Scarcely a few days passed, most of it requires him to go outside the estate from morning till dusk. Today, however, he did not and hence he finally had sometime for himself.

And it was raining. Well, he didn’t mind; he liked to read indoors, until he heard a knock, interrupting him.

“It’s your mother. She has called for you.” Gennaro told him. 

He looked up, surprised, before placing his book down. He was annoyed but he’ll visit his mother, regardless. 

“Of course,” he said, before standing up. He rarely said no to his mother, though he was puzzled why she was seeking him out. 

But he followed her, all the way to the other end of the house, where her rooms were. She liked it warm, and there was always a fire going. Especially during the snow or on a rainy day. 

She stopped him as she opened the door for him. 

He glanced around. Beatrice sat upon the table, her long black hair, loose. Her muslin gown was yellow, as he stepped forward.

He could see treats being prepared, things that he enjoyed. Their conversation. 

She rarely summoned him to her rooms, he paid his visits often. 

He took a seat down, as she beckoned him while waiting for her to speak.

“Go ahead, ask the question.” 

He was nervous, there was a seriousness. They could talk about things. He stopped before and pondered. There was only one. 

“Does it have to do with what I said to Papa a few days back?” He was euphoric then, having discovered just what made this all worth it. 

She put the cup down, knowing her son to be too smart. “I am troubled. Because he doesn’t understand you the same way I do.” 

His mother always knew him better. Even now, his father was understanding. 

But he could respect him. “He respects my goal.” 

“He has given up. He’ll let you decide what you’ll make of it,” she said. “You never knew him when he was a young man with everything on his feet.” 

“Is it really a chance, or does he hope that I’ll become like him?” He looked at her 

“I think it’s both. He’ll want to see you as a greater man than he was. That way he can feel proud as a father, but second, he thinks that the world may break you. But this is a path that you chose, and he will not interfere. Life is a greater teacher than parents ever could be,” she said. “That’s because none of you ever listen to us.” 

“I won’t give it up. It’s the only thing that’s keeping me going,” he said. “Allowing me to accept that I need to give up so much of my own interests, so that I can be the heir that both of you want.” 

He took a seat down, letting it out. 

“That is why I’m worried.” She let out a sigh. “You are single-minded, stubborn and you let nothing stop you. The only reason you never opposed it is that you’ve already thought about this since the beginning.” 

Lorenzo gave a sheepish smile. “Yes, I did.” 

“I suspected,” she said. “You had ideas, but to see them become reality, now that would bring you to heaven. Even if it’s unrealistic.” 

“But not impossible.” 

She kept her silence. “I think it’s unlikely, but that’s all.” 

He took a sip. “It’s unlikely means there must be a way out there. To avoid the lives, we live now, where we keep passing on the responsibilities like it’s some reward to be celebrated. When they’re asking you to give it all up.” 

“Will your life really be that terrible?” She asked. “You lucked out. Now you’re the heir to an estate. You have it better than your sister, your brother. And a bunch of cousins. Will it be so bad?”

“It’s on my principles that I’m doing this, and why should they get nothing while I get everything?” He asked. “Why not split it nicely?” 

“Cecelia would have her share when she gets married, so that they would not neglect her. Federico, you can give him something,” she said. “But it depends on you.” 

He wanted to voice more of it out. To speak what was on his mind. “Why does it rely so much on a person? It depends so much on his nature, wisdom and character. But that’s the most unreliable thing of all, because it never answers to reason.”

Beatrice said nothing. “Who knows? That is only something that those who have inherited a throne or a powerful position will understand. But for me, that’s just the way the world is.” 

He questioned it in a way that none of them ever did. He stopped.

“One more thing. I think it’s time you married.” 

He nodded. 

“You don’t seem surprised. Let me guess. Cecelia already let you in?” She asked. 

“Yes, she already told me.” He gave a smile. It was a more warning and less gloating, but maybe happy that the attention was off of her. “But what makes you think it will change anything?” 

“They change everything about a man. Fatherhood does more than marriage, but marriage does plenty. Because someone depends on you.” 

“And yet there are still men who desert their wives and children.” He really didn’t wish to argue this with her. 

She knew that to win with him, authority did little. It was always going to be a reason. 

“You’re a better man than that. If you were a true scoundrel, you would have left your brother to deal with the estates and pursue your genuine desires.” She looked at him, knowing her son too well. 

He gritted his teeth. 

“Once Cecelia has found a fiancee, then the focus will be on you. I think you’re old enough to find a potential wife, and we’ll be the judge. We don’t have any betrothals to honour, so both you and Cecelia are free to find your own,” she said. “She’ll be paying calls, as well as attending balls. We’re also hosting one.” 

He thought a little, believing they were just for Cecelia. Then, he came to a realisation. “Am I also going to those events?” 

Beatrice only returned a knowing smile. “Cousin Antonia will be her chaperon. When she’s not around, it’s you. But she agreed to take the both of you, so that you become acquainted with society.” 

He groaned. He remembered Cousin Antonia. She was vivacious and just shallow. He hated small talk and hence he didn’t enjoy spending time with her. He preferred the more studious cousin who ran a salon, Cousin Marietta instead. 

But before Lorenzo could interrupt. Beatrice continued. “She can handle most of Parma and Terragia. You might see Cousin Marietta if you ever go to Milan. And you know who it’ll be if it ends up being in Genoa.” 

His father would not help him. He’ll say that it’s great his mother was expanding him. His father had traveled much, and been popular amongst the women, before he met his mother and married her. 

“I think it’ll be easier if I go with Cousin Marietta, because she knows me better.” Since she stays in Milan, it’ll take a while. 

“Cousin Marietta already advised her sister to find more intellectual company, for Cecelia’s sake, too.” Beatrice looked him in the eye, having already remained one step. “And for a daughter-in-law, I also want good company, too. It’ll make the sewing less dull.” 

He tried to think of anything to wriggle his way out of this. 

“Anything else to say?” She asked. 

He shook his head. He left, knowing that he was going to talk to Cecelia.