Page 371 - The Grotesque Children's Book

Chapter 66.

Now, now, my oyster

In the privacy of their bedchamber, Francesco and Bianca admitted to each other that
they were frightened. Bianca whispered, “Oh, Cesco, do you think it’s Valerius who is trying to
poison us?”

“I don’t.”
“Is it Zaccario then?”
“Zaccario stands much more to gain by keeping us alive. We’re paying him inordinate
amounts of money.”
“”Then it’s someone else. Someone stole my jewels. Someone’s killing our painters.
We’re not safe here, Cesco.”
“Now, now, my oyster. Your fevers are having their way with you. Once they
subside --”
Bianca burst out impulsively, “Let’s go to Villa a Caiano!”
“I have ministerial responsibilities which --”
“Then I’ll go! Just until you catch the assailant and it’s safe for me again.”
Francesco held her close. “I won’t let you go alone, my dear.”
Bianca brightened. “So you’ll come?”
“Maybe a week at Villa a Caiano would do us both some good.”
“I’ll get some rest, Cesco. And do some sweeping!”
Francesco thought about the weeks to come, leading up to the opening of the new
galleries. “There’s a few days coming up when the curators will be moving the art collections
into the Uffizi. It will be chaos here. With men and objects and ladders and nail pounding...I
wouldn’t mind missing that.”
“Let’s go tomorrow!” Bianca grasped at Francesco’s hands.
“I would need to make arrangements.”
“Before they kill me.”
“Bianca.”
“They have my dragons, Francesco. They can get into my chambers. Without my
dragons to protect me...shhh!” She grabbed his arm, suddenly frightened at a noise. “What’s
that?”
“I don’t hear anyth --”

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