Gia Francesca Gasparri's Bedroom

Tears welled in Charlotte's eyes when Gia called her "daughter." "My birth mother gave me life, but you gave me love, and a future, and a foundation of knowledge that I will use to make my life in a happy, suitable manner."

She smiled at Gia's story about her father, and thought of her very own father whom she missed dearly even though he never found time to write. "I shall think of the same when I wear this, I shall be reminded I am never far from the home in my heart, and from one who truly cares about me."

She touched her necklace and had a faraway sound to her voice. "Sometimes we learn things just by seeing others' mistakes. We learn from a young age how not to live our lives. I only hope I can do you proud."

Gia smiled and laughed, "my dear, I am certain you will make me proud." She reached across the table and held up Charlotte's chin, "you already have, so very much."

She clasped her hands together, a fainter smile on her face. "Yet, you must always still be grateful to your mother for giving you life...even if it were no lifestyle, childhood or adulthood, you must be glad you are alive, and thank her for her labors to bring you to this world." Gia placed a hand on her stomach, "I know of how difficult it is to fully carry a child," her heart sank a moment.

She forced a smile, "yes, you must always remember where you come from, otherwise, how are you to know where you are going?...how are you to know whether your journey has truly been a journey?"

She beamed like the sun when Gia said she was already proud of her. "That means so much to me, my lady," she replied.

Charlotte's face was void of expression as she thought of her mother, who had been absent nearly fifteen years, and before then had only played a minor role in her upbringing. "You are right. Though I could never truly give her any of my affections, I am grateful she had me." She placed a hand upon Gia's. "My lady.. I am sorry for your loss. I know you would have made an excellent mother, and His Grace would have been a most wonderful father." Her eyes glistened with compassion.

She leaned back in her seat, only briefly before sitting upright again. "Truer words were never spoken. I intend to make the best of my life, to make others happy and myself as well. I want everyone I meet to be happy and pleased with me." she admitted shyly, glancing up quickly. She hated that she craved approval, attention from people.

Gia gave a laugh, "though I never had a child, I still got the little girl I had always wanted," she smiled at Charlotte.

She held up a warning finger, "you must not always be too quick to please." "Though you are a lady in waiting, it is often difficult to please all at once...and this can backfire," she warned, "if you are told to please your king, yet also please your queen, you shall find yourself carrying on a contradiction, and perhaps even be seen as a sycophant, or Heaven forbid, deceitful."

"That warms my heart so very much," Charlotte whispered, returning Gia's smile.

She nodded as she took in the knowledge Gia was imparting upon her. "That is another thing I hadn't thought of. There is much more to court life than I anticipated! It's very much like a game of chess, isn't it? It takes strategy and planning. I would hate to be caught in a situation that makes me out to be deceitful." She glanced away a moment. "I may not give the truth straightaway, but neither can I keep up a lie."

Gia nodded in agreement, "yes, it is all very much a game," she gave a sly laugh, "yet rather entertaining to watch." She gave Charlotte a nudge on the shoulder, "watch how some carry themselves in private, and then in public...watch the flirtations of courtiers...watch the servants and members gossip about other nobles, then bow to their feet after," she gave a laugh, shaking her head, "court life is a constant masquerade...you just have to be the best dancer and player at the ball," she winked.

"I should tell you the tell the truth wholly, and with every fiber of your being, yet at court it can be so very difficult, and even dangerous at times." Gia looked off toward the window, "when I was at court, it was a dangerous and uncertain time...the time of the Borgias, and plague and persecution," she gave Charlotte a faint smile, "those were dark days...yet they seem better now."

Charlotte smiled and arched an eyebrow at Gia's words. "Yes, it's like a masquerade. One must perform a role, as in a play. I think I am up to the task." She smiled comfortably. "But of course, there are few I would never under any circumstances lie to. You dear contessa, one of them."

She agreed with Gia, nodding. "I've no doubt it will be dangerous. I only hope no one asks too much of me so that my allegiances will be split." She saw the look in Gia's eyes and leaned forward when she heard her mention the Borgia family. "Please tell me, my lady. Were you ever involved in.. anything secret?" She would not think any less of her if she had.

Gia threw her head back and laughed, "I certainly hope you would not."

Gia straightened up in her seat, uncomfortably and gave a long sigh. "When I was at court, there was much power struggle between the pope and the king, even though the king is to listen to his holyness." She shook her head, "much of the court was divided, and at times it was difficult to even trust your own friends." She swallowed, "if your friend was on the king's side, she could easily inform him that you had sided with the Pope, and vice versa," she sighed again, "also I recall, much of the plague had some fearing the work of witchcraft and other such evils...people, courtiers, and especially us women, walked in fear of being accused of witchcraft."

Charlotte exhaled slowly, trying to imagine such intrigue, such false fronts courtiers could put up. "Those sound like dark days, indeed. It must have been such a precarious position for everyone. And women accused of witchcraft.. I cannot imagine. I am only glad we are past those days, I hope. And that you survived such dangers." Gia had led such an interesting life, but now Charlotte knew it was not all parties and dances, gowns and jewels. Scandal and intrigue followed close behind, lurking behind every corner. "Surely though, as I've been told, the Pope represents Christ on earth, perhaps the king should bow to him. As my father says, 'A cat may look at a king,'" she smiled.

Gia gave a nod, a smile on her lips, "aaahhh, you would think." She wagged a finger, "but in a world of sycophantic courtiers, eager to please their king, one would say anything to please their king momentarily, then do the same for the Pope." She looked out the window, "if his majesty was not fond of who was appointed Pope, he could express his disdain, and us courtiers would have to sit and listen, smile and nod."

Charlotte frowned, thinking. "Is it possible to serve two masters? Then again I suppose is closer in proximity, and the pope is tucked away in the Vatican, that it is perhaps more important to please the king, since he is the one whom court life revolves around so much." She hoped her own rational thinking pleased Gia. "I only hope that no one thinks to use me for political gain. I'd rather not get caught up in a web of deceit." She was of no importance as far as her breeding, but soon it would come to knowledge that she was Gia's ward, and Charlotte hoped no one would treat her differently for it.

"Yes," Gia nodded, "that is very much what others were thinking...that they should please whoever is closest and poses emminent threat."

Gia gave a laugh, "my child...I fear that as women, we are not often pulled into politics." Her face turned serious, "yet know, little Lotte, that when you are suddenly thrust into the political world...it often means trouble is on the horizon." She gave a nod toward the window, "and the webs of deceit are many, and everywhere."

She gave a little smile. "Then perhaps that is a good thing. I wouldn't know what to do. As much as I take your advice to heart, there are times when I would like to tell myself what is right. I should like to rely on my own knowledge, even when it appears I have so little." She giggled.

Charlotte followed Gia's glance out the window, and saw the skies had turned grey. A storm was surely coming, which was expected this time of year. "If you hear of anything, anything that might have to do with me, you will tell me? I should like to know beforehand. Though I very much doubt anyone would see me as some sort of pawn." She sighed as she kept her gaze out the window. "Mi manca Venezia, non è vero? Non vedo come si possa lasciare quel posto ..."

Gia gave a laugh, "oh, my child...knowledge is not sought by books or theorum or lecture...that is for intelligence to command, but knowledge," she smiled, "knowledge you can gain by observation...especially of your peers...your fellow courtiers and masters...even the servants...they will teach you to know, by what you see." Her eyes grew serious though the smile remained, "but only you can tell yourself what is correct...because if you learn what is right by the knowledge you gain from others...you will find yourself a different person and void of your own thoughts."

Gia's eyebrow rose, "would there be reason for others to speak about you?" She leaned in a little, "other than being the queen's main lady." She gave a nod, "yes, I would of course tell you."

Gia smiled fondly, "Le piogge di un altro paese non sono mai uguali," she shook her head.

Charlotte nodded as she soaked in more of Gia's words of wisdom. She could observe well enough, it seemed being born with a curious nature would serve her well while at court. "I want only to think for myself. I have no desire to be void of my own thoughts, a sycophant as you say. I have seen much of that both here and at other courts. I don't want such a vapid existence for myself, or my--" she paused and smiled.

She shook her head in earnest. "I have given no one any reason at all to speak ill of me," she said, and it was technically the truth. "My lady Eleanor has been so kind, and I have learned much from her also."

She smiled at Gia's words. "That sounds very poetic. I can imagine what the canals look like now, their glassy surfaces and murky depths, the gentle rocking of a slow-traveling gondola.." she smiled softly. "Oh, my lady please excuse me. The rain has brought on a headache and I think I shall rest for a bit."

Gia gave a laugh, "yes, it is no good to be vapid...though rather entertaining to those observing," she laughed, again. "You are in no ways close to such shallowness, and I am glad you shall what is right and correct in your heart and mind."

Gia gave a nod of approval. "Yes, it is good to watch her...the Spanish are very devout in their religion and therefore the very mirror of a proper lady, and she shall be a proper queen." She nodded again, "do what her, little Lotte, I am certain you will further learn grace and humility."

Gia smiled as she thought of Venice, again. "Yes, it is so very lovely this time of year...the coming cold makes the water clear." She gave a slight frown and like a mother to her child she placed her hands on Charlotte's head, "oh, my dear, I am very sorry for that." She gave a smile and removed her hands, "you are very much excused...feel better."

She gave a small laugh. "I'm glad you think well of me, and that you trust me to trust my own instincts."

She nodded as she thought of how she spent every day at Mass with Lady Eleanor, though she herself had not been brought up a Catholic. "If I can learn even a few things from her I think I shall be quite set for a modest and decent life."

Charlotte smiled as she thought of one of the few places she'd ever truly considered her home. "Venice is never very far away from me. And now I have a piece of it no matter where I am," she said smiling as she touched her necklace. She smiled as Gia placed her hands on her head. "Thank you my lady, I shall feel better soon. A mild ailment, is all." She stood and curtsied before taking leave to her own chambers.

Gia gave a smile and nod of approval as she watched ward leave the room. She could not help but feel very happy for her, seeing as those years ago she would often have fits of tears in being seperated from her family, though it seemed to Gia they were not much of a family at all. Gia felt proud that the young girl who came to her in Venice had grown up to be an accomplished young lady at court, and much more proud that she had followed in the right direction.

Gia stood up from the table and set the bottle away, looking through her trunks for a book her husband, Rodrigo, used to always read with her. And as she sat the the bench beside the window, she looked out to the approaching storm, and opened the books' pages.

Charlotte could not deflect the situation any longer, and it would be out of the question to simply avoid Gia. She owed her much and did not want to disrespect the woman who'd created a new existence for her. She waited with Anthony as they were announced to the countess. Heart pounding, she took a deep breath to calm her nerves and gave her husband a reassuring smile.
"I'm sure she will be happy for us," she whispered before they entered the chamber.

I walked with Charlotte to her benefactress chambers. As we were announced I held her hand knowing she was nervous. "Do not fret my love, like you say, i'm sure all will be well." I said and kissed her hand in assurance.

She gave him a grateful look. "I wonder.. if we should tell her about the baby." She instinctively put her hands to her belly. She was only slightly showing, it was noticeable if someone knew to look.

My eyes followed her hands to her belly. "Well since we are now married, perhaps it would be good to tell her." I said knowing I would get a judgmental speech.

Her eyes widened as she forced a smile and tried to swallow the lump in her throat. Gia was the last person in the world she wanted to disappoint. "I'm sure you will charm her," she whispered. "But if worse comes to worst, I'll pretend to faint and you'll catch me," she said, only half-kidding.

I could see she was nervous, I smiled at her joke "My love, don't fret. I know everything will be alright." I said wrapped my arms around her and kissed her.

Gia heard the call of her servant a frowned a moment, not know whom could possibly be visiting her. She stood up from her seat and nodded to the servant to let them in.

She gave a smile catching sight of Charlotte, yet, it faded a moment at the sight of a man with her. She tilted her head and gave a smile.

"Little Lotte...and sir?" she laughed.