The document provides context for letters exchanged between characters Giacomo and Beatrice. It introduces that Giacomo has been secretly corresponding with Beatrice in hopes of convincing her to be his wife. Their letters have been posted online but not explicitly mentioned in previous chapters. The reader is encouraged to read the letters to understand the storyline.
As summer draws to a close in Tuscany, Serena does laundry outside under the shade of a tree while watching over her children and baby Giorgio. Donna Beatrice, Giorgio's mother, pays an unexpected visit to see her son. Serena's brother Stefano then arrives, having dislocated his shoulder in an accident. Serena and Stefano take him inside for treatment, leaving Beatrice alone with the children. She struggles to watch over them by herself.
Giac finds Kari at a tavern and they spend the evening together, rekindling their past romance. The next morning, he leaves her bed to return home. Alessandra convinces Giac to let their younger sisters Renata and Ghita move in with her, allowing Giac more freedom to see Kari without worrying for the girls' safety. Lucio continues pursuing a romantic relationship with Alessandra, though she insists they must forget the kiss they shared.
Giac presents his new wife Beatrice to the wedding guests gathered to celebrate their union. The party enjoys entertainment and dancing late into the night. As the festivities wind down, Giac and Beatrice retire while Lucio gives a toast wishing them happiness and many male children.
A boy named James has dinner with his mother Angela and her boyfriend Rick. James acts out during dinner by throwing peas and not wanting to eat. Later, Rick tries to entertain James by showing him Angela's engagement ring, but James has a meltdown, saying he already has a daddy. When Angela returns to pick up James, Rick lies about what happened. Angela mentions that James' father canceled their Christmas plans. Rick offers to give James a gift from his father to make up for it.
All i want for christmas are my two front teethkgcowbelle
The three kids - Julia, Maggie, and their cousin James - wake up in the middle of the night and hear bells upstairs. They sneak up to investigate and find "Santa Claus" by the Christmas tree. Santa talks to each child, reminding Julia to be nicer to Maggie about her missing teeth and telling Maggie her new teeth will come in time if she's patient. He says James has been good but could eat his vegetables more.
This summary provides the key details from the document in 3 sentences:
Giacomo reads to his young sister Alessandra in the nursery on her birthday and teaches her a French nursery rhyme, though she finds it difficult. Niccolo Moretti receives letters from his son Giacomo, who writes to him often from boarding school, as well as a letter from Heather. Niccolo's brother Giusseppe visits and encourages Niccolo to remarry and provide a mother for his children, which gives Niccolo something to think about.
The Devereaux Legacy: Chapter Seven - Part 1peasant007
The document is a continuation of the Devereaux Legacy story. It describes Remington, a zombie, feeling useless and unhappy with his undead existence as he is shunned by both the living and other supernatural beings. He expresses a desire for his existence to end. He is then approached by a red-haired woman who seems interested in his unhappiness.
The Devereaux Legacy: Chapter Six - Part 6 (B)peasant007
Quinn is still unhappy in his marriage to Bella, who continues to antagonize his family. Bella tries using a love potion on Rhys to gain his favor, but it backfires when Eden enters the room instead. Later, the effects of the potion wear off for Rhys.
As summer draws to a close in Tuscany, Serena does laundry outside under the shade of a tree while watching over her children and baby Giorgio. Donna Beatrice, Giorgio's mother, pays an unexpected visit to see her son. Serena's brother Stefano then arrives, having dislocated his shoulder in an accident. Serena and Stefano take him inside for treatment, leaving Beatrice alone with the children. She struggles to watch over them by herself.
Giac finds Kari at a tavern and they spend the evening together, rekindling their past romance. The next morning, he leaves her bed to return home. Alessandra convinces Giac to let their younger sisters Renata and Ghita move in with her, allowing Giac more freedom to see Kari without worrying for the girls' safety. Lucio continues pursuing a romantic relationship with Alessandra, though she insists they must forget the kiss they shared.
Giac presents his new wife Beatrice to the wedding guests gathered to celebrate their union. The party enjoys entertainment and dancing late into the night. As the festivities wind down, Giac and Beatrice retire while Lucio gives a toast wishing them happiness and many male children.
A boy named James has dinner with his mother Angela and her boyfriend Rick. James acts out during dinner by throwing peas and not wanting to eat. Later, Rick tries to entertain James by showing him Angela's engagement ring, but James has a meltdown, saying he already has a daddy. When Angela returns to pick up James, Rick lies about what happened. Angela mentions that James' father canceled their Christmas plans. Rick offers to give James a gift from his father to make up for it.
All i want for christmas are my two front teethkgcowbelle
The three kids - Julia, Maggie, and their cousin James - wake up in the middle of the night and hear bells upstairs. They sneak up to investigate and find "Santa Claus" by the Christmas tree. Santa talks to each child, reminding Julia to be nicer to Maggie about her missing teeth and telling Maggie her new teeth will come in time if she's patient. He says James has been good but could eat his vegetables more.
This summary provides the key details from the document in 3 sentences:
Giacomo reads to his young sister Alessandra in the nursery on her birthday and teaches her a French nursery rhyme, though she finds it difficult. Niccolo Moretti receives letters from his son Giacomo, who writes to him often from boarding school, as well as a letter from Heather. Niccolo's brother Giusseppe visits and encourages Niccolo to remarry and provide a mother for his children, which gives Niccolo something to think about.
The Devereaux Legacy: Chapter Seven - Part 1peasant007
The document is a continuation of the Devereaux Legacy story. It describes Remington, a zombie, feeling useless and unhappy with his undead existence as he is shunned by both the living and other supernatural beings. He expresses a desire for his existence to end. He is then approached by a red-haired woman who seems interested in his unhappiness.
The Devereaux Legacy: Chapter Six - Part 6 (B)peasant007
Quinn is still unhappy in his marriage to Bella, who continues to antagonize his family. Bella tries using a love potion on Rhys to gain his favor, but it backfires when Eden enters the room instead. Later, the effects of the potion wear off for Rhys.
The Devereaux Legacy: Chapter Six - Part 7peasant007
The document recaps the events of the previous chapter of the Devereaux Legacy story. It summarizes that Bella had been using magic to manipulate Quinn, drugged Rhys unsuccessfully, and proposed to Erin. It then details that Bella accidentally killed herself and Quinn during a spell, and Quinn revealed to Zane on his deathbed that he was the one who killed Tina. At Quinn and Bella's funerals, Rhys punched Alexander for insinuating that Quinn purposefully caused the car accident.
The Devereaux Legacy: Chapter Six - Part 6 (A)peasant007
The document summarizes the tensions in the Devereaux household after Bella Goth moves in following her engagement to Quinn Devereaux. Bella makes rude comments about Eden's age that make Eden feel self-conscious. Quinn also begins fighting frequently with his father Rhys and avoiding meaningful conversations. The tensions rise further during dress shopping for Quinn's upcoming wedding.
Devereaux Legacy: Chapter Five - Part 3 (A)peasant007
The document provides an update from the author of the Devereaux Legacy story. It introduces several characters including Eden, an actress playing the Child Oracle, and Jason Larson, a difficult actor. During a scene, Jason fails to memorize his lines and criticizes Eden's character. The director and others defend Eden for being more professional than Jason.
The three Lightning siblings - Annabeth, Anakin, and A'Tuin - mysteriously collapsed after telling their partners that they knew who the serial killer was. They have since woken up with no memory of what happened. Annabeth and Anakin seem confused but well, while A'Tuin claims to remember but refuses to see Celeste or explain what happened. Their partners are left worried and without answers about what caused the siblings to collapse or why only A'Tuin remembers.
The document summarizes a meeting between four Reapers - Oberon, Ilyena, Ruyven, and Owen - and their boss, Mr. Reaper. They discuss the status of a secret genetic experiment to create living Grim Reapers. Oberon reports success with his children Puck and Nichole showing Reaper abilities. However, he is concerned about forcing Puck to join against his will when he comes of age. Mr. Reaper insists they must ensure Puck cooperates with their plans.
Charming meets a woman named Tina who is interested in his legacy family. She warns him that strange magical things have been happening and to keep a close eye on his twin sons, Changeling and Griffin, as well as any women they bring home. Charming rushes home where he finds his father Ethan caring for the crying baby Changeling. The family celebrates the twins' birthday with their grandparents. Griffin is tired and goes to bed while Ethan begins teaching toddler skills to Changeling.
Nicholas experiences a strange event where the party guests suddenly freeze in place. He then has visions of a man with a gun threatening one of the guests, Heather. When the guests unfreeze, the man is unconscious on the ground. Nicholas promises Ashley he will explain what happened, but wants to ensure the police take the man away first due to the strange and unexplained nature of the events.
Chapter 22 of my legacy chapter. Another couple ties the knot and one of generation seven becomes a child. All seems to be going well, but what will a few unexpected pregnancies add to the mix?
Giacomo summons his stepmother Viola to discuss her living arrangements now that his father has passed away. He gives her two options - join a convent or find lodging elsewhere within three weeks, as she will no longer be allowed to stay in his home. Viola goes to her mother Margherita for help, but learns her brother Beniamino has also passed away, leaving Margherita in debt. Margherita cannot support Viola and sends her away. Viola returns home with her son Nico, where they learn Nico has inherited his uncle Beniamino's estate, making him a wealthy man.
Giac, the young son of Niccolo Moretti, attends his mother Renee's funeral with his father and cousin Heather. Niccolo has been planning the elaborate funeral to honor Renee. Giac misses his mother and home, and asks his father when they can return home, but Niccolo is unsure, as he continues to grieve deeply over Renee's death. The story provides background on Niccolo and Giac's family and the funeral preparations.
The Emerson family goes on vacation to Twikki Island to get away while renovations are done on their home. During their vacation, the family enjoys activities like visiting ruins, beach time, and a family dinner. Tara learns fire dancing and gets a sunburn. Angela pranks the water shrine and causes Ryan's hand to burn. By the end of their trip, the family makes memories and plans to continue visiting Twikki Island as a family tradition for future generations.
The Devereaux Legacy: Chapter Three - Part 1peasant007
This chapter covers the lives of Savannah and Sebastian as they each deal with unexpected changes. Savannah is forced to marry her lover Merlin and becomes pregnant with their child against her wishes. Sebastian prepares to leave for college as the new heir to his family after his sister Lillian was disowned for practicing evil magic. Tensions remain high as Lillian has vowed revenge on the family.
Quinn acted heroically but accidentally caused the death of Zane's wife Tina. Bella Goth has returned to work with Lillian. Puck Summerdream, a reaper-elf hybrid, had his powers stripped and is now mortal. He has been sentenced to die of old age as punishment for refusing his role as a reaper.
Vassilissa has been taken by the villain and is now under their control. She is being trained in evil ways by Count Lee, Contessas Jan and Heather, and the witch Hetty. They are teaching her spells, potions, weapons, and how to scare and kill. Meanwhile, Vassilissa's family is still grieving her disappearance. A powerful witch has now discovered Hetty brewing a very potent potion for Queen Caroline using dangerous ingredients.
Aerith searches for the vampire Contessa at nightclubs to get answers about her transformation. She becomes angry and leaves when a man stares at her. Meanwhile, Asher has returned home for his wedding to Melanie, which his father Andy is hastily planning for that evening without much input. Aerith anxiously paces, waiting for nightfall to come to attend Asher's wedding.
Boolpropian Round Robin Legacy - Generation Five - Part Three
Staring Ainesly Doran, this begins her story in Veronaville, starting at the nearby Stratford Globe College.
Rhiannon summons the spirit of her deceased great-grandmother Narelle for help after her father and uncle are arrested. Narelle agrees to lead Rhiannon and her cousin Elysium through secret elf tunnels beneath the city to find witnesses that can help exonerate their family. They escape the house with Rhiannon's younger siblings and make their way to a cottage where an old man named Mr. Smith lives, who seems to recognize a secret code phrase related to Narelle.
Aerith is at a bar trying to avoid being hit on by men. She sees a mysterious man at the poker table who she has seen before. She becomes angry and confronts a man who follows her outside, biting him and drinking his blood. Shocked by her actions, she runs away.
Liz finds messages that Zeph has been missing work and is concerned about his behavior. She cleans the messy house while waiting for him to return.
Taz has dinner at Dagmar's place. They bond over their past relationships and breakups. Dagmar offers her friendship and support to help Taz move on from his ex-girlfriend.
Liz waits for hours for her boyfriend Zeph to show up for their date at a coffee shop. When he never arrives, she realizes she is tired of constantly waiting for him and wondering when he will stop using drugs to cope with his past trauma and let her support him. Meanwhile, Asher and his family have moved to a new, smaller home and are adjusting to the change well, with the birth of their newest daughter Paige.
Alessandra is startled by noises in the courtyard and sends her siblings inside for a snack. A man named Lucio emerges from the bushes, explaining he arrived early to give Alessandra a gift from her brother Giacomo before meeting with Alessandra's father. Lucio leaves to retrieve his horse. Later, Alessandra finds one of her father's students, Riccardo, crying and offers to tutor him privately in exchange for payment, as Riccardo struggles with Italian and Latin. Lucio continues to tease Alessandra about her secret lessons.
Viola discovers that her husband Niccolo has been denied the title and lands he expected to inherit, dooming her to remain the lowly wife of a schoolmaster. When she confronts her brother Beniamino with the denial letter, he confirms Niccolo will never rise above his current station. Though pregnant, Viola is desperate to escape her hopeless situation but sees no way out of her marriage or to improve her status.
The Devereaux Legacy: Chapter Six - Part 7peasant007
The document recaps the events of the previous chapter of the Devereaux Legacy story. It summarizes that Bella had been using magic to manipulate Quinn, drugged Rhys unsuccessfully, and proposed to Erin. It then details that Bella accidentally killed herself and Quinn during a spell, and Quinn revealed to Zane on his deathbed that he was the one who killed Tina. At Quinn and Bella's funerals, Rhys punched Alexander for insinuating that Quinn purposefully caused the car accident.
The Devereaux Legacy: Chapter Six - Part 6 (A)peasant007
The document summarizes the tensions in the Devereaux household after Bella Goth moves in following her engagement to Quinn Devereaux. Bella makes rude comments about Eden's age that make Eden feel self-conscious. Quinn also begins fighting frequently with his father Rhys and avoiding meaningful conversations. The tensions rise further during dress shopping for Quinn's upcoming wedding.
Devereaux Legacy: Chapter Five - Part 3 (A)peasant007
The document provides an update from the author of the Devereaux Legacy story. It introduces several characters including Eden, an actress playing the Child Oracle, and Jason Larson, a difficult actor. During a scene, Jason fails to memorize his lines and criticizes Eden's character. The director and others defend Eden for being more professional than Jason.
The three Lightning siblings - Annabeth, Anakin, and A'Tuin - mysteriously collapsed after telling their partners that they knew who the serial killer was. They have since woken up with no memory of what happened. Annabeth and Anakin seem confused but well, while A'Tuin claims to remember but refuses to see Celeste or explain what happened. Their partners are left worried and without answers about what caused the siblings to collapse or why only A'Tuin remembers.
The document summarizes a meeting between four Reapers - Oberon, Ilyena, Ruyven, and Owen - and their boss, Mr. Reaper. They discuss the status of a secret genetic experiment to create living Grim Reapers. Oberon reports success with his children Puck and Nichole showing Reaper abilities. However, he is concerned about forcing Puck to join against his will when he comes of age. Mr. Reaper insists they must ensure Puck cooperates with their plans.
Charming meets a woman named Tina who is interested in his legacy family. She warns him that strange magical things have been happening and to keep a close eye on his twin sons, Changeling and Griffin, as well as any women they bring home. Charming rushes home where he finds his father Ethan caring for the crying baby Changeling. The family celebrates the twins' birthday with their grandparents. Griffin is tired and goes to bed while Ethan begins teaching toddler skills to Changeling.
Nicholas experiences a strange event where the party guests suddenly freeze in place. He then has visions of a man with a gun threatening one of the guests, Heather. When the guests unfreeze, the man is unconscious on the ground. Nicholas promises Ashley he will explain what happened, but wants to ensure the police take the man away first due to the strange and unexplained nature of the events.
Chapter 22 of my legacy chapter. Another couple ties the knot and one of generation seven becomes a child. All seems to be going well, but what will a few unexpected pregnancies add to the mix?
Giacomo summons his stepmother Viola to discuss her living arrangements now that his father has passed away. He gives her two options - join a convent or find lodging elsewhere within three weeks, as she will no longer be allowed to stay in his home. Viola goes to her mother Margherita for help, but learns her brother Beniamino has also passed away, leaving Margherita in debt. Margherita cannot support Viola and sends her away. Viola returns home with her son Nico, where they learn Nico has inherited his uncle Beniamino's estate, making him a wealthy man.
Giac, the young son of Niccolo Moretti, attends his mother Renee's funeral with his father and cousin Heather. Niccolo has been planning the elaborate funeral to honor Renee. Giac misses his mother and home, and asks his father when they can return home, but Niccolo is unsure, as he continues to grieve deeply over Renee's death. The story provides background on Niccolo and Giac's family and the funeral preparations.
The Emerson family goes on vacation to Twikki Island to get away while renovations are done on their home. During their vacation, the family enjoys activities like visiting ruins, beach time, and a family dinner. Tara learns fire dancing and gets a sunburn. Angela pranks the water shrine and causes Ryan's hand to burn. By the end of their trip, the family makes memories and plans to continue visiting Twikki Island as a family tradition for future generations.
The Devereaux Legacy: Chapter Three - Part 1peasant007
This chapter covers the lives of Savannah and Sebastian as they each deal with unexpected changes. Savannah is forced to marry her lover Merlin and becomes pregnant with their child against her wishes. Sebastian prepares to leave for college as the new heir to his family after his sister Lillian was disowned for practicing evil magic. Tensions remain high as Lillian has vowed revenge on the family.
Quinn acted heroically but accidentally caused the death of Zane's wife Tina. Bella Goth has returned to work with Lillian. Puck Summerdream, a reaper-elf hybrid, had his powers stripped and is now mortal. He has been sentenced to die of old age as punishment for refusing his role as a reaper.
Vassilissa has been taken by the villain and is now under their control. She is being trained in evil ways by Count Lee, Contessas Jan and Heather, and the witch Hetty. They are teaching her spells, potions, weapons, and how to scare and kill. Meanwhile, Vassilissa's family is still grieving her disappearance. A powerful witch has now discovered Hetty brewing a very potent potion for Queen Caroline using dangerous ingredients.
Aerith searches for the vampire Contessa at nightclubs to get answers about her transformation. She becomes angry and leaves when a man stares at her. Meanwhile, Asher has returned home for his wedding to Melanie, which his father Andy is hastily planning for that evening without much input. Aerith anxiously paces, waiting for nightfall to come to attend Asher's wedding.
Boolpropian Round Robin Legacy - Generation Five - Part Three
Staring Ainesly Doran, this begins her story in Veronaville, starting at the nearby Stratford Globe College.
Rhiannon summons the spirit of her deceased great-grandmother Narelle for help after her father and uncle are arrested. Narelle agrees to lead Rhiannon and her cousin Elysium through secret elf tunnels beneath the city to find witnesses that can help exonerate their family. They escape the house with Rhiannon's younger siblings and make their way to a cottage where an old man named Mr. Smith lives, who seems to recognize a secret code phrase related to Narelle.
Aerith is at a bar trying to avoid being hit on by men. She sees a mysterious man at the poker table who she has seen before. She becomes angry and confronts a man who follows her outside, biting him and drinking his blood. Shocked by her actions, she runs away.
Liz finds messages that Zeph has been missing work and is concerned about his behavior. She cleans the messy house while waiting for him to return.
Taz has dinner at Dagmar's place. They bond over their past relationships and breakups. Dagmar offers her friendship and support to help Taz move on from his ex-girlfriend.
Liz waits for hours for her boyfriend Zeph to show up for their date at a coffee shop. When he never arrives, she realizes she is tired of constantly waiting for him and wondering when he will stop using drugs to cope with his past trauma and let her support him. Meanwhile, Asher and his family have moved to a new, smaller home and are adjusting to the change well, with the birth of their newest daughter Paige.
Alessandra is startled by noises in the courtyard and sends her siblings inside for a snack. A man named Lucio emerges from the bushes, explaining he arrived early to give Alessandra a gift from her brother Giacomo before meeting with Alessandra's father. Lucio leaves to retrieve his horse. Later, Alessandra finds one of her father's students, Riccardo, crying and offers to tutor him privately in exchange for payment, as Riccardo struggles with Italian and Latin. Lucio continues to tease Alessandra about her secret lessons.
Viola discovers that her husband Niccolo has been denied the title and lands he expected to inherit, dooming her to remain the lowly wife of a schoolmaster. When she confronts her brother Beniamino with the denial letter, he confirms Niccolo will never rise above his current station. Though pregnant, Viola is desperate to escape her hopeless situation but sees no way out of her marriage or to improve her status.
Kiara, a young widow, comes to Leonardo Costa seeking help after being left destitute. Leonardo proposes a marriage of convenience to provide Kiara protection. Though the marriage is not one of love, Leonardo grows fond of Kiara's son Arturo upon his return years later.
A Victorian Legacy - Chapter 15.1 University DazeDi Meeeee
The summary provides context about the document while condensing the essential information into 3 sentences or less:
Alexandra attends finishing school and runs into her former well-dropper, Joe, at a local bar. Joe agrees to have tea with Alexandra but remains unsure about pursuing a relationship. Meanwhile, Edward and his cousins Theodore and Stanley start their first year of university.
This document summarizes the wedding day of Alessandra Moretti as she marries Carlo Giordano. Some key details:
- Alessandra finds a letter from her deceased mother on her wedding day, expressing her love and advice.
- She feels her mother's presence despite her absence on this important day.
- The ceremony passes in a blur for Alessandra, who does not feel love or loyalty for her new husband.
- She remains detached during the wedding feast, thinking of her mother's letter.
Alexandra uses a spell to make it sunny after it starts raining. A guy sees her use magic and confronts her about it. Alexandra tries to deny and convince him he's crazy, but the guy insists he knows what he saw. Alexandra goes to her friend Jane for advice, but Jane says there's no memory spell and the best option is for Alexandra to get close to the guy and make sure he doesn't tell anyone her secret about having magic.
Alexandra uses a spell to make it sunny after it starts raining. However, a guy sees her use magic and confronts her about it. Alexandra tries to deny and convince him he's mistaken, but the guy insists he knows what he saw. Alexandra goes to her friend Jane for advice, but Jane says the best option is for Alexandra to get close to the guy and make sure he doesn't tell anyone her secret, as there is no memory spell they can use.
- MI6 contacts Alex again asking him to come in for a meeting after giving him a brief respite from missions. They inform him that Scorpia, under new leadership, has declared him a target for termination due to his past actions against them.
- MI6 proposes sending Alex for more training at an SAS camp in Wales for protection while they try to negotiate with Scorpia. They will also be sending Alex's class to the camp as part of a government program, and because they have intercepted threats that Scorpia plans to target Alex's school.
- Alex is angry about being dragged back into the spy world and putting his classmates in danger. However, MI6 threatens to cut off his finances
Gabby falls asleep at Alex's house after a long day of work and emotions. She had wanted Alex for a long time but couldn't act on it. As she falls asleep, Alex tries to apologize but she is too tired. The story explores Gabby's feelings for Alex and reluctance to act on them due to past hurts. It shows a fictional scenario where Gabby falls asleep at Alex's house after a draining day.
Balthier had a strange dream where he was at a masked ball, searching for someone. He finds a mysterious woman and they dance, but then she stabs and kills him. When he tells his mother about it, she says dreams likely don't have prophetic meaning. Later, Balthier's brother Kennit mentions he also had a dream about dancing the previous night, causing Balthier to think their dreams may be connected.
The document provides a summary of Siksika's world travels after graduating from college. She first travels through various countries in Europe, including Ireland, Wales, Scotland, England, France, Belgium, Switzerland, Austria, Germany, and Poland. She spends significant time in Italy and Greece, where she meets Solan. They travel together through additional locations in Europe, Africa, Asia, and see landmarks like the Pyramids and Taj Mahal. The story describes their experiences in various countries and cities they visit along the way.
Abiona is a young woman who discovers she is a witch after her father dies. She moves to a new town and marries her love, Jake. They have a son named Francis. Abiona struggles to balance being a mother with developing her magical powers in secret, as witches have long faced persecution. She hopes her lineage can be carried on through a daughter.
1) A woman wakes up in a strange place with no memory of who she is or how she got there. She had fallen down a mountain and was found unconscious by Jacob, who brought her to his farm to recover.
2) Jacob explains to her that she had an accident and he found her injured on the mountain. However, the woman is in a panic because she cannot remember anything, not even her own name.
3) It seems the woman has retrograde amnesia from her head injury - she has lost all her memories and does not know who she is. Jacob tries to reassure her that she is safe as she comes to terms with not remembering her identity.
The document provides backstory on Isabetta and Antonio's marriage. Isabetta had wished for Antonio to fall in love with her using a magic lamp, but their marriage soured after she had an affair. Though angry, Antonio refuses to divorce her since she is pregnant. Their daughter Netta notices the tension but does not understand the cause. Daily life continues with Netta in school and Isabetta confined until the baby's birth.
Bruno is returning to England after getting a call that his godfather Joseph had a suspected heart attack. Katy, who works for Joseph, dreads Bruno's arrival as she finds him intimidating and dislikes interacting with him. She takes up watch by the front door nervously awaiting his arrival. When Bruno arrives, he is strikingly handsome but Katy finds him cold. They discuss Joseph's condition, with Bruno pressing Katy for details and not liking that the house feels odd without his godfather there.
Here are the top 10 new year's resolutions that people will likely fail to keep by February:
1. Lose weight/get in shape. Major lifestyle changes are hard to sustain long-term without a solid plan.
2. Quit smoking. Nicotine addiction is very difficult to break without support and willpower.
3. Drink less alcohol. Social pressures and habits make moderating alcohol intake a challenge.
4. Be more organized. Changing an inherently disorganized nature takes ongoing conscious effort.
5. Learn a new skill. Ambitious goals require dedication that can fade over time without accountability.
6. Spend less, save more. Impulse spending and lifestyle adjustments are barriers to long-
Fury, a psychotic enemy of the Chandler family, murders Lindsay and her boyfriend Zack when she finds them alone in the house. She does this to end the Chandler legacy, unaware that Lindsay's younger sister Rissa continues it. Lindsay, with her last words, prophecies that Fury's greatest triumph will also be her downfall. Suze returns home with her dog Maia to discover the bodies and realizes with horror that a tragedy has occurred.
Caterina reads to Renee from Dante's Inferno to try and comfort her as she is dying from an infection. When Caterina looks up from the book, she sees that Renee has passed away. Overcome with sadness, Caterina drops the book and cries out "Oh, Madonna!" mourning the loss of her dear friend.
Angel leaves her boyfriend James after discovering he has been unfaithful. She drives to her new apartment overlooking the ocean, which she has secretly purchased and furnished without James' knowledge. She calls Mark, a man she met previously and has feelings for. Mark arrives and embraces Angel passionately. They express their longing for each other and the relationship they hope to build now that Angel is available.
Whore 1: You will suffer dearly for your sinsRichard Porter
He pushed her against the wall of the dilapidated, deserted building that was destined to be razed for another renewal zone in New York City at the beginning of the 20th century. The new electric streetlights softly lit up her face. She was young thin and frightened. Her body was so small that from a distance, she looked like she might be alittle child, but upon closer inspection, the curves of her tiny frame convinced him that she might be 15 or 18.
'Twas the Night Before Christmas in Pleasantviewkgcowbelle
The narrator is awakened on Christmas Eve by noises outside. Looking out the window, they see Santa Claus and his reindeer landing on the roof. Santa climbs down the chimney with his bag of toys. He fills the children's stockings and leaves. Before taking off in his sleigh, Santa wishes everyone a Merry Christmas.
"The Raven" in Pleasantview (Halloween 2014)kgcowbelle
The narrator is disturbed by a tapping sound at his chamber door one night. When he opens the door, nothing is there. Later, a raven flies into his room and perches above the door, uttering the word "Nevermore" in response to the narrator's questions. The narrator becomes increasingly unsettled by the raven's ominous presence and its constant repetition of "Nevermore," which seems to symbolize his inability to forget his lost love Lenore.
This document provides a summary of what has happened with the Moretti family in the last 4 years and sets up the story to follow. Key details:
- Nico studied canon law at university while Giacomo married Beatrice. Renata and Ghita now live with Alessandra after their mother was sent to a convent.
- Alessandra is trying to arrange a match between her cousin Alberto and Renata. She is also having an affair with Lucio while her husband Carlo is away.
- Giacomo's mistress Kari recently had their son Albertino and is now pregnant with their second child. However, she refuses to flee the city with Albertino despite the rumors of plague
Meredith is a ballet instructor who also works as a web designer. She oversleeps and misses her morning class. Later, her brother Jiang unexpectedly shows up at her dance studio, though he is forbidden from being there. That evening, Meredith stays up late working on a design project. The next day, her dance studio manager has closed it for the day, forcing Meredith to audition for the local production of The Nutcracker. Though she is initially reluctant, Meredith auditions and later receives a call offering her a role in the production.
Hannah discovers that her brother Theobald has been lying to her and is not actually a witch. The townspeople have found Theobald guilty of witchcraft and plan to execute him. Hannah realizes that the people she thought Theobald had accidentally killed were actually killed by her own hands unknowingly. She tries to see Theobald one last time but he has already been taken away for execution. Cecily tells Hannah that there is no mercy for those accused of witchcraft.
The protagonist barely sleeps in the tower, thinking about her decision to go with Gustaf to his village. In the morning, Gustaf instructs her to wear many layers of clothing for the long, cold hike. They use her severed braid as a rope to climb down from the tower. Upon arriving in the village, Gustaf sneaks them through alleyways due to the presence of the Dame. He leaves the protagonist alone in an abandoned house while he checks his own home. She is frightened alone but Gustaf returns and takes her to meet his mother Klara, who warmly welcomes her.
The narrator lets a stranger into their tower after seeing him struggling through the snowstorm outside. The narrator had been warned about the dangers of outsiders by their mother but felt they couldn't leave the cold man outside. Upon entering, the stranger quickly warms himself by the fire while the narrator studies him, noticing he seems healthy and strong like a soldier, though he claims not to fight for anyone.
This summary provides context about Beverly Smart and her new husband Tony on the day of the attack on Pearl Harbor and in the following days:
Beverly and Tony had just gotten married and were settling into their new home on December 7th, 1941 when they heard a news bulletin interrupting the radio that Japan had attacked Pearl Harbor. Tony was called back to serve in the navy, leaving Beverly alone on their honeymoon. In a letter to Tony on December 22nd, Beverly expresses how lonely and afraid she feels without him but finds comfort in her new neighbor Ruth and her family who are also experiencing separation due to the war.
This document summarizes the narrator's life story, beginning with their sudden appearance in a village as a child and the rumors and intrigue that surrounded them. It then describes how the narrator was raised by Mother Gothel in an isolated tower, where they spent their time reading the only book, a Bible, and later many novels that Mother Gothel brought them. The narrator developed a love of reading and writing stories of their own. One day, the narrator spotted an injured man outside and lowered their long hair to help pull him into the tower, where they learned the truth about their life and Mother Gothel.
- Father Healy performs a last-minute marriage ceremony for Turner and Fanny at St. Lawrence Church after midnight on Christmas night. Turner had been bitter after returning from war but has realized he still loves Fanny.
- The impromptu wedding party consists only of Turner, Fanny, Alonzo, and Charlotte. Father Healy marries Turner and Fanny despite his initial reluctance.
- After the ceremony, the new Mr. and Mrs. Turner Moore depart in a sleigh for their honeymoon as Alonzo grins, having orchestrated Turner and Fanny reuniting after all these years.
Owen receives a letter from his fiancée Mary Bradley on Christmas Eve 1915 while stationed with the cavalry in France during World War I. The letter accepts his marriage proposal and looks forward to their return home. Owen is relieved and happily shares the news with his fellow soldiers, looking forward to dancing with Mary after the war.
The story is set in a saloon where Henry Leath plays piano and sings with the barmaid Kathleen. Their performance is interrupted when a drunk cowboy named Kit enters with his gun drawn. Kit accuses Kathleen of being a "soiled dove" and claims ownership of the saloon. A struggle ensues where Kit fatally stabs Henry. Kathleen tries to fight Kit off but he overpowers her. The story then takes a twist, revealing the events were part of a film production and not real.
The document describes a wedding celebration between Magdoline Elizabeth Seabrook and her new husband. It focuses on Magdoline and her sisters - Theodora, Eleanor, and Elvira (Ellie). The sisters bicker and argue about their dresses and appearances. Lieutenant Brian James Dawkins, their uncle, tries to keep the peace between the sisters at the celebration.
Cadence and Giovanni discuss holding a party for their daughter Isabetta to find her a husband. Isabetta overhears and is excited at the prospect of a normal social experience. However, she later overhears Antonio mocking the idea, saying no nobles would attend a party at her poor home. Upset, Isabetta devises a plan to get back at Antonio and prove the nobles wrong.
Giovanni and Cadence start a family in Florence. Cadence becomes pregnant with their first child after their wedding night. She gives birth to a daughter named Isabetta. Over the next few years, Cadence gives birth to two more children - a daughter named Bianca and a son named Piero. Isabetta discovers a magic lamp containing a genie and gets to make three wishes. While in town with her sister Bianca, Isabetta meets Antonio Costa, a wealthy businessman from a prominent banking family in Florence.
Giovanni, from a wealthy family, loses his inheritance and is left with an empty plot of land. He builds a small house on the land through hard work. His childhood friend Cadence, who is being pressured by her father to marry, visits Giovanni. They fall in love and Cadence accepts Giovanni's proposal of marriage, though he has little to offer. Cadence's father approves of the marriage due to Giovanni's family name and agrees to a dowry, and they plan a spring wedding.
Margherita visits her daughter Viola and discovers she is breastfeeding her infant daughter Renata, which Margherita disapproves of. Viola's husband Niccolo insists she breastfeed. Viola later reveals to her mother that she is pregnant again. When Viola goes into labor, her stepdaughter Alessandra helps with preparations. A healthy baby boy, Nico, is delivered. Viola is happy to have a son to secure her place in the family, while Alessandra must now help care for two children.
Niccolo Moretti arrives late to a dinner party with a woman named Signorina Riverso, worrying Viola Buondelmonti who has designs on Niccolo. Throughout the evening, Viola charms Niccolo and dances with him frequently. The next day, Niccolo asks Beniamino for Viola's hand in marriage, having been swayed by her attention. Viola is overjoyed at the prospect of becoming Baronessa Viola Moretti. Years later, Niccolo's children Giacomo and Alessandra return home and are introduced to their new stepmother Viola, much to Giacomo's surprise.
Driving Business Innovation: Latest Generative AI Advancements & Success StorySafe Software
Are you ready to revolutionize how you handle data? Join us for a webinar where we’ll bring you up to speed with the latest advancements in Generative AI technology and discover how leveraging FME with tools from giants like Google Gemini, Amazon, and Microsoft OpenAI can supercharge your workflow efficiency.
During the hour, we’ll take you through:
Guest Speaker Segment with Hannah Barrington: Dive into the world of dynamic real estate marketing with Hannah, the Marketing Manager at Workspace Group. Hear firsthand how their team generates engaging descriptions for thousands of office units by integrating diverse data sources—from PDF floorplans to web pages—using FME transformers, like OpenAIVisionConnector and AnthropicVisionConnector. This use case will show you how GenAI can streamline content creation for marketing across the board.
Ollama Use Case: Learn how Scenario Specialist Dmitri Bagh has utilized Ollama within FME to input data, create custom models, and enhance security protocols. This segment will include demos to illustrate the full capabilities of FME in AI-driven processes.
Custom AI Models: Discover how to leverage FME to build personalized AI models using your data. Whether it’s populating a model with local data for added security or integrating public AI tools, find out how FME facilitates a versatile and secure approach to AI.
We’ll wrap up with a live Q&A session where you can engage with our experts on your specific use cases, and learn more about optimizing your data workflows with AI.
This webinar is ideal for professionals seeking to harness the power of AI within their data management systems while ensuring high levels of customization and security. Whether you're a novice or an expert, gain actionable insights and strategies to elevate your data processes. Join us to see how FME and AI can revolutionize how you work with data!
Trusted Execution Environment for Decentralized Process MiningLucaBarbaro3
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5th LF Energy Power Grid Model Meet-up SlidesDanBrown980551
5th Power Grid Model Meet-up
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Power Grid Model
The global energy transition is placing new and unprecedented demands on Distribution System Operators (DSOs). Alongside upgrades to grid capacity, processes such as digitization, capacity optimization, and congestion management are becoming vital for delivering reliable services.
Power Grid Model is an open source project from Linux Foundation Energy and provides a calculation engine that is increasingly essential for DSOs. It offers a standards-based foundation enabling real-time power systems analysis, simulations of electrical power grids, and sophisticated what-if analysis. In addition, it enables in-depth studies and analysis of the electrical power grid’s behavior and performance. This comprehensive model incorporates essential factors such as power generation capacity, electrical losses, voltage levels, power flows, and system stability.
Power Grid Model is currently being applied in a wide variety of use cases, including grid planning, expansion, reliability, and congestion studies. It can also help in analyzing the impact of renewable energy integration, assessing the effects of disturbances or faults, and developing strategies for grid control and optimization.
What to expect
For the upcoming meetup we are organizing, we have an exciting lineup of activities planned:
-Insightful presentations covering two practical applications of the Power Grid Model.
-An update on the latest advancements in Power Grid -Model technology during the first and second quarters of 2024.
-An interactive brainstorming session to discuss and propose new feature requests.
-An opportunity to connect with fellow Power Grid Model enthusiasts and users.
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The first topic is CVE (Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures). I have published CVEs many times. But what exactly is a CVE? I'll provide a basic understanding of CVEs and explain how to detect and handle vulnerabilities in OSS.
Next, let's discuss package managers. Package managers play a critical role in the OSS ecosystem. I'll explain how to manage library dependencies in your application.
I'll share insights into how the Ruby and RubyGems core team works to keep our ecosystem safe. By the end of this talk, you'll have a better understanding of how to safeguard your code.
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1. How quickly AI is being implemented in manufacturing.
2. Which barriers stand in the way of AI adoption.
3. How data quality and governance form the backbone of AI.
4. Organizational processes and structures that may inhibit effective AI adoption.
6. Ideas and approaches to help build your organization's AI strategy.
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Main news related to the CCS TSI 2023 (2023/1695)Jakub Marek
An English 🇬🇧 translation of a presentation to the speech I gave about the main changes brought by CCS TSI 2023 at the biggest Czech conference on Communications and signalling systems on Railways, which was held in Clarion Hotel Olomouc from 7th to 9th November 2023 (konferenceszt.cz). Attended by around 500 participants and 200 on-line followers.
The original Czech 🇨🇿 version of the presentation can be found here: https://www.slideshare.net/slideshow/hlavni-novinky-souvisejici-s-ccs-tsi-2023-2023-1695/269688092 .
The videorecording (in Czech) from the presentation is available here: https://youtu.be/WzjJWm4IyPk?si=SImb06tuXGb30BEH .
Digital Marketing Trends in 2024 | Guide for Staying AheadWask
https://www.wask.co/ebooks/digital-marketing-trends-in-2024
Feeling lost in the digital marketing whirlwind of 2024? Technology is changing, consumer habits are evolving, and staying ahead of the curve feels like a never-ending pursuit. This e-book is your compass. Dive into actionable insights to handle the complexities of modern marketing. From hyper-personalization to the power of user-generated content, learn how to build long-term relationships with your audience and unlock the secrets to success in the ever-shifting digital landscape.
Generating privacy-protected synthetic data using Secludy and MilvusZilliz
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For the full video of this presentation, please visit: https://www.edge-ai-vision.com/2024/06/temporal-event-neural-networks-a-more-efficient-alternative-to-the-transformer-a-presentation-from-brainchip/
Chris Jones, Director of Product Management at BrainChip , presents the “Temporal Event Neural Networks: A More Efficient Alternative to the Transformer” tutorial at the May 2024 Embedded Vision Summit.
The expansion of AI services necessitates enhanced computational capabilities on edge devices. Temporal Event Neural Networks (TENNs), developed by BrainChip, represent a novel and highly efficient state-space network. TENNs demonstrate exceptional proficiency in handling multi-dimensional streaming data, facilitating advancements in object detection, action recognition, speech enhancement and language model/sequence generation. Through the utilization of polynomial-based continuous convolutions, TENNs streamline models, expedite training processes and significantly diminish memory requirements, achieving notable reductions of up to 50x in parameters and 5,000x in energy consumption compared to prevailing methodologies like transformers.
Integration with BrainChip’s Akida neuromorphic hardware IP further enhances TENNs’ capabilities, enabling the realization of highly capable, portable and passively cooled edge devices. This presentation delves into the technical innovations underlying TENNs, presents real-world benchmarks, and elucidates how this cutting-edge approach is positioned to revolutionize edge AI across diverse applications.
“Temporal Event Neural Networks: A More Efficient Alternative to the Transfor...
The Renaissance Legacy 4.04A
1.
2. Una nota per il lettore:
A note to the reader
In case you haven’t noticed, since the last chapter, Giacomo has
been secretly exchanging letters with a woman named Beatrice in
hopes of someday convincing her to be his wife.
Their correspondence hasn’t been explicitly featured in any chapter,
but it has been posted on the Renaissance Legacy site.
I suggest reading them before beginning this chapter if you haven’t
already as they are a key part of the storyline.
3. “Good morning, mia cara,” Lucio stroked Alessandra’s soft hair with one hand and kissed her gently on
the forehead. Her eyes fluttered open and she smiled.
“Is it morning already?” she said despairingly and snuggled closer to him. “Have we got to leave this
room today?”
4. “I’m afraid we must,” he answered with a sigh. The late morning sunlight streaming in through the
windows was an inevitable reminder that they must be up and about. If they lingered much longer, they
would surely be missed.
“Cannot we just remain in one another’s arms? Renata and Ghita keep to themselves mostly; no one
would miss us.”
Lucio hummed audibly, thinking the situation over. “That does sound like quite a lovely way to pass the
day. I should think that-”
5. The couple was startled into silence when a heavy knock sounded at the chamber door.
Alesssandra dove off the side of the bed and crouched low to the floor. She stayed as still as possible,
praying that she couldn’t’ be seen, while Lucio went to see who was there.
6. His heart sank when he saw that he was standing face to face with Carlo, the one person that he wanted to
see least. He let out a sigh of annoyance, “What do you want?”
“Good morning,” Carlo replied in a haughty manner. “I’m sorry if I woke you. I was unaware that you
liked to sleep so late. I am an early riser, myself.”
“No need to apologize; I was already awake.”
7. “Of course you were. Now, I only came up to say that your presence has been missed at the breakfast
table. Now that I am back from the Villa, I wish to speak with the entire household this morning before I
get onto business and it is getting rather late.”
“I will be right down, then.” Lucio made to close the door, but Carlo stuck his foot out and prevented it
from shutting.
“One more thing: have you any idea where my wife has gone off to? I cannot seem to locate her
anywhere.”
8. From her spot kneeling on the stone floor, Alessandra’s heart beat faster and she began to panic. She had
spoken too soon when she assumed that no one would miss her; she hadn’t thought that Carlo would turn
up so suddenly. He was supposed to still be at their Villa in the countryside.
9. “I’m sorry, Signor. I haven’t the slightest idea. I’ve been in here all morning.”
“Fine. Then I will see you in a few minutes.”
10. As soon as the door shut and Alessandra was sure that she could hear Carlo’s footsteps echoing far down
the hall, she rose from her hiding place. “What are we to do now, Lucio? I had no idea that he was coming
back.”
11. Lucio’s face was a mask of serenity whereas Alessandra was wringing her hands nervously. “Fear not, my
dear. We will figure something out. I will not let that man take you away from me.”
“Have you forgotten, Lucio? ‘That man’ is my husband. He will take me back into his bed this very night
and there is nothing I can do to refuse.”
Lucio’s eyes flashed angrily, but his expression remained calm. “Let’s not dwell on that fact. Give me one
last kiss for now and then hurry off to get dressed. You can say you went out early to visit your brother.
If we ask Giacomo nicely, I’m sure he will corroborate your story.”
12. Alessandra nodded and leaned in for what could be their last kiss for a very long time.
__
14. At the request of his brother, Nico put away the book he had been reading and stood in front of
Giacomo, looking at him with a frosty expression. “What?”
“Now, Nico, let’s try to be civil, please.”
Nico’s expression softened at Giac’s honest tone. “What do you wish to speak about?”
15. “I know we haven’t been on the best of terms lately and I have sought you out this afternoon to offer an
apology.”
“An apology?!”
16. “Yes, I came to say that I am sorry. We have not seen eye-to-eye since our fight nearly a month ago and I
know that you disapprove rather strongly about my behavior as of late.”
Nico blushed. “Well, yes, that is true. I cannot say that spending all hours with your courtesan a very
Christian pursuit.”
17. Giac gritted his teeth, the slight against Kari striking a nerve, and reminded himself that he was here to
make amends. “That is beside the point. All I wish to say is that I am sincerely sorry for having yelled at
you. I was not quite myself that night, but that does not excuse my actions.”
“Thank you, Giac! That means a lot to me,” Nico said with a genuine smile. He had hated fighting with
his brother, but now it was thankfully all over. He held his hand out to shake, but Giac held a hand up to
make him pause.
18. “One more thing: because Alessandra has kindly agreed to take responsibility for your sisters, it has left
me plenty of free time to make arrangements for your future.”
Nico held his breath expectantly, hardly daring to hope. He had been hinting for months that he was
ready to join the church, but all of his efforts had gone unnoticed. Since his father had died, he had been
living in a sort of limbo, ready to grow up and find his place in the world, but not allowed to.
19. “For the past several weeks, I have been in communication with the University at Pisa and they have just
written to inform me of your acceptance. In two days time you shall be on your way to the University to
study canon law!”
Nico could hardly contain himself from jumping up and down. “You really mean it?!” It wasn’t quite
taking holy orders yet, but it was a welcome start.
20. “Of course I do!” Giac chuckled at seeing his excitement. He remembered how he himself had felt when
his father had told him he was to go to University to study. It was several years ago now, but the memory
would never fade.
21. “Oh, thank you!” All past disagreements forgotten, Nico pulled Giac in for a sudden hug. “You’re the best!”
__
22. The air smelled of sweat and sickness; a stale ambiance encompassed the room. Giac shuddered and
crossed himself.
Half an hour ago, he had been relaxing in his office, spending a rare night at home with a glass of wine
and Alberti’s third book on architecture when a solid knock had roused him from his thoughts. A
messenger from the house of di Brandi had brought a letter. Thinking it was another missive from
Beatrice, Giac had opened it with good humor.
23. But as soon as he read it, his lightheartedness went immediately away. It was a summons from Iacopo di
Brandi himself, back early from his travels.
So Giac had hurried across town, only to be greeted at the door by a somber-faced maid and lead to a
room filled with a somber priest, a busy doctor, and three teary-eyed ladies knelt in prayer.
24. The maid motioned to a bed upon which Iacopo di Brandi rested with his eyes half closed. As soon as he
saw Giacomo, he expended a great effort to push himself up into a sitting position and then onto his feet.
25. The doctor, hovering nervously in the background, protested loudly. “Signor, you must have your rest!
Please, do not get up.”
Iacopo waved his hand in annoyance. “I shall do as I please.” The doctor backed down and left to find
something to do in another corner of the room.
26. Giacomo’s shoulders drooped when Iacopo turned his full attention on him. Though obviously ill, he was
still an intimidating figure. “You sent for me, Signor?”
“Indeed I did, boy. You need not be nervous, though. I know all about the letters you’ve been exchanging
with my daughter, Beatrice.”
28. Giac blanched and went down on one knee in supplication. “Please forgive me, Signor, if I’ve caused
offense. I swear that my intentions were, and still are, honorable towards your daughter. The letters were
nothing but a way for us to get to know one another a bit better.”
Iacopo only chuckled to himself. Giac glanced up nervously, wondering if he would not be reprimanded
as he had thought.
29. Suddenly, Iacopo’s amusement was cut short by a coughing attach.
Giac jumped to his feet and reached out to steady the ailing man. The doctor looked on worriedly. “See, I
told you! You need to lie down, Signor!”
30. Iacopo waved him away angrily again and took deep breaths to stop his fit. Once he had recovered, he
shrugged Giac off and motioned for Beatrice to come over to him.
She obeyed and hastened to his side. Giac blushed as he realized that this was the first time he was
actually seeing the woman with whom he had been communicating for the past several weeks., but she
was oblivious to his presence. “Father, you really must listen to the doctor and lie down!”
But the stubborn man ignored her advice as well.
31. Taking Giac’s left hand and Beatrice’s right in his own clammy grip, Iacopo pulled them together and
bade them to clasp. “Children, it is no secret that I am dying.”
Beatrice choked back a sob. “No, father! Please, don’t speak of such horrible things.”
Iacopo shook his head. “It is terrible, yes, but true and we cannot avoid the future. I am not much longer
for this world and it is my final wish to make sure that you, my dearest daughter, will be cared for when I
am gone.”
32. Iacopo pointed to a man who had just come up behind them. Giac and Beatrice let go of one another and
turned around. Iacopo nodded in greeting. “Children, this is Signor Marco da Pisa: a friend of mine and a
notary here by my request.”
33. Signor Marco offered his hand for Giac to shake. “Nice to meet you both.”
Iacopo took his daughter’s arm and twined it about Giac’s.
34. The notary smiled. “Signor Moretti, do you take Beatrice di Brandi as your wife?”
For a second, Giac couldn’t speak. His mind raced as he attempted to organize his thoughts. The weight of Iacopo’s
glare pressured him to think carefully before choosing his response. Finally he managed to mumble a feeble “Yes, I do.”
“And do you, Signorina Beatrice, take Giacomo Moretti as your husband?”
Like a frightened doe, Beatrice stared unblinkingly at Signor Marco. All the color drained from her face and she babbled
incoherently until her father prodded at her back to get her to mumble, “Yes, I suppose.”
35. “Then I pronounce you man and wife. If you’ll all follow me to the table by the fireplace, I’ve got the
marriage contract drawn up for you to sign.”
Putting on a show of composure, Giac stepped right up to the table and followed the notary’s
instructions on where to sign. Inside he felt just as scared as Beatrice looked. The whole situation had
come about rather suddenly and he hadn’t had any time to properly process the information, let alone
figure out how to react.
36. Once he had signed in all the proper places, Giac relinquished his pen to Iacopo and stumbled back
several steps.
Beatrice watched on, stunned, as her father signed her away to her new husband. She snuck a few nervous
glances at Giacomo but didn’t have the nerve to look him fully in the eye.
37. “Now you shall be well cared for, my dear,” Iacopo explained gently and squeezed her hand encouragingly.
“Please, father, don’t make me do this. It’s too sudden.” Hot tears spilled down her cheeks and she shook in fear. “I
do not want to leave you!”
“Be calm, child, and dry your tears. What’s done is done; there can be no going back now. My time has come to an
end and I can no longer look after you. You must move on to find happiness with Giacomo Moretti as your
husband.”
38. “Papá, I cannot!”
“You must. Now go.”
Suddenly another coughing fit seized Iacopo. As he struggled for breath his face grew ashen and his knees weakened.
Watching her father slowly sink to the ground, Beatrice let out a desperate wail and her tears came even harder.
Giacomo snaked his arm around her shoulder and tugged her gently towards the door. “Come, now, Beatrice. Do as your
father said; let’s go.”
39. The room descended into chaos as Giacomo tried to steer her out into the hall. The priest prayed loudly.
Beatrice’s cries were joined by those of her handmaidens’. The doctor shouted instructions. The maids
scrambled to gather instruments and medicines. The notary gathered his paperwork. And finally, Iacopo’s
coughs rose above the din.
“Please, please don’t make me go!”Beatrice’s cries reached near-hysteria as Giac tugged on her arm.
40. “Come on, we need to leave. There is nothing we can do to help your father now.”
Beatrice tore her eyes away from the hectic scene carrying on in the background and met Giac’s gaze.
“You don’t understand; he is all the family I have left. I cannot abandon him so! There must be something
I can do to help!”
Giac shook his head dismally. His expression was hard, but his tone of voice was gentle. “Beatrice, I am
your husband; I am your family now. Your father said so himself. No matter how much you wish it weren’t
true, there is nothing you can do to help him. Now, let’s go.”
41. Beatrice gave up her wild pleas and reluctantly let Giac guide her from the room. His grasp was firm and
unyielding, but she still fought against it, twisting her head further as she walked.
The doctor was on his hands and knees, trying frantically to revive Iacopo who had collapsed completely
to the floor. With a horrified gasp and a fresh round of tears, Beatrice watched as her father’s coughs
subsided and he quit moving all together.
42. Giac shut the door soundly behind himself and the cacophony of the sickroom was cut off instantly.
Beatrice shuddered; Giac pulled her close.
“He’s gone,” she said bleakly. She sniffed loudly and her tears began to subside.
Giac stroked her hair gently in an attempt to provide some comfort. With a grim smile he noticed that
her grip tightened. “Come, now; we’ll get through this together. Let’s get you home.”
43. After-dinner conversation passed genially among the occupants of the room. Lucio inquired about
Renata’s upcoming dinner invitation from her cousin Heather and Alessandra was teaching Ghita court
dances in case the invitation should be extended to both sisters.
Altogether the mood was pleasant and cheerful, a great change from the atmosphere at dinner. Carlo’s
return had caused dialogue around the table had been noticeably lacking and he hadn’t seemed pleased.
44. When he strolled into the room, conversation stopped once again. Alessandra dropped Ghita’s hands and
Lucio scooted to a more respectable distance from Renata.
45. “Oh, please don’t stop what you’re doing on account of me,” Carlo said in an effort to be agreeable. Ghita
abandoned her sister’s side, seeking a seat as far away from her brother-in-law as she could find.
“I was just teaching Ghita a new dance,” Alessandra said in a hard tone. “But we’ve finished for now. Is
there something you wanted?”
“I was coming to say that I was retiring for the night,” he said with significant gaze. “I should think that
you’re tired as well. Won’t you come to bed?”
46. “Oh, but it’s my turn to learn the dance! Alessandra promised to teach me after Ghita.” Renata protested
weakly. She knew she didn’t have much of a chance opposing Carlo.
47. As was expected, Carlo sniffed in contempt and answered with authority, “Perhaps tomorrow.”
“I did promise her, Carlo,” Alessandra entreated.
He leaned in close. “That wasn’t a request, Alessandra. Come on, now.”
Alessandra hung her head and, saying a quick goodnight, followed her husband dutifully upstairs.
48. “Please, not tonight, Carlo. I’m not feeling very well. I have a headache.”
Carlo ignored her and began to untie his hose.
“Please, I’m not feeling well at all.”
“Don’t lie to me, Alessandra. You were well enough to dance a rowdy jig with your sister not two minutes
ago. Now, get into bed.” Carlo spoke gruffly, his hands yanking at the strings on his tunic. When
Alessandra didn’t move, he motioned to the bed. “You are my wife and I said get.”
49. Alessandra’s pulse raced as she complied and turned the blankets down on the bed. Her hands shook as
she took a seat and watched from the corner of her eye as Carlo discarded his tunic and hose.
50. He joined her on the bed, maneuvering his heavy form above her. She cringed as his weight pressed down
on her. She shrank back into the mattress, hoping desperately that Carlo would continue no further.
She was bitterly disappointed as when she felt his clammy hand grab on to the hem of her dress and slide
it slowly up her leg.
She closed her eyes tight and retreated into her mind. Instead of lucidity, she chose to concentrate on
conjugating Latin verbs, just as she had done on her wedding night.
51. “Here, drink this.” Giacomo set a goblet of spiced wine down in front of Beatrice and encouraged her to
take it. “It’ll warm you up a bit.”
Lost in her grief, Beatrice kept her gaze lowered and fiddled with her dress in her lap. Her tears had
stopped long ago, but she hadn’t said hardly a word since they had left her father’s house.
Giac had lead her through the winding streets of Florence, letting her lean on him for support. Once
they got back to the house, Giac took her upstairs and let her into Viola’s old room so she could dry her
tears. While she washed up, Giac lit a fire and went down to the kitchens to pour her a glass of wine.
52. Giac took a seat opposite her, unsure what to do. Seeing her mourn for her father brought back painful memories
of his own. After a few minutes of awkward silence, he attempted to start a conversation. “I’ve been in your
position before, you know. I lost my mother many years ago. I was pretty young, but I’ll never forget my sorrow.”
Beatrice’s shoulders sagged in response.
Giac reddened, afraid that he was going to make her start to cry again, and tried to explain. “I only meant that I
know how you feel. The pain is terrible, but it will get better. You will never forget your father, but you will come
to accept your loss. Trust me.”
53. Beatrice sniffed. “Oh.”
A few more minutes lapsed in silence before Beatrice raised her head to speak. “Giacomo Moretti: G.M. It
was you who sent me the letters, right?”
54. “Uh, yes,” Giac cleared his throat, “the letters were from me. I knew you would figure it out sooner or
later. I had only hoped that our first meeting would be happier, but I suppose one cannot control such
things.”
“But I do not understand; I didn’t figure out your identity. When my father came back, he knew he was
dying and his first plan was to send me to a convent so I would be cared for after he was gone. I didn’t
want to go so I showed him your letters – out of absolute necessity, I assure you – and your words
changed his mind. How did he know who to contact when he had just learned of our correspondence?”
55. Giac rose and, wishing he had brought a glass of wine for himself as well, joined Beatrice on her couch. “There is
something you should know. Your father asked me not to tell you, but I think these are rather extenuating circumstances.”
“What is it?” she asked hesitantly, afraid of the response.
“A few years ago, our fathers were drawing up a marriage for us, but negotiations moved slowly and nothing concrete was
in place when my father died. For a long time, I had no idea and so plans went by the wayside. It wasn’t until I went
through some papers my father left behind that I even knew about you.”
56. “I approached Iacopo, hoping that we could reopen negotiations, but he refused. His opinion of me was fairly low, but he
agreed to give me a second chance while he was on his trade route. If I could pull my act together and prove a good match
for you, he would consent to our marriage.
“A few years ago, our fathers were drawing up a marriage for us, but negotiations moved slowly and nothing concrete was
in place when my father died. For a long time, I had no idea and so plans went by the wayside. It wasn’t until I went
through some papers my father left behind that I even knew about you. I approached Iacopo, hoping that we could reopen
negotiations, but he refused. His opinion of me was fairly low, but he agreed to give me a second chance while he was on his
57. “I wasn’t allowed to let you know, but he never directly forbade me from talking to you. I thought putting it all
in writing would be the best route to take. Your father was a smart man, Beatrice. It’s no wonder that he knew
who ‘G.M.’ was the second he saw my signature. Iacopo had men keeping tabs on me all the while, so I guess
he was satisfied with me in the end.”
Beatrice’s eyes were locked somewhere in the distance. When she spoke, her voice quavered. “I had no idea.”
58. Suddenly ashamed of keeping so much from her, Giac cautiously placed his hand on her arm. When she
didn’t pull away, he wrapped it entirely around her shoulder and turned her head to face him. “Don’t’ be
upset. Your father obviously saw some good in me or else he would have sent you straight to that convent. I
can be a good husband, I promise. Just wait and see.”
A small smile tugged at the corner of Beatrice’s mouth. “I’ve never known my father to be a bad judge of
character.”
59. Giac laughed and, motioning to the untouched glass on the table, he asked “Are you going to drink that?”
Beatrice shook her head. “At the moment, I couldn’t eat or drink a think.”
“I’ll walk you to bed, then.” Giac withdrew his arm and pushed himself up off the cushions.
60. As they went into the hall, Beatrice wound her arm around his. “Where do I sleep?”
“Well, the room we just left will be yours eventually, but at the moment it’s not furnished properly.”
“Oh?”
“Yes, it’s missing a few key pieces of furniture,” Giac chuckled, “namely a bed. It used to be my
stepmother’s room and when she left, she insisted on taking it with her.”
Beatrice smiled.
61. Giac lead her around the corner and, unlocking the door to the unused room, let her inside. “Tonight
you’ll stay here. It was my sisters’ room, but it’s been empty for a while. There are extra blankets and
candles in the chest, in case you need anything.”
“Thank you.”
He bade her goodnight and left.
62. When he was halfway out the door, Beatrice spoke up. “Wait a moment.”
63. Giac turned back and looked at her questioningly. “Is there something else you require? Are you hungry after all?”
“No, it’s just that…” Beatrice fiddled with her fingers and blushed, “You’re leaving?”
“My bedroom is at the other end of the hall…”
“Not that. Um,” Beatrice motioned vaguely to the bed behind her, “We were married today, were we not? So, doesn’t
that make this our wedding night? Aren’t you supposed to stay? Or would you rather I came to your room?”
64. Giac grinned and folded his arms over his chest. While the notion did not displease Giac, he was making
an effort to be chivalrous. He figured that it would be best to hold off consummation until their marriage
had been declared publicly. Plus, there was her father’s funeral to think about, things to smooth over with
Kari, and the poor girl had been traumatized enough for one day. “I think we’ve had enough excitement
for now. You’re exhausted and we haven’t even had a proper celebration. What do you say to simply
calling it a night?”
65. Beatrice bent her head and said sadly, “As you wish, Giacomo. Please accept an apology, though. I am
sorry to offend.”
He gently took hold of her fingers and kissed the back of her hand. “I assure you, Signora, that I am
leaving you tonight only out of respect for you and your father. Please trust me when I say that you do
not displease me in any way.”
66. The compliment caused Beatrice to blush and she withdrew her hand reluctantly. The embarrassment of
being ignored on her wedding night alleviated, she curtseyed sweetly and gave Giacomo a final
“Goodnight” before retreating to the bed by the wall.
67. After a good night’s sleep, Beatrice was up early the next morning and eager to get to work. Her two ladies and her
old housemaid arrived soon after breakfast, bringing some of her things and news. Eagerly they told Beatrice about
the reading of her father’s will. He had left her a sizeable dowry as well as the house and all of the furniture. The
funeral was being taken care of by Iacopo’s business associates and she was not to worry about it. Word would be sent
around later when a definite time for the services had been set.
Once all the gossip had been shared, the three ladies reluctantly set to work under the direction of Beatrice. But no
sooner than had they reached for the first chest balanced on the edge of the cart, they were interrupted by Giacomo.
68. Taking in the situation, he nodded his approval and went up to Beatrice. “Good day, ladies. I see we are
wasting no time this morning.”
Beatrice swept her arm out, indicating the loaded-down cart. “Yes, they brought over some of my
belongings. I was planning on spending the day decorating my rooms. If you don’t object, that is.”
69. “Not at all! I had the same idea myself and left the door unlocked. I trust you remember how to navigate
the corridors?”
“Yes, I do. Thank you. Are you going out?”
“Yes, I am. I have several things to take care of this morning. I will be back later today.” Giac smiled to
the general group, his way of saying goodbye, and left the four girls to unload the cart.
70. Giacomo hadn’t slept much the night before. Locking himself in his office, he burned his candle into the
early morning hours making plans for a wedding feast that was to take place as soon as possible. Many
detailed lists and estimated cost calculations later, Giac arrived at a final plan he was confident would
work.
The majority of the day, he decided, would be spent making necessary purchases. First he went to the
jeweler’s to buy a gift for his new wife. Then it was to the tailor’s to see what they had by way of
expedient outfits and, when that didn’t turn out, it was on to another shop to see how quickly a new suit
of clothes could be made.
71. The sun had long since set by the time Giacomo made it back home, several bags of denari lighter. Worn
out from the day’s haggling, he stopped by Beatrice’s room on his way to bed. Knocking politely, he
waited for permission to enter before he did so.
“Good evening, Signor,” Beatrice said with a smile. “I was wondering when you would be back.”
72. Giac dismissed the ladies in waiting with a flick of his wrist. They silently filed out the door while he
pulled Beatrice into the center of the room. “I’ve had a busy day, but I wanted to see you before I turned
in for the night.”
“Oh?”
73. “I bought you something today.” Giac pulled a small bag out of his pocket and tipped the contents into
his hand. A thin gold ring sparkled in the candlelight. “It’s a wedding gift for you.”
Beatrice shrieked in delight and held out her hand. “It’s beautiful!”
74. Giac slipped the ring onto her finger. “It’s the only one they had available for me to bring home today, but
I’ve also commissioned a new set of orecchini e collana*. They will be ready in time for our wedding feast.”
* Earrings and necklace
75. Excitement sparkled in Beatrice’s eyes and she hugged him impulsively. “You mean we are having a
wedding party? I wasn’t sure considering the circumstances…”
Giac laughed. “We may be already married, but there’s no saying we can’t celebrate properly! I’ve set the
date for one week from Wednesday and invitations will be sent out tomorrow. Our courtship may have
been anything but orthodox, but I still want to give you every opportunity possible. Other girls get their
wedding parties and you will, too.”
76. Beatrice radiated happiness. “I consider myself the luckiest girl in tutta della Toscana* to have married a
man such as you. Thank you for all you’ve done for me.”
Giac kissed her hand and said, “Anything for you, mia moglie.” **
* In all of Tuscany
** My wife