The Courtesan's Kiss

[slippedhalo]

Finally, it was unavoidable, leaving the shop of the perfumer. Giavanna led as Alessa waved goodbye to Enzo, but Giavanna was stopped dead in her tracks at the sight of Franco with a wealthy merchant's gorgeous daughter on his arm, both laughing and touching with a slight familiarity...she tried to look someplace else quickly but Alessa nearly bumped into her and she had to stop to right them both. "Choose a direction quickly, my dear." she mumbled softly, hoping to put as much distance between them and the scene before them as quickly as possible.

 

[caela]

Alessa grinned at having Giavanna's approval, with no one else but Enzo in the shop she allowed a small measure of her childlike glee to show on her face but not all of it. Still enough that her happiness glowed on her face as she watched Enzo mixing up the larger bottle that she would take home with her that day. By the time he was done however she had once more schooled her features to a serene countenance leaving only her eyes to speak of her joy and excitement.

An excitement that was tempered when she saw the bill reciept for just that single bottle. She'd known the scent would be expensive but staring at the reciept she gained a fuller appreciation for the amount of her earnings that Giavanna would recieve. That single bottle cost more than many people in the city could hope to make in an entire year...hell, in five years in some of the poorer quarters. It was more than many noblewomen themselves would be able to afford and she now also understood why they bought the mass marketed scents...they were cheaper.

Knowing that Giavanna could see the understanding in her eyes she finally tore her gaze away from that paper and watched as the amount was paid out as if it was nothing to worry over. The fact that she loved the scent was just one more reason to live up to the teaching Giavanna had given her for she never wanted to be without it and would have to do very well indeed to keep a supply of it.

As her thoughts whirled through her mind she realized that Giavanna was stalling and looked to the other woman with only the slightest of questioning glances but asked nothing. If the opprotunity arose later she would ask what had happened but Giavanna was not saying her farewells and Alessa added her own along with her thanks for his patience and skill in mixing her scent.

Still in her happy haze she hugged her package to her to protect the precious bottle within and nearly ran into Giavanna as the other woman stopped. Glancing in the same direction as Giavanna she saw Senore Di Mezzio with a nobleman's daughter on his arm.

"Choose a direction quickly, my dear."

Without a thought she touched Giavanna's arm to turn them to the left and away from Di Mezzio and the woman he was with, "Let's see the shops this way Mistress Giavanna," she said softly hoping to distract her from the couple.

 

[slippedhalo]

Giavanna took Alessa's arm and they walked briskly in the direction Alessa led them to. She was relieved the girl was perceptive and quick-witted. They moved a little easier as soon as they had a few shops' distance between them and the pair they were avoiding. Giavanna decided to take her young friend into a jeweler's to admire some precious gemstone amulets and ear adornments. "Come, Alessa, let's look at some jewellery." she said as casually as she could.

 

[caela]

"Come, Alessa, let's look at some jewellery." she said as casually as she could.

"Of course," she said and offered an encouraging smile as they entered the gem shop.

Like most young girls she enjoyed looking at jewlery but unlike most she was able to look at it with the eye of someone who would one day be able to afford those gems that she wanted for herself and wouldn't have to look to any man to say yes or no to her desires.

She caught the dirty looks thrown their way from the few "respectable" women in the shop and simply gave them a kind, gentle smile while little caring of their opinions of her. It was their husbands and brothers who would shape her life, and fill her coffers. Besides she wasn't so blind that she couldn't see the jealousy behind their looks. Where many noblewomen weren't taught even the most basic rudiments of reading and writing a courtesan was well educated; and where they must answer to a man for all their needs and wants a courtesan answered only to herself.

She didn't blame them for hating her and so she ignored them after that initial smile and simply began to look around the shop hoping that the time within it would help to ease Giavanna's worries about Senore Di Mezzio.

 

[slippedhalo]

Giavanna really couldn't understand why the sight of him flirting with another woman had shocked her. She wouldn't even say it had upset her, it was just more surprising to run into him AND run into him with a woman on his arm who was very obviously under his enchanting spell. She was still angry about the night before, she decided....That must be it. Still, an odd uneasy feeling in her gut refused to settle completely and her mind kept wandering to him...finally she decided it just didn't matter. She had lost him as a patron long before seeing him cavorting with another and even if it were that he was perhaps going to marry a woman such as the one she'd witnessed him with, that was fine too... In a year or two she would be just as boring to him as any wife to her husband and he would be back out on the prowl again,looking for a good courtesan to make love to, and given that no one even came close to her looks, intelligence, or talents except perahaps her own student (once she had a little experience under her belt), then to Giavanna it just meant that eventually he'd come back into her circle again at a later time, either for her services or for Alessa's. Meanwhile, she had other things to occupy her time and energy, and although none of her clientelle were as rich as he, they were all very rich and her business wouldn't suffer much at all with the loss of an income from one such as Franco Di Mezzio. SHe didn't like self-doubt, it never suited her well so she had to let the matter drop.

For the time being, these thoughts made her feel better and she was soon in much improved spirits and better able to enjoy looking at jewellery with her apprentice.

 

[caela]

Alessa noticed when Giavanna's spirits lifted and a small smile touched the girls lips. Clearly her Mistress had just needed time to sort out her thoughts and was now enjoying the pretty baubles as well. Like the perfumers shop the items here were costly indeed and Alessa merely looked, getting ideas for the first piece of jewelery she would have comissioned for herself once she was truly working as a courtesan.

She was also getting ideas for a present for Giavanna once she had the money from her first patron whomever he might be. It wasn't something she had to do, or something she'd even mentioned to her Mistress but she thought it only right to buy some small gift for Giavanna to thank her for all the time and work that had gone into training her and as a small token to show that she'd be well taken care of when she retired.

"Have you seen anything you like Mistress Giavanna," she asked at last when they neared the same display case.

 

[slippedhalo]

'Oh, so many things, dearest, but I always have preferred my jewellery to be in gift form for it means so much more that way.' replied Giavanna, as she re-told the story of her first admirer and some of the gifts he'd bestowed upon her that she still had to this day.

 

[caela]

'Oh, so many things, dearest, but I always have preferred my jewellery to be in gift form for it means so much more that way.'

Alessa smiled and listened to the story Giavanna told and while she could see her point about the jewlery having more meaning she was still eager to be able to afford to commission her own pieces. Being born a maids daughter she was well aware just how far above that station she was reaching. She would share the beds with some of the wealthiest men in Venice, and if she took care with her money she would never be hungry or have to worry about where her next meal would come from.

The life she'd agreed to had it's price but she felt well worth the paying...especially as she continued to look at all the stones and ready made pieces in the shop.

 

[slippedhalo]

"Shall we find someplace for lunch or return home and find out how many offers we've had for your innocence already?" asked Giavanna, feeling a little easier about walking back to the center of town, and their boat, even if they did happen to run into Di Mezzio.

 

[caela]

"Shall we find someplace for lunch or return home and find out how many offers we've had for your innocence already?"

Alessa chuckled softly at the question, after all her innocence was a mere technicality. She'd been raised in a courtesan's household and had been training with her for years. Still it was a technicallity that would mean much to some man and it was something she would have only once. She knew that Giavanna would choose her first patron with care and she looked forward to her first time.

Still it had been long since she'd been free to be out and enjoy herself and she was in no hurry to return home.

"I'd opt for getting some lunch before returning home if that's acceptable," she said honestly though leaving it perfectly open for Giavanna to take back the offer and return them home if she'd prefer. She was no fool and knew her life wouldn't truly be entirely her own until she had her own household.

 

[slippedhalo]

"No, we could stop along the way. I saw an adorable little cafe that had some delicious smells coming from it. It has an outdoor area in view of the square, avery smart place for us to be viewed, for you to be better seen as we dine. Get used to eating on display, my dear, it happens all the time and right now you are a precious commodity. Everyone will want a good view of you. They will be more excitd about it all if they think you are unaware of their peering eyes." replied Giavanna, takinng her apprenticee by the arm in a friendly way and leading her toward the cafe described.

 

[caela]

Alessa smiled quite happily as she linked her arm with Giavanna's. After being cooped up for so very long it was a heady feeling to be out and about and dressed as what she was, a courtesan's apprentice, instead of skulking about in maid's attire. She felt eyes turn to watch them as they walked down the streets to the cafe Giavanna had mentioned but she paid them no mind, her eyes only for the path ahead or Giavanna herself.

Once they were settled and had ordered their lunches Alessa leaned toward Giavanna as if whispering conspiratorially when in fact she was simply making the best advantage of the differences between them...light and dark so comfortable together.

"So who of note is watching us dine Mistress Giavanna?"

 

[slippedhalo]

Giavanna smiled as if Alessa had just said something very clever and only ventured the quickest glance upward before answering, "Well, Senore Pazzo Deluna is here. He's fairly wealthy and has a brother in the senate. Gregorio Lentini is here with his son, Cossimo...I believe young Cossimo is about your age. Likely, Gregorio would love to sample you first and then bring his son back when you've acquired enough experience to teach the boy a thing or two." she teased merrily, taking another quick glance, "Ah, and Alfio Buccino, he's the pollitical satirist who our Cardinal loves so dearly. As our Cardinal, Bucino is also a lover of young boys just as much as young girls but unlike our Cardinal, he doesn't have to hide it so fiercely. Nonetheless, if the Cardinal brings him as a guest to our house and is generous enough to pay for a night of his friend's passion as well as his own, likely you will have to become just as comfortable with sodomy as with any other sexual artform. These kinds of men love boys who look like girls and girls to bend like a young man." Giavanna said all of this very matter of factly to her apprentice, knowing the girl needed all the information she could grasp now for it would only give her an edge. Smiling at her protigee she added, "...and today, my lovely, all eyes are passing over me to stare upon your beauty."

 

[caela]

"...and today, my lovely, all eyes are passing over me to stare upon your beauty."

Alessa had listened quietly as Giavanna explained who was about them but she only looked up and around when their waitor would come by making it seem perfectly natural and in no way an indication of any interest in the men that Giavanna mentioned to her.

When Giavanna praised her beauty she allowed only a small smile to curve her lips though her eyes shone with pleasure at the compliment.

"If they stare Mistress it is only because I am knew and unexpected and if my beauty is worth the notice it's only because you've taught me how to enhance and make the most of it. You are the constant fire they return to like moths to flame."

She knew it sounded as if she were laying the compliments on a bit thick but she had been in Giavanna's household for years and knew what she said to be true. Men didn't just come to Giavanna once but returned to her again and again if she allowed them and while she knew she was lovely on her own it was in Giavanna's house that she had learned the arts of dressing to best enhance her body type, to apply cosmetics skillfully so they appeared hardly there at all and yet accentuated her large eyes and soft lips, and to coif her hair to it's best advantage around her face.

"I only hope that one day my own patrons are as loyal as yours," she said honestly and allowing some of her own eagerness to thread through her voice. Something she would only do with Giavanna.

 

[slippedhalo]

The two ladies had a lovely time lunching together and took their time returning from town. By the time they returned home to find their household still preparing for a guest who likely would not be coming it was already late afternoon and too late to stop the cook from making enough dinner for guests.Giavanna regretted not passing the news of how badly things went with Di Mezzio along to more than just Alessa and Ricardo because it was obvious that Ricardo had not returned home yet himself and therefore preparations had gone on. Finally, Giavanna simply shrugged to Alessa, "Well, my dear, it appears we'll be having a quiet evening but plenty of food extra. Why don't you ask your mother to join us tonight?"

Meanwhile, Lady Victoria took both of them by an elbow and showed them the long list of bids for Alessa's virginity. Only one morning, officially out and already thirteen sizeable offers. The Cardinal Paulini's was the highest so far, second to his was Senore Pazzo Deluna who must have sent a messenger to beat them home during lunch, and she saw several of her favorite other clients on the list as well.

The last ten were immediately dismissed as the ladies discussed the possibilities of how to subtly let each of the top three know that the other two have bid to see if they would re-bid tomorrow with a larger offer. Lady Victoria, having done this for herself, a cousin, her own daughter and now Alessa, had the best ideas for spreading this word withoout seeming greedy or meddlesome, most included gossiping house servants, and their own maid and cook sending gossip into the right servant's ears in town tomorrow morning.

 

[caela]

Alessa was amazed when they returned home to find that there were already thirteen offers for her virginity. She had hoped that eventually she might have so many total but not this quickly. Surely she must have underestimated the higher esteem she would be held in because she had Giavanna as her Mistress!

Giddy with excitement she listened to the plans laid to spread the word among those that Giavanna and Lady Victoria found acceptable and filed away the knowledge for when she had her own household. It was well known that servants gossiped of course but she hadn't thought to use that fact to her advantage before. Now it was a tool she would never forget.

Once the plans were made she politely excused herself to go invite her mother to the dinner that had been prepared fro a patron that was now unlikely to appear at the door.

 

[Starsailor2804]

Returning home after a long day of spending an amount of wealth that surely surpassed all the assets and money many could ever dream of having, Franco found his home cold and empty. Everyone was gone doing other things and he had given all his servants off for the day. Even Alexander was gone as he had been sent to his aunts after what had happened the night before. Walking throughout the estate he found himself first in the kitchen to discover a plate of fruit that had been left for him by Paul. The man was far too good to him, and what Franco did not know was that he was knocking on the door of the estate of Giavanna at that exact moment.

Dressed in his fine attire he wore during events at the estate he knocked upon the door and awaited someone to come and greet him. In his arms he held a chest filled with rubies, diamonds, and gold. These fine prizes had been seized in Egypt by Franco's father who had put down and killed a fellow merchant who had tried to have him and his son murdered. Franco did not know about these for his father had never told him that he had these hidden in a secret safe before he had met his death. Thus, he would not lose what he never had and for this gift Paul had no doubt he would win back the ladies' favor and possibly even get to taste first from Alessa who Paul had learned was now available.

 

[slippedhalo]

Lucia had been on her way to join the Lady Giavanna, Lady Victoria and her daughter at dinner to celebrate Alessa's first publicly announced day as a courtesan's apprentice but she heard a knock at the door. "Alessa, warn the mistress, perhaps he has come after all." she said to her daughter understanding that if Di Mezzio had come for dinner she would go back to eating in the kitchen with the rest of the staff that evening. She didn't mind, although the alternative would have been much nicer. Making her way too the large, heavy door she opened it to see someone other than Di Mezzio standing in fine clothes with a chest in his arms and a smile upon his face. "May I help you, sir?" she asked.

 

[Starsailor2804]

As the door opened Paul did not falter nor hesitate in what he had to say. He was skilled in speech and negotiation and knew all too well how to say what he wanted to portray. His interests were totally in his master who was not only down, but knew would regret losing Giavanna and the possibility to claim first taste of the young apprentice Giavanna had taken under her wing. Bowing to the woman as much as he could with the chest in his hands he hit the latch and opened it wide for her to see.

Among the gold lied gems of diamonds and rubies, as well as a few emeralds. "Greetings Ma'am, I am Paul Rubell, faithful servant of the Di Mezzio family. I come to present Lady Giavanna with this chest of gold and gems as well as place a bid for the Lady Alessa. My master is devastated for what he has done and is ruined both in heart and mind for not only what happened, but for being denied the chance to give the Lady a tribute. Thus, I come here on my own, not the orders of the great Di Mezzio to give this tribute and bid for Alessa for my master, who is a great man I not only serve, but love and would give my life to protect. My master is a great man in all ways and is deeply saddened by what happened. Please accept my gift and the chance for me to bid on Lady Alessa for my master."

Standing there tall and proud Paul did not stutter nor hesitate with anything he had to say. He had an offer to present along with the gift to give that would trump all other bids and gifts that anyone could ever give to Lady Giavanna and Lady Alessa.

 

[slippedhalo]

Lucia's eyes widened at the wealth set before her. "Uh...please come in and you may present it yourself. The ladies of the house were just sitting down to supper, would you perhaps like something to eat or drink?" she asked, opening the door wider to allow him and his chest entrance. She curtsied as she preceeded him into the main dininghall. "Mistresses, Alessa, Paul here, from the Di Mezzio household would like to speak with you all and I felt he should come in and..."

"...yes, Paul, come and join us, please. What is it that bring you to my home?" asked Giavanna. "Would you like a glass of wine?" she asked, motioning for Lucia to fetch him a goblet.

 

[Starsailor2804]

Entering once allowed he carried the chest with him though closed now so that he may open it later for Giavanna for shock value. Looking around the place he noted that there was indeed great wealth in this place, but surely no one would be not taken back by what he was carrying with him. "Yes please, I would love a glass of wine," he said and then joined Giavanna and others. "I have come to present you with this, a gift from my master Franco Di Mezzio for the horrible event that occurred. I am here on my own behalf, my master has no clue that I have come to see you. He is absolutely devastated and I swear what occurred is not who my master is, surely the stress has gotten to him with a huge deal he has going on in Egypt and other things. So, I have come to present you with this as a gift. As well, I have heard the news about Lady Alessa and would like to bid for my master."

Opening the chest he revealed all the gems, jewels, and gold he had revealed to the lady who had greeted him at the door.

 

[slippedhalo]

Giavanna took a long look and a moment to compose herself before responding. "Please, don't take offense to my having returned the earlier...gift. I just felt and still feel that the intent behind it was insulting. But, if you mean for this as your master's offer for my young Alessa's innocence, then we accept the offer and thank you heartily, this would put him in the lead thus far, though, with thirteen offers today alone I would say even this wealthy sum may not secure your master's position in that regard but it does a very nice job as a trend setter and a way to lead the pack. Thank you. Why don't you have a seat and join us? Our dinner-guest, it would appear, is you today." said Giavanna.

 

[caela]

Alessa had been speaking with her mother and Lady Giavanna when it was announced that they had a guest. She was surprised but she didn't let it show on her face. As Di Mezzio's man entered she wondered what he would think of their current eating arrangement with a maid and an apprentice sitting at the table with the Ladies Giavanna and Victoria. He earned himself some brownie points when she ignored it all and simply made his speech to her Mistress.

Seeing what was in the chest she had to fight to keep her face neutral and knowing her eyes would betray her astonishment she dropped them to the floor as a blush colored her cheeks. Suddenly it hit her that this man was offering to buy to her innocence for his Master! Granted she'd enjoyed going over the offers that had come in earlier but those had been just words on paper...this was the actual money being delivered hard, and cold, and real.

Listening to Giavanna say that this was a good start seemed to knock the breath from her body. Surely she wasn't worth so much as this! Continuing to keep her eyes demurely downcast she had to force herself to breath but she managed to do so without making a spectacle of herself. Looking for all the world like a sweet, innocent, young maid mildly embarassed by the brazen conversation of those older than she.

 

[KiSsMyAsS]

Cossimo Lentini gazed out into the beautiful city of Venice, with its waterways and beautiful architecture, taking none of it in. Cossimo was about six foot tall and had dark brown hair and green eyes, he was lean and muscular and quite a handsome and attractive youth. He was normally quite thoughtful and sensitive, which is surprising considering his colorful childhood, his brow darkened as he was relived his memories.

Gregorio Lentini was a fisherman, on the coast of Italy and had an easy life. He had a wife and a son, both of whom he dearly loved. However when his wife died (When Cossimo was eight years old), he fell to gambling and drink, finally disowning his much-loved son, casting him from his house unceremoniously, after a particular long drink and several displays of violence.

Cossimo was taken in by a group of rogues, one of who would grow to become his childhood love, Alessandra, he grew up learning pick-pocketing and was a great fighter. However the local government ran a raid into the rogues den and captured Alessandra and Cossimo, whom they separated. Sickened by grief Cossimo pleaded for her to be freed and the jailer taking pity on Cossimo decided to give her to a local rich couple, who would train her to be a lady, he on the other hand was trained as a soldier to fight in the Italian wars. He quickly progressed through the ranks and eventually became stationed in Venice, as a Captain, where he met his father, who had made his fortune by being a merchant, to and from the New World and was now an influential part of the merchant guild.

Gregorio, thrilled to see his son, had a word with the Local Commander, and arranged with him (through gold) to let his son have a break from fighting, from the war. Cossimo soon saw that his father was not wholly recovered from his mother's death and Gregorio became a regular of the more talented courtesans of the city.

Cossimo felt a sexual attraction to Alessa and saw the intelligence in her eyes as well as her pleasing figure. Gregorio, noticing this decided to bid for her virginity, as a birthday present for his son. Cossimo felt both insulted and desirous when his father announced this intention, he felt it as an insult to Alessandra but he is deeply attracted to Alessa. He has decided to go and see her.

"Lucatoni…." called Cossimo

"Coming Master" a well-dressed butler entered the room

"Prepare me, I am going to see Miss Alessa"

"Yes Sir"

Lucatoni dressed his master in his Captains outfit, finally presenting him with a sliver rapier.

"Thank you Lucatoni"

Sweeping on his musketeer style hat, Cossimo quickly found himself knocking at the door of Alessa's house.

"Is Miss Alessa inside the house? It's about her virginity…"he said to the maid as she opened the door.

He blushed, embarrassed at the normally taboo subjects, however he knew the Lady of the house's reputation and reckoned that this was a household, which normally more embarrassing subjects were a regular to. He was slightly nervous, but hell wanted to see the charming face, smooth curves and fine ass of Miss Alessa again.

*is it ok? I can redo it if you want...

 

[slippedhalo]

Lucia smiled, quite startled. She still wasn't used to gentlemen callers coming to the house for Alessa. This one, ,was quite young and she doubted he had more than their dear Cardinal nor Senore Di Mezzio had to offer, still, she let him in with a bow. "Please come in. I'm Lucia, Lady Giavanna, Victoria and Alessa's maid," she kept the part about being Alessa's mother out of her statement lest it make the girl appear needy and cheap. "Who may I ask is calling so that I can announce you to the group? They are just finishing dinner and I am certain they would love to have a friend join them for dessert." asked Lucia politely.