Page 220 - The Grotesque Children's Book

Chapter 24.

But if it’s a son?

Summer, 1576.
Things continued to work out nicely for Bianca neé Cappello until the awful day when
she discovered she was pregnant. Oh dear, she thought. This child is in trouble. She tried to
hide it from Francesco, but as often as they were naked together, this became increasingly
difficult, and then one day, impossible.
“I can't acknowledge it as mine,” Francesco said to her, gently stroking her belly.
“But if it's a son...?”
“No, Bianca.”
“Joanna has failed you. She is barren.”
“She isn’t barren; she has born me five daughters, but they’ve all been stillborn. There's
still time for her.”
“But mine will be your first born.”
“Whenever Joanna has a child, that will be my first.”
“There have been kings of England who --”
“Bianca, stop. Listen to me. We've been together now for twelve years. Twelve
wonderful years.”
“Oh no! Please, I'm begging you now, please don't give me a Twelve Wonderful Years
speech. Where would I go without you? Don't leave me, Cesco.”
“Things will be different once I become Grand Duke. My father is ill. It won't be long
now.”
“I would never forgive your father for dying. He will die to spite me, I know he will! He
never liked me.” She fought back her tears. “Please. Don't leave me. If you need to stop
bringing me to the theatre with you, I understand. If you need to visit me only at the Casa di
Bianca Cappello, I could put up with that. Thank you for the house, by the way, it's adorable.
Though it's awfully hard to keep clean. So many rooms! And there's some silt or something
which creeps in at night through the back scullery which I can’t ever get rid of. Come see it,
Francesco, come to my casa tonight and see what you can do about the creeping silt. You're a
brilliant man. If anyone can find the source of the --”
“Bianca.”
She froze. The flatness in his voice. He's going to dismiss me. “Please, Cesco?”

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