Petra, the Great - (Book One)

"There is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so".

Chapter Seven

"There is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so".

- Hamlet (Act II, Scene II).

                I WALK INTO MY QUARTERS, but Patty lingers behind, hovering besides the door with her maidservants.

        "You have lovely quarters signora," she calls out from the hall.

        I grab an orange from my bag and peel my breakfast with a sigh. "They are even nicer inside." I chew into the fruit slice and - oh what an orange! I blink for I have not expected it to burst into my mouth with sunshine itself! A few more slices later and the anxious Patty dismisses her maidservants and walks into my rooms.

        "I am a bit nervous," she says.

        I nod to the chair opposite me and smile, my friendliest smile - sweet enough to coax a snail out of its shell. That is all it takes for Patty to relax into the seat across from me.

        "Think of me as your confidant, milady." I push the bag of fruit underneath my chair with my foot. I would have offered her some but they are the most savory fruits in all of Florentia. "I only want to use my powers to help you of course."

        "Oh! Well in that case Signora Fortuna, I want your advice on a ... situation."

        I assume my most nonthreatening manner. "Yes?"

        "It is about the other night," Patty continues and fidgets with the embroidery on her dress.

        "About Cecilia? " I venture.

        Patty's eyes widen and she looks around the room, her round face pale. "Uh... well..."

        "Don't worry she is not here. I'm your confidant remember."

        "She is my dearest and greatest friend, but she has fallen on some misfortune and well ...I just don't know what to do!"

        I try to hide my smile, for my predication about Cecilia Marchisio was true -

        "Did her family lose their money and she is in danger of becoming destitute?"

        I am amused that Patty's eyes get even wider, like little moons on her pudgy face.

        "H-how did you know?" Then she blushes. "Oh, of course you are a fortune teller!"

        I shrug and wave my hand for her to continue, although skipping breakfast has made me a bit more impatient. It is hard to concentrate when I know I have a bag of the most delicious fruits in Florentia so close and yet so far.

        Patty takes a heavy breath and says, "Not only that, but a man has come between us milady!"

        A man? Ah, so my other prediction was also true: Patty was concerned about her love life. I try to not roll my eyes. It is always the same thing with these nobles: money or love.