Murderous Suitor | Rebekah Mikaelson

Chapter Eleven

 "You opened it."

 Lucrezia was standing in the doorway, looking from Rebekah to the book in her hands to the desk in great surprise.

 "What do you mean?" Rebekah asked.

 "I mean that you unlocked it." The girl walked slowly over to the desk. "I tried to find the key for so long, but I never found it, and then my brother locked these rooms up." She ran her fingers over the desk's rough surface. "Francesca was always such a sad woman. I treasured the rare times I saw her truly smile. I thought that...if I could see what she wrote, perhaps I could understand what made her so unhappy. I just wanted...I wanted to..."

 "To help her," Rebekah finished.

 Lucrezia nodded, tears in her eyes. "Yes." 

 Rebekah got up and went over Lucrezia. She wrapped her arms around the girl as she began to cry. This was a young woman who needed love, someone who truly loved her. The only person she had ever known who gave her that was Francesca, and she was gone.

 "Lucrezia, the things Francesca wrote...I think it is best you do not read it," Rebekah suggested.

 "Why not? Did she say why she...how she may have died?"

 "Yes, I believe I know what happened to her." Rebekah handed the book to Lucrezia. "You can read every word Francesca ever wrote, but you won't like it. And do not share this with anyone, especially not-"

 "Well, well. What are we whispering about?"

 Both women stepped from each other and turned towards the door. The duke stood in the doorway, eyeing them both with suspicion.

 "Nothing much, Your Grace," Rebekah answered in a light tone. "I had only hoped that I might be able to see the private rooms of the duchess, and your sister only wished to come along with me."

 "I see. I suppose you got in here with the key you stole from me?" He smiled. "Yes, I noticed it was missing. Get out, Lucrezia," he snapped at his sister without taking his eyes off of Rebekah. "This woman and I have things to discuss."

 "Sir, I-"

 "I said, GET OUT!" he shouted, causing the poor girl to run out of the room as quickly as she could. He slammed the door shut behind her.

 "You know, I knew Francesca had a journal," he said. "I simply never found it." He looked towards the bed. "I will assume the key was sewn into the pillow. The woman always was good at sewing and embroidery. Now, where is it?"

 "I don't have any journal," Rebekah replied calmly. "I do not believe I found one."

 "Lies. Of course you're lying. I saw my sister carrying a book. I suppose that was it? Now, do not lie to me, Rebekah. I can see right through them."

 "Perhaps I did find it," she said. "I know the truth, and now Lucrezia will also know the truth. Your wife did not kill herself. You knew she was having an affair with a man named Roberto, you knew she hated you, and you weren't getting any children from her, so you poisoned her. That way, you could be rid of her and get yourself a new duchess, one more obedient to you then the first."

 Vittorio smiled. "An intelligent whore. Perhaps there is more to your person than I realized, Rebekah. If you are intelligent, then you know I cannot have anyone else discovering this. Think of the scandal. If you do not keep quiet, I will murder you, and my sister will surely know that once she has read my dead wife's words."

 "Leave Lucrezia alone," Rebekah snapped. "She does not deserve death. Besides, if she did tell anyone, do you really think they believe her rather than you? In this world? I am the one you should fear. You deceived me, so I discovered everything you have been hiding. Well, Your Grace, what do you say to that?"

 The duke looked furious at her words.

 "I would throw you all out into the street if I could," he sputtered, "But somehow, I cannot. Come to my rooms late tonight, after the servants have gone to bed. You and I shall discuss this matter then. I certainly hope you do not make any bad choices, Rebekah."

 He led her out of the room, took the key out of her hand to lock the room up, and then walked away from her for the second time that day.