A Foolish Moment [Lino]

[Constance Adelardi]

".... and also that blue one over there please," a dark haired young woman said to the stall keeper, a smile on her face. She had been sent on an errand to the marketplace to pick up some fabrics for the tailors. Lilliana was getting a new dress, and Constance had been sworn to secrecy about it.

'A surprise,' she had been told, and keep her lips sealed she had. After all, she knew the reaction the dress would garner already. One didnt grow up with Lilliana without picking up on some things. Lilliana and herself were about as close as two women could be to sisters without any actual blood between them. Though she was her servant, Constance knew Lilliana cared about her the same way.

Bringing herself back to the present, Constance watched as the stall owner bound the small pile of fabrics for her to carry. When it was finished, she reached for her purse and that was when she realised.

It wasnt there.

Frowning, Constance checked again. She could have sworn she had had it with her. Unless.... she'd left it on the vanity when Lilliana had asked her to help with her hair. Feeling utterly foolish, she looked at the stall keeper.

"It seems I have forgotten my purse," she said, a sheepish smile on her face. Already she could see the disapproving lookin the the owner's eye. "I will have to go back and get it," she added a moment later.

[Lino Montecchi]

Lino sighed and stretched his shoulders, stepping quickly to the side as he avoided a lady carrying a basket on her head full of fresh bread. The marketplace was a bustle this morning, people talking and selling their wears every which way he looked. He was, as always undertaking his morning rounds – going from stall to stall collecting coin from the merchants and sellers who traded with the Montencchi family. It was a role Lino had done for quite some time now and one he took very seriously. The Montencchi family owned many of these stalls, not all, but many in this area and it was his responsibility to collect the payments from those sellers. Most were good at paying up and on time to and if there was an odd occasion that a vender chose not to hand over his payment Lino knew the men to call to help him collect.

Luckily today was not one of those days and his purse was heavy with gold coin. A soft smile on his lips he walked past a fabric stall and stopped, the corner of his eye catching the glitter of blue material. Pausing mid step he turned back with the intention to look at the material but his eyes never quite made it. Instead they swept over and stopped upon the most beautiful woman Lino had ever seen.

She was… gracious God above she was simply breathtaking! Lino found himself approaching the stall pretending as though he were looking at a piece of material. Reaching out he ran his fingers across a piece of silk but his face was tilted, his blue eyes looking at the woman. She had stunning high cheekbones and magnificent almond shaped blue eyes, and those lips so thick and full…. Lino swallowed hard, eyes darting back to the piece of silk he was touching.

As he stood there, mind racing as what to do next he heard the young woman speak a touch of embarrassment evident in her voice. Looking up Lino saw the look of disappointment upon the stall keepers face. He should do something, say something, he had to get this woman’s attention. Lino’s mind continued to race, what would Leo do? Well, Leo would have pulled a rose from under his shirt and magically wooed the young beauty such was his skill. Unfortunately Lino had little of his younger brother’s charm with the ladies.

“ I’ll pay…” He suddenly said, the words tumbling from his lips so quickly that it almost surprised even himself. A small smile crept over Lino’s lips as he turned to look at the young woman, “Please… I insist…”

[Constance Adelardi]

Constance knew disappointment in a persons face when she saw it, but she really did just have every intention of returning home, fetching her purse, and coming back to buy the bundle. She had been given a task after all, and she intended wholeheartedly to see it through.

Her lips parted to speak, to assure of the owner of that, when another voice cut in, disrupting what she had been planning to say. Her lips were still slightly parted as they both looked to the newcomer who, despite standing there for the last minute or so, neither of them had noticed.

It took her a few moments to register what the man had said, but once it did, she shook her head. "No, no please. It's fine. I just have to make the trip home and come back. There's no need for you to pay," she said, her head still shaking as she spoke.

The owner seemed confused for a moment also, but then they seemed to settle and Constance figured they were getting paid either way, so who did the paying wasnt really of great consequence to them. And there was something else. Like the owner knew this man. Who was he?

Choosing not to voice that question aloud just yet, she refocused on the task at hand.

[Lino Montecchi]

The young woman was even more beautiful when she turned around to look at him – if that were even possible! Lino stared at those beautiful full lips for a moment before he blinked and snapped his eyes up to look into the pale blue orbs of the woman standing in front of him. He had thought she was beautiful when he looked at her out of the corner of his eye but now that she was standing staring up at him his breath was taken away. Beautiful was a word that could never describe how breathtaking this young woman was. Lino found himself swallowing hard, his mind racing as he tried to think of something chivalrous to say next. It had been Leo who had been gifted with the talent of flattery.

“Please, it would be my honour” Lino replied with a smile and a nod of his head. Turning he looked back at the stall keeper and out of his pocket he pulled several coin, more than enough to pay for the bundle of fabrics. He handed over the golden coins and the stall keeper accepted just happy he had been paid.

Turning back to the young woman Lino tried to flash his most dashing smile. “If you feel so strongly my lady, you can always pay me back at another time.” Lino could have patted himself on the back, another excuse to speak with the beauty standing before him! Of course he had no intention of accepting any money from the young lady. He was a man of honour and did not like for a woman to have to pay for anything. But the excuse was still a good one, even if he did say so himself!

[Constance Adelardi]

Before Constance could protest his paying of her bill again, he and the owner seemed to have concluded their business and she was left being handed the bundle of fabrics, which she took idly, not paying all that much attention. She had to confess, embarrassingly, that, for those few moments, she had been startled not only by the man's offer to pay, but also by the man himself. He wasnt pretty or beautiful, as those were most certainly not words to be used in conjuction with a male, but there was something about him that made Constance pause, even if it was only to look for a moment.

It wasnt until the owner said thank you, to them both, that she snapped out of that slight daze she seemed to have worked her way into. Embarrassingly, she felt her cheeks flush slightly. Twice in five minutes. She was on a roll today. Swallowing, she steeled herself. Respectable Constance, she reminded herself. Years of lessons with Lilliana in the Cappelletti home had taught her she had to be respectable.

"Thank you," she said finally, deciding it would be rude not to say it. He had just saved her some embarrassment (though she was making up for it on her own) after all. "I will pay you back for this," she added, gesturing with the bundle in her arms.

"Constance," she then went ahead and blurted out name. "My name is Constance," she amended a moment later.

[Lino Montecchi]

Lino found himself smiling as another blush swept across the young woman’s beautiful high cheekbones. She seemed somewhat embarrassed but honestly Lino thought she had no reason to be. She had simply forgotten her purse and he being the gentleman that he liked to think he was had offered to pay on behalf of such a beauty. There was no harm; certainly Lino found that he was more than happy to pay for it gave him a chance to talk to the attractive young woman who had captured his attention.

Constance… now Lino had a name to go with such a beautiful face. And what a stunning face it was! Lino could not stop looking at the young woman and he hoped that he was not embarrassing himself! But she really was quite attractive, what man in their right mind would not want to look at such a face!

“Lino….” The Montecchi replied, blinking himself back to the moment at hand. He reached out and gently took Constance’s hand and bowing he brought her hand to his lips and kissed the back of her skin gently. “It is a pleasure to meet you.”

[Constance Adelardi]

Constance inclined her head respectfully and curtsied, as she had been taught, when Lino introduced himself. The owner had since lost interest in them now that the transaction was complete, so had turned away to flitter around the stall while they spoke.

Anie for one was happy that she felt her blush finally receding, though something told her it would return later when she told Lilliana of this.

And she would have to tell her. Constance couldn’t keep secrets from the other girl; they knew each other too well. Sometimes she wished she knew how to lie better.

“And you sir Lino,” she replied, smiling. Perhaps she should bring Lilliana with her when she paid him back. Let the other girl see him and give her opinions. Brushing aside those thoughts for the moment, she returned to the present moment.

“Do you frequent the market often?” she inquired, her arms wrapped securely around her bundle now that he had released her hand, though the appendage did feel the loss somewhat.

[Lino Montecchi]

“It seems not often enough to have missed such a beauty as yourself” Lino said trying to put on his best smile but inside he could have kicked himself. That line sounded like something his brother Leo would have said, except it did not sound anywhere as near as charming or romantic as his brother would have delivered the line! Clearly Leo had been born with the chivalry and charm and Lino with the business mind and strategy.

Lino coughed, running a nervous hand through his hair. He felt as though he was making a complete and utter fool of himself in front of this stunning woman. She was so beautiful that he found it hard to look away at her and yet he worried that he was staring! Why was romancing so difficult? And why did this woman have to be the most beautiful that Lino had ever seen?!

“And you my lady? What brings you to the market today?” Obviously to buy fabric Lino thought to himself, realising how odd the question must have sounded! God please help him for he surly needed all the help he could get in wooing this breathtakingly beautiful young woman!

[Constance Adelardi]

Constance felt that blush, which seemed to have unanimously, and without her permission mind, decided it was going to act like a sickness and badger her all day long, returning and she silently scolded herself. When had she become this simpering female who blushed at the slightest word? Albeit, the words were elegant and charming, but still words. Perhaps then it was the man himself.

She snuck a glance at Lino and felt her face flare just that little more. Alright, the man it seemed to be. Thankfully, Constance was saved from both a reply, and her traitorous face when Lino changed the subject.

"A friend of mine is having a dress made... a surprise from her parents, and I was tasked with getting the fabric for it," she explained, gesturing with the bundle and her arms as if to make her point. "And you sir Lino? What brings you to the market today?"

[Lino Montecchi]

Lino could not believe his luck. Not only had he managed to get this gorgeous woman’s attention but now he was able to engage her in a conversation! Alright so it was a little awkward from his side – especially since he was so taken by her beauty that he was having trouble putting together any rational thought – but still, she was speaking to him! Perhaps today his luck with women had turned!

The corner of his lips twitched upwards as he noticed a sensuous red blush sweep across the young woman’s face. Somehow it made her look even more beautiful, if such a thing were even possible! Besides the twitch of his lip Lino made no other reaction not wanting to embarrass the lady in front of him.

“Shopping….” Lino said in response to Constance’s question. It was a lie, he was not shopping, he was collecting money from some of the stall owners but he could not well tell Constance that, especially after he had managed to win her attention. “Just out for a browse…” Lino smiled and shrugged his shoulders trying to divert the attention away from him. “You have a fine eye for fabric….” he said gesturing for the bundle the young woman was now carrying.

[Constance Adelardi]

Constance smiled when he replied, her mind recalling exactly how she had come to know her fabrics like she did. "My mother did me the honour of teaching me her trade," she explained. Her mother, though not of noble blood or anything, was a point of pride for Constance. Her family could never be shameful in her eyes. "She was a seamstress," she added a moment later. "I get my skills from her."

"What of your family? What do they do?" the young woman asked before she could stop herself. There was that inquisitive nature of hers again. Curiosity killed the cat was sometimes very true a saying. "I'm sorry, that was terribly forward of me," she amended a moment later, not missing a beat.

She tried her best to keep her eyes level with Lino's, but her raising as a companion and servant had her lowering them every now and then, a subservient trait in her deciding it wanted to play around, much to her chargin.

"Would you care to walk with me for a bit?" Constance invited, not wanting to dwell on that embarrassing little slip up in manners she'd made.