Page 46 of The Vagabond Viscount
The sense of energy which hung in the air—this was more than a simple church going. It was a celebration of unity and faith. It stirred her blood.
This has to be the most emotional and interesting day of my entire stay in Rome.
Reaching the large plaza, the crowd of pilgrims spread out, and Augusta was finally able to let go of Serafina without the fear of losing her in the milling throng. She rolled her shoulders back and stretched out her arms. “That’s much better. I hope it won’t be such a squeeze on the way home.”
“No, it won’t. Come on. We should make our way closer to the front and find our seats,” replied Serafina.
Serafina led the way past rows and rows of pilgrims. Some people had brought their own chairs, while most others either stood or knelt to pray. The de Luca family had their own private seating in a special roped-off area to the left of the main steps leading up into Saint Peter’s Basilica.
The enormous plaza was an interesting palette of red, white, and gold. Swiss guards in their red and gold striped tunics moved across the front of the red-carpeted entrance. The Pope’s window, at which she had already seen him appear each time during her previous visits, was draped in a crimson curtain. A large red and white banner hung over its balcony. Priests and senior members of the clergy were all clad in robes of red and white. They stood out in contrast to the hundreds of pilgrims who were mostly dressed in somber, respectful black.
With the Easter mass scheduled to last over two hours, Augusta was more than grateful that she could look forward to the comfort of a seat. Reaching the de Luca family section, Serafina went to greet several relatives while Augusta paid her respects to the head of the de Luca family. She curtseyed to Serafina’s uncle, Lorenzo de Luca, the Duke of Lazio.
Her gaze slid over the various people seated around them. Most of the extended de Luca family members that she knew had gathered here this morning, but to her consternation, the Duchess of Mowbray was nowhere to be seen.
She and her mother had been guests of the de Luca family for many months, and Lady Anne should have been here. Leaning in to Serafina, she whispered, “I am so sorry that Mama has not made the pilgrimage this morning. She isn’t herself at the moment.”
Serafina waved her concerns away. “I just spoke to Donna Francesca, and your mother kindly offered to keep company with one of my elderly aunts who is too frail to come and sit out here in the chilly wind. They are waiting in the carriage near the Sacramento Fountain and will receive the Easter blessing from one of the cardinals once the main service is over.”
Augusta sighed with relief. Her mother hadn’t embarrassed the family.
I really ought to think the better of Mama, but at the moment she is so unpredictable.
A reflective Augusta followed Serafina to where they had been allocated their seats. A servant appeared and handed both young women woolen blankets. She was warm from walking with the mass of pilgrims, but it wasn’t long before Augusta found the need to drape the cover over her knees. She huddled deeper into her cloak as the March winds whipped through the plaza.
The hum of the crowd settled to a hush as Pope Pius VII slowly made his way out the front of Saint Peter’s and to the crimson-draped dais.
* * *
Flynn stood shoulder to shoulder with the other pilgrims some three hundred yards from where the Pope offered his Easter blessing. It was the closest he was able to get.
Has every person in Italy undertaken the journey to be here today?
Even if they hadn’t, it certainly felt like it.
He had made the crossing over the river via the Ponte Sant’Angelo this morning along with hundreds of other members of Rome’s faithful, enjoying the camaraderie and songs of faith. At school, Flynn had excelled at Latin, so he was able to sing along. Life was so much more enjoyable when you had food in your belly and a safe place to sleep. But the pickpockets who had rifled through his tattered coat, and there were more than a few of them who did, still found his pockets empty of coins.
He had made a solemn vow that before he eventually left Rome, he would give Michael Cooper the details of each market stall that he had stolen from with the request to see the proper funds handed over. This country had given him back his life, and he owed it to himself and his future heirs not to leave owing any debt which could be easily repaid.
After an hour of the Easter mass, Flynn retreated to the rear of the plaza and sat down. His knife wound had healed, but the long months of hunger and living rough still took their toll. He could stand for a reasonable length of time, but he found he tired easily.
As soon as the mass was over, he would make his way home to the chapel and take a long afternoon nap. All Saints had an evening Easter mass scheduled, after which he intended to head out and enjoy the late festivities and fireworks.
When the tiny figure of the Pope finally moved back inside Saint Peter’s, he was followed by the long procession of red-and-white-clad clergy. The mass was over, and a restlessness quickly rose through the crowd.
Flynn took that as his cue to leave.
ChapterTwenty-Six
The walls of the café began to sway in her vision. Augusta was certain it wasn’t her. But after six glasses of strong red wine, she couldn’t swear to that being the truth.
Across the table from her, Serafina’s brows furrowed. “Are you alright, Augusta? I think perhaps it is time we went home.”
She gave a half-nod in response, then thought the better of it. It wasn’t the room which was unsteady. “Yes, I think that might be a wise idea. As soon as we return to the palace, I shall head up to my room and go to bed. But first, I am going to finish my wine.”
Serafina moved the glass out of Augusta’s reach. “You forget. We are expected at supper this evening. If you arrive in your current state, then both of our mothers are going to be angry. Perhaps a cup of strong coffee might help.”
Augusta huffed in frustration. She had planned to finish her wine, but her dizzy head made its protests loud and clear.
