The Medici Girl: Reluctance

The Bonding of Lives

The weeks had gone by quickly and before Contessina knew it, she was standing before Ezio on the steps of the Santa Maria del Fiore taking vows. There was a strange feeling that crept up when she saw Ezio in his dark green wedding doublet, something she had never really felt before when she laid eyes on him before. He had worn his hair down with half of it tied back unlike usual. He looked different, mature, and ready for the next step in his life. All the while she was not so ready. 

It took everything she had to steady her nerves as Lorenzo walked her down the isle towards her betrothed. Her dress was perfect; Maria had done a wonderful job in making sure the embroidery was magnificent. The pearl necklace that Claudia hung around Contessina's neck as a token of love for her new little sister. Contessina was a sight to behold in her plainness. Her blond hair hung down her back all the way to her hips while white jasmine adorned her silky strands. 

Ezio could hardly believe his eyes at the woman in front of him. Gone was the girl who pretended to be Queen Boudicca and in front of him was someone else entirely. Before she had even entered the building, he had looked for Cristina, hoping she would be there to watch. She had not shown. Most of the Pazzi supporters did not show, even though they had been invited merely as a curtesy. However, Contessina did not seem to mind the missing people in the cathedral. He had not expected to be married at the age of seventeen, but he did like the idea of it now that he knew just what he was getting. 

He may have called her the most foolish girl he had ever met and she was because she had no idea what was in front of her. He knew what was in front of him, even though his bleeding heart still pined for Cristina. The trouble was, he was pretty sure he was starting to love Contessina just as much as he loved Cristina. The love he had for the brunette Vespucci girl was wild, untamed, and even passionate, but Contessina? She was the opposite. She was steadfast, strong, grounded, and the fire within her smoldered rather than burned everything down. They were two completely different women. Comparing them was like comparing a horse to a donkey. Both were equines, but a donkey was less refined and harder to train, while a horse was beautiful, graceful, and less stubborn. 

As Ezio stood there at the alter, he looked into Contessina's blue eyes and gave her a nod of reassurance. He was just as nervous as she was, if not more so, but he was better at hiding it. Everything was going to be different now. Their friendship was going to change from platonic to intimate in the matter of hours, yet he could not pressure himself to take that final leap to intimate. His father had told him that would come in time, if she wanted. Ezio was not worried about the marriage bed, he knew that while it was expected of them, it was not mandatory the first night. 

Contessina felt as though she were in a dream when the rings were brought forward by Lorenzo's little daughter, Lucrezia, who was only six years old. The little girl was a replica of her mother, Clarice, but she had Lorenzo's temperament. Contessina barely remembered saying the vows or the feeling of Ezio's hands on hers as he slid the gold ring on her finger. She did remember putting his ring on, but after that it was all a blur and it was an hour later she came to at the wedding banquet. 

She sat there next to Ezio with a small smile on her face and a cup of wine in her hand as all her guests came by to congratulate her on her marriage. Some of the guests even left gifts for her. The gifts were not much, just small tokens and a few Florine. When she looked over to her new husband, she saw that he was trying to enjoy himself as much as possible, but there was that look in his eyes. The same look he gave her when he was discontent inside, but was trying his best to hide it. Ezio could not fake anything, not from her. 

"My Contessina." Her mother came behind her putting her arms around the bride's shoulders and hugging her tight. "I am proud of you." Was all Ginevra said before kissing her daughter on the cheek and leaving her sitting there.