman wouldn't do so in her brother's presence, but when he wasn't around, there certainly wasn't anything stopping her from having a simple conversation with him.

 "I must say," she said to him, "I quite like your sister."

 "Ah, Rebekah. I have to myself that she is quite the woman. We grew up together, so I would know."

 "Of course. Where did you grow up?" she asked.

 "Oh...somewhere a long way from here. I doubt if anyone here has ever even heard of it. It was a difficult life, and it still is for us, but we survive. True, there are times when we cannot stand each other."

 Lucrezia laughed. "I can understand it."

 "Yes, I suppose so. But really, we're united, together. It's a mysterious thing, something between siblings."

 She nodded. "Yes, it must be. Tell me honestly, what do you think of my brother the duke?"

 "Honestly, I do not think I like him," Kol replied. "Forgive me, but there is something about him I do not like, though I couldn't say what it is."

 "Your sister seems very fond of him."

 "Very fond of who?" Rebekah walked into the room just then and looked down at them. "Well, you were speaking of me, weren't you?"

 "Yes, I was only saying that you and my brother have become fond of each other," Lucrezia said quickly.

 "Rebekah!" Kol raised his eyebrows. "I do not know why I should be surprised. There is always a new man, isn't there? Forgive me sister, madam, but she can be like this."

 "Oh, Kol!" Rebekah swatted his shoulder. "He and I have become friends, and if he wished to court me...well, I do not think I would refuse such an offer."

 Here was her moment, Lucrezia realized. She took a deep breath and said, "You do not know, then?"

 "Know what?"

 So, she didn't know. Good.

 "My brother the duke has been spending weeks attempting to arrange a second marriage for himself," she said, as calmly as she could manage. "I am surprised he would not say so to you, seeing as you have become friends."

 Rebekah sat down, looking genuinely surprised. She shook her head and said, "I have not heard of this. May I ask who he is arranging a marriage with?"

 "The daughter of an important family in this part of the country. He has been attempting to make a marriage contract for weeks. I do not know how well he even knows the girl, poor thing. But...at least I would have a new sister, if I like her. She could be awful, for all that I know."

 Rebekah nodded. "Yes. Poor thing," she said softly. "Do excuse me, please."

 She got up from her chair and walked out the room.

 Kol whistled, and said, "Oh, dear. Off to have a lovers' quarrel, I suppose."

 But Lucrezia didn't care. She wanted Rebekah to be angry with the duke. It would serve him right.