"That is not what I meant, and you know it." Lucia sighed in frustration. "You could break your marriage agreement, you know. There is no official contract yet."

"I could not do that to Giovanni!"

Lucia stared at her with a furtive gleam in her eyes, and said, "Why not? Giovanni does not love you." She held up her finger when Maddalena began to protest, then continued. "He desires you, but he does not love you. Just as you do not love him."

"I do love him, Mamma! And he loves me. He is my best friend."

"Your love is the love of friendship, and the attraction is that of two beautiful people finding pleasure in one another's appearance. It is not a passion that would linger long. Indeed, Giovanni likely seeks attention in another's arms even now-before his desire for you has worn out."

"Because he respects me and has passions which need spending." Even as the Maddalena spoke the words, she knew they sounded too defensive.

"Oh, Maddalena! I have always been so open with you, but it seems that you believe what so many others do. Men do not need sex. They want sex, but it is a falsehood that they must have it. Anymore than you or I."

Maddalena didn't answer; she bent her head and began examining her nails. She was never comfortable talking about sex with her mother, no matter how relaxed her mother was with the subject.

"How do you feel about Dominic? You desire him, I know. But is it more?"

"Why does it matter, Mamma? I am going to marry Giovanni. And even if I did have other feelings for Dominic, he does not for me."

"So you do?" Lucia asked suspiciously, running a hand lovingly over Maddalena's shiny black curls. "How do you know he does not?"

"I don't, and he does not! I know. He is not one to become seriously involved."

Her mother stood then, crossing her arms across her chest. "He told you this?"

"Sì, he said he doesn't want a serious relationship. That is why he is going to become involved with Ellania."

For once at a loss for words, Lucia sat back down. Her plan had backfired. She had hoped to force the issue between Maddalena and Dominic by bringing the other woman on the scene. It seemed to be working last night at dinner when Maddalena was green with jealousy. What had changed since then? Now Ellania was coming to dinner tonight, and they were going to the palio with her tomorrow. It seemed that instead of helping her daughter, she was going to end up hurting her. Her intuition about Dominic and Maddalena had been dreadfully wrong. Dominic had merely wanted a sexual relationship, and now that he had found one to his liking, he was going to let Maddalena go. And Maddalena had obviously fallen in love with the man in the interim, no matter how fiercely she denied the fact.

"Maddalena, you must not give up. If you love Dominic, you must fight for him. You cannot simply marry Giovanni and hope the feeling will go away. It won't. I know."

Maddalena looked up sharply. "What do you mean, Mamma? You loved someone before Papa?"

"I never loved your father, Maddalena. I do not now. But I did love once, and I regret not running away with him when he asked."

"Who was it, Mamma?"

"I should not say, Maddalena. It could hurt many."

"Please? I will not say anything."

Lucia noticed that Maddalena had finally stopped crying, and she thought she could keep her daughter's mind off her troubles with the answer. "Franco Bennici was the man. Is still the man."

"Mamma! Fillipo's father?"

"Sì. Franco wanted to marry me, but to do so I would have had to break the contract between Niccolo's family and mine. Franco was also contracted for marriage and to break it would've resulted in the loss of his inheritance. He married well and has three fine children. I am sure he is happy."

"But you are not."

"Now you see why I do not want you to make the same mistake I did?"

Maddalena nodded, but did not say anything.

"Come now, child. Dry your eyes and get ready for dinner. You must make Dominic fall in love with you! Ellania cannot compare to your beauty, and Dominic already desires you."

"I don't know if it is worth the heartache, Mamma. It would be easier to forget about Dominic and marry Giovanni."

"It would be worth it! If you love someone, you will never forget that person. Dominic may say he doesn't want a serious relationship because he has never been in love before. He will change his mind."

"I wish I could be so sure. No, Mamma, I will stay on safe ground and not disappoint Giovanni or father. I do not think Dominic could ever come to love me, and I would be setting myself up to fall. Besides, I am certain that I will come to love Giovanni passionately after we marry."

"You are so stubborn! Let's hope Dominic comes to his senses then. Anyone with half a mind would see that you two are made for each other." Lucia stood up again, and stormed to the door. "It will work out. Be at dinner early."

Why is my daughter so pigheaded? Lucia asked herself as she left Maddalena to her tears. Sometimes she was just like her father, blinded by her honor and refusing to go back on her word, even if it broke her heart! All she could hope for was the Goddess Fortuna's interference now, as she had already done all she could to help Maddalena and Dominic accept their love for one another.