Michael

Lucrezia rose from the table when Cesare did, and he embraced her. "Do not leave me for so long again, my Lucrezia," he said quietly in her ear. And then, a nod to Michael. "I will see you later tonight." Then he swept off.

Lucrezia picked up her purse and turned to Michael. "Do you have a pressing engagement, Michael? If not, I would be happy for some company on my walk home."

Pippa

"May I see that one, please?" Lucrezia asked, pointing at a watch in the case at the men's jewelry section of Herrods.

"Ah, you have very good taste," the saleswoman said as she brought it out and laid it on a velvet box on the counter. "And quite a steal for this brand, at under five thousand pounds."

Lucrezia picked up the watch, considering how it might look against Cesare's skin tone.

"A gift for your husband?" the saleswoman asked brightly.

Lucrezia laughed. "No," she said. "In fact, what do you have that is not so much of a steal?"

While the saleswoman, a bit flustered now, began to look for other options, Lucrezia turned and leaned against the counter, re-applying her lipstick.