Page 232 - The Grotesque Children's Book

Chapter 28.
Joanna, Bianca, Joanna

To say that Joanna of Austria was unhappy with Bianca's re-emergence into her
husband's life is an understatement. She was furious. She was livid. And now that she had
borne a son and heir, she was vengeful. She raged about the Palace, throwing pots and upsetting
tables (apparently an Austrian tradition of spurned wives). More vindictively, she arranged state
dinner after state dinner with foreign (Austrian) ambassadors in order to force Francesco to be at
her side, and not the side of his whore.

Bianca, on the other hand, reveled in her restored position next to Francesco, basking in
the renewed showers of gifts, jewelry and clothes. She particularly liked the pearls, pearls, and
more pearls, as they shouted her name so loudly and cleverly. She dared to swoop right past
Joanna's windows on the arm of Francesco, looking up with a cooing, contented smile.

Joanna felt betrayed, dishonored and disrespected. She began to explore options of how
to be rid of Bianca Cappello forever.

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