The Time Sphere (16 page)

Chapter 24

That evening, Billy sat at the kitchen tabl
e, drumming his fingers and staring into space.  Girls!  How long does it take them to get ready!  Billy and Dickens had been waiting for an hour, already dressed and ready to leave.  Dickens didn’t seem to mind, however, occupying himself with one of Leonardo’s books. 

Leonardo had returned to his old self, petting a rabbit on his lap and discussing with Dickens th
e book he was reading.  He looked up at Billy and noticed his annoyed expression.

“Billy, you must never rush a lady.  It is our purpose to wait and theirs to keep us waiting.  It is all a part of their grand entrance, yes,” said Leonardo, laughing at his own wit.

“Leonardo is right, Billy.  A lady should have all eyes on her,” Dickens added, not looking up from his book.

Not a moment later, Jeanie entered the room.  She stood in the doorway, dressed in a deep green velvet dress.  It had a square neckline th
at was fitted at the waist.  The sleeves were tight on the arms and the hems touched the floor.  The skirt belled out slightly at the hips, then flowed gracefully to the ground.  The hems were embroidered with gold threading.  Around her waist was a golden belt, the end hanging down the front of her gown.

Her hair was pulled back into a braid and intertwined with ribbon.  On her head was a green silk headpiece that was in the shape of a large cone, a sheer gauze material streaming from the top and down her back. 

The truth was, if someone had told Billy that Jeanie was going to wear a giant cone on her head one day, he would have laughed his head off.  But seeing her standing before him, she looked perfect. 

All three men were now standing, giving her their full attention and admiration.  She blushed becomingly and made a small curtsy.

“You look quite beautiful, my dear,” said Dickens, as he kissed her hand.

Leonardo gave her a low bow.  “I concur, my lady, you are a vision of loveliness.”

Jeanie turned to Billy and looked at him expectantly.  All Billy could think was that he wasn’t going to mess it up like he did last time, but he still couldn’t help getting a little red in the face.

With his eyes directed at the floor, he said, “You look very pr
etty, Jeanie.” Billy looked her in the eye and he breathed a sigh of relief.  Judging by her joyful expression, he knew he had passed the test.

The men put
their surcoats over their dress clothes.  Dickens helped Jeanie into a green velvet coat that was lined with fur and went to her waist. 

As everyone was standing at the door attending
to details, someone knocked on the door.  Billy opened it, and there stood Georgii, appearing to be dressed in his best clothes, holding a bouquet of flowers in his hands.

“Georgii!” exclaimed Jeanie, surprised at his arrival.  “Are you coming with us?” she added, sounding very pleased at the prospect.

As Georgii stared at Jeanie garbed in her finest before him, all he could think of to say was, “Gianna! I…you…what I mean to say is…you have never…” 

Billy patted Georgii on the shoulder.  “It’s ok, Georgii, don’t go i
nto shock,” he laughed.  He turned to Jeanie and smiled, “What Georgii is trying to say is that you look very nice, Jeanie.”

“No, Billy, that is not adequate enough to describe her glorious beauty-”

Billy just rolled his eyes and chuckled.  “Come on, buddy, dinner’s getting cold,” he said, as he put his arms around Georgii’s shoulders. 

Georgii stopped in his tracks and looked at his friends.  “I still have not been invited to the mayor’s feast; I just wanted to escort Gianna to the hall.”  There was no self-pity in his voice, just the typical matter of fact tone that was Georgii.

“But you’re all dressed up,” Jeanie said, sounding disappointed.

“Oh
, Gianna, I just knew that you would look exquisite this evening, and I would not dream of shaming you in my usual attire,” he responded, bestowing upon her a low bow.

Jeanie bent down and kissed Georgii on the cheek.  “You could never embarrass me, Georgii.”

Billy had to stop himself from laughing at the expression on Georgii’s face.  His eyes were wide, and his lips were in the shape of an ‘o’.  The young man was in such a state of shock. Jeanie had to escort him to the mayor’s house, instead of the other way around. 

Although it was a little awkward leaving G
eorgii at the door, Georgii handled it with ease and bid them all a good evening. 

Billy still didn’t want to be at the banquet, not thinking too highly of the mayor or his son.  However, when Billy looked over at Jeanie, her open expression and glowing eyes made him realize he had to at least fake it for her sake.

Billy looked around the great hall.  It was very large and gleaming with white and black marble floors.  The stone walls were covered with frescoes.  The design was… what was that word Georgii told him? Ya Romanesque, Billy thought.  There were columns built into the walls, joined together by arches overhead.  Billy could tell that Niccolo’s father was very wealthy. 

There were numerous people standing off to the side, talking and drinking.  In the centre, there was a large group of people holding hands in a circl
e.  They moved their feet in tune with the band, while a select individual in the circle sung a song.  The whole group joined in at the chorus.

“That is called the Carola,” Dickens whispered into his ear.

Billy turned to Dickens and said in a sardonic tone, “Thanks, now I know the name of the dance that I
won’t
be doing.”

“Oh, I wish I knew this dance,” an excited Jeanie lamented.

“Don’t worry, dear, there’ll be many dances you can partake in,” Dickens consoled her.

Billy gazed around the room, entranced by the clothing worn by these medieval people.  Most women were dressed as Jeanie and wore the large cone shaped headdress.  Others only wore a simple white cloth to cover their hair and some wore what looked like huge bullhorns covered by a sheer cloth. 

The men wore tunics, surcoats and large floppy hats.  The materials were velvet, silk and expensive linens.  Billy was amazed by the colors these people wore.  There was one woman who wore an orange and purple patched dress.  Even the men wore bright and bold hued materials. 

Billy
suddenly remembered hearing something about bold colors being a symbol of status.  Billy turned and asked Dickens if he knew why. 

“The more colorful dyes are very expensive.  That is why peasants wear dull blacks, browns and grays.  Oh, look there, I told you.” With a snicker Dickens pointed to a man who had the tip of his shoes tied to his
knees.

“That looks ridiculous,” Billy replied in a flat voice.

With a loud laugh and droll tone, Dickens replied, “No more ridiculous than the young men of your time, mmmm, having their pants pulled down to reveal their undergarments.”

“Fine.
Whatever,” retorted Billy, trying to sound defiant, but even he couldn’t keep the smile out of his voice.

Leonardo then clasped his hands together.  “Ahhh, there is our esteemed host, Attuccus de Fabiano.  His family comes from very noble bloodlines dating back centuries, you know.  Come, I shall introduce you all.” 

With a smile upon his face, he took Jeanie’s arm and escorted his companions toward a small group standing by the main table.  As Billy approached his host, he noticed a tall blond boy standing at his side. The young man eyes met his as they made their way to the group, but Billy turned his attention to his sire.  Niccolo’s father appeared to be a jovial man, wide in girth and laughing with a goblet of wine in his hand. 

Upon seeing Leonardo, Attuccus stretched his arms out in greeting.  “Leonardo!  So glad you could make it to our little party.”

“We graciously thank you for the invitation, my lord.  These are current house guests of mine,” he said, as he gestured to his companions, “and I am always grateful for the opportunity to demonstrate what a generous host our mayor is.”

“Ahhh
, Leonardo, you are always welcome at the home of the de Fabiano’s.  By the way, have you had any communication with the Emperor lately?  Still enjoying his yearly stipend?”  Attuccus laughed as he pounded Leonardo’s frail frame.  “It must be nice to receive a yearly income for just scribbling numbers on a parchment, yes?”  The man continued to laugh.  

“We still exchange letters from time to time.  I do enjoy adding any little tidbit which includes your name, Attuccus.  I do like to sing the praises of my friends,” Leonardo said with a smile, although the smile did not quite reach his eyes.

“Ahhh, Leonardo, I pity anyone who gets on your bad side,” the mayor said grinning, as he shook his finger at the smaller man. 

Billy was gaining a new respect for Leonardo.  These two men were having a seemingly cordial conversation but with subtle undertones.  Billy had a feeling that Attuccus only put up with Leonardo because of his connections with this emperor of theirs and Leonardo knew it.  They seem to be playing some type of game, whe
re you said one thing, but meant another.   However, to most people watching, they seemed to be the best of friends.  Leonardo was definitely not as simple as he seemed to be.

Leonardo
motioned to his house guests.  “Let me introduce you all.  Dickens, Billy and Jeanie, this is Attuccus, the Mayor of Pisa.  And this is his son, Niccolo and his daughter, Isabella.”

“It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance,” Niccolo stated with a sweeping bow, appearing to be every bit the son of a nobleman.  Billy and Jeanie quickly glanced at each other before they responded in kind.

Isabella was a tiny girl of about ten years, with blond hair and blue eyes like her brother.   But that was where the similarities ended.  She gazed at her guests with bashful eyes and gave only a slight smile. 

“I like your
hair,” she said shyly to Jeanie, resulting in a pretty blush covering her young cheeks.

“Isabella!  That is not how one greets another,” her father chastised, causing the little girl to promptly curtsy.

“Um, thank you for attending my, um, birthday feast,” she said, her voice sweet, but unsure of itself.

Jeanie returned the curtsy and smiled
down at the girl.  “We are honored to be here.” As usual, Jeanie’s kind smile put the girl at ease.

“So how have you found our fair city so far?” asked a ve
ry polite and pleasant Niccolo.

Billy looked at the older boy warily.  He was acting as if they had never met and
, thankfully, Dickens responded to his question. 

“We have greatly enjoyed the c
ity and all of its amenities; most of all, the generous hospitality of our host,” he replied, nodding to Leonardo.

“And we have met so many interesting people, too!” added Jeanie enthusiastically.

“Oh, who? I know everyone in this town,” asked Attuccus.

“Well, we were introduced to many of the town’s merchants and businessmen and of course, Leonardo.
Oh, and Georgii de Villana has been showing us the sites of the city,” Jeanie said with a bright smile on her face, but a with faint glint of defiance shining in her eyes.

This last comment resulted in the mayor throwing his head back and roaring with laughter.  “He is a most entertaining boy.  I think I would hire him as a jester if his father would onl
y part with him.”   However, his laughter quieted quickly as he looked at his guest’s serious faces.

“He has been most helpful to us
during our stay,” Dickens said evenly.

“Why
, yes, especially if you need rescuing from a mouse found in your cupboards.” This sneering comment came from Niccolo, which brought about another bout of laughter from his father. 

“Ahh
, Niccolo, not everyone can be the illustrious knight you are, isn’t that right,” Attuccus stated proudly, as he put his arm around his son.

That was when a small voice from below said, “But what about that time Georgii pushed me out of the way of that runaway wagon?  Wasn’t that brave?” asked Isabella, her eyes questioning and innocent.

Attuccus patted his daughter’s head.  “Even the peasants have their moments, dear.  But if your brother had been there, you probably would not have ended up with a broken arm from that boy’s crude rescue.”

“But, Niccolo was…”

“You were too young to remember, Isabella,” Niccolo sharply reminded his sister, causing her to lower her eyes and bite her lip.  

Attuccus did
n’t seem to hear his daughter.  He just gazed fondly at his son.  “Yes, my Niccolo will make a grand knight one day,” he said with pride in his voice.

All of a sudden a loud horn was blown.  “Come, that means they are seating us for dinner,” said Leonardo.  He nodded a farewell to the mayor and then escorted Jeanie by the arm to one of the long tables. 

Billy felt a wave of relief as they walked away from the de Fabiano’s, glad to have that done and over with.

Billy could see a long table with a white cloth atop a dais at the other end of the room.  There he could see Niccolo seated beside Accattus and on his other side was Isabella.