In all of Arianna's life, she had only owned three dresses as fine as the one she was wearing. The first and second being for the boy's coming of age parties, and the last was for an endorsement party for the bank at which Giovanni had worked at.

All three dresses were of average material, average coloring, and ones that Arianna had out grown.

This dress was the velvet material that some French or English dresses were made of, while having the design and quality of an Italian dress. Arianna was simply fascinated by the way the dress wrapped around her curves, yet left the girlish modesty she had, stay.

Her hair was simple; a romantic up-do that left tendril like hair frame her face and a wisp of her fringe was being pinned back with a simple, black clip.

When Arianna and Cherise finally left for the party, Arianna was nervously fiddling with her small purse that Cherise had let her borrow. She was having second thoughts at that very moment about going, something in her felt apprehensive. Her stomach was going tumbles and back flips; she was visibly paling.

"Are you alright?" Cherise questioned, her brow furrowed with worry, "You've paled considerably since we left." Arianna only looked down at the dirt road, kicking up dust and small pebbles as she began to drag her feet, "please talk to me Arianna, let me be a friend." Cherise's voice was laced with concern and worry, which made Arianna's stomach flip once more.

"I'm just a bit apprehensive about going is all," Arianna breathed a heavy sigh before wringing her hands together in a tight knot, "I've only been to a few parties in my time, and never one for a suitor."

Cherise clasped her hand over Arianna's shoulder, squeezing it ever so lightly before chuckling girlishly, "Arianna, please don't worry I will stay with you throughout the party; you are my guest and we are his."

Arianna supposed it was supposed to make her feel better, but it made her feel as if a knife had twisted into her abdomen. She grinned, although it was rather painful to, Cherise smiled back and told Arianna to straighten her back and look forward.

And they continued to walk down the cold street.

When they arrived at the house, it was already bustling with life, even if the sun had gone down behind the villas and residential homes. The hue of pinks and orange littered the sky and the clouds started to recede beyond the blue that patiently waited on the outer skirts of the brighter colors.

When Arianna and Cherise stepped up the house, after taking in all it's splendor with its almost English architecture and Italian design.

For a split second, Arianna felt like a living princess, this feeling continued throughout her stay, but parted when she entered the house.

Literally packed to the brim with all of Venice's eligible heiresses and woman from all kinds of backgrounds. In her head, Arianna had gone over this kind of situation a million times; one where everyone would stop to look at her, just like in the tales Maria used to tell her and Claudia before sending them off to sleep. However, this didn't happen; in fact, it was the opposite, she was completely ignored.

Arianna would be lying if she told Cherise it didn't damage her self-esteem any.

The gentlemen gathered around the platter that held the goblets of wine, the red liquid slipping down their throats with the aftertaste of insidious metaphors.

The women flocked around, complimenting the dresses of some, and disregarding others all together. Cherise whispered to Arianna about the guest of honor not yet having descended the stairs, in all his charming glory, which is why it was so deathly quiet.

Arianna made her way over to the drinks, taking one of the smaller goblets that was on the rims of the platter. She could feel eyes on her, and when she turned many of the woman had stopped with almost pure disgust etched onto their features.

"Brave one aren't you," it wasn't a question, more of a statement that made Arianna cringe in sudden regret. It seems as if she forgot her manners at the door, "not that I'm saying it's a bad thing, necessarily." It was a man speaking with her, one with sandy hair and dark eyes. He looked familiar, but Arianna couldn't place her finger on where she had seen him. His accent ultimately made her think of Robert, where he was English.

"You're English?"

"An astute observation," Arianna wasn't sure if his tone was mocking or one of thankfulness, perhaps it was a mixture of both, "most women here don't have an ear for accents; however, you are not most women, nor are you from here."

The observation made Arianna feel suddenly uneasy as she shifted her weight to her right foot, making her look more childish, even smaller than she was. She fingered the goblet's stem, and took a sip before licking her lips, tasting the bitterness on her lips.

"I'm visiting a relative; I'm from Florence originally. May I ask where you are from sir?"

"A relative?" A low hum filtered low in his throat before smiling, "how are you liking it so far?"

He avoided my question...

"Venice is a beautiful city. There are so many people from different places, even the architecture is amazing." Arianna smiled simply, raising the goblet to her mouth once again and took a sip.

"Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. What is your name?"

His eyes shifted down to her dress, making her rather conscious about how the dress fitted her tightly.

Truth or lie?

She chose truth.

"Arianna Auditore and yourself?"

His mouth twitched upwards even more so before bowing lowly, almost submissively, "Henry Pattison madam; it would be a privilege for my name to part your lips."

Her face felt flush as the words left his mouth, taking another unconscious sip of the bitter wine before laughing lightly, "It's a pleasure to meet you Henry."

He place a hand over his heart, and in jest spoke: "I believe my heart skipped a beat."

Arianna grew slightly comfortable, but unable to shake the uneasiness that the man caused her. When suddenly, there was a loud, booming voice that reached her ears.

"Welcome, ladies and gentlemen, what do you think of my humble abode?"

There were light claps of appreciation and a couple drunken cheers from the men that were next to herself. She cringed in embarrassment.

She couldn't see the suitor who called all these women into this house, but his voice was fluxed with deep, heavy tones, and a crisp seriousness to it; however, the tone was all in jest.

It was silent for a few moments before there was heavy footsteps on the wooden steps, "please, raise your glasses in good faith," his voice was steadily getting louder until the sea of people in front of her parted, "the drinks are in the back, where you can see my brother is already drinking down the supply."

Some laughter came from the group, but Arianna attentively took a sip of her wine before sifting her eyes upwards and catching the host coming towards her through the crowd.

Nervously, she stepped to the side causing her back to meet Henry's chest; his hands stapled to her shoulders and pulled her back, even farther.

The host looked elegant, his soft features was escalated by the large smile he held on his lips. His clothes were rich in color, a royal blue and a cream color. His hair reached his shoulders in waves, but was slicked back by an oiling agent. He had to be taller than Henry, at least by two heads and was large in stature all together.

When Arianna blinked, he was two steps closer. Another blink, four steps. And her third and last blink he was just in front of her, the large smile never receding back from his features. Reaching out, past Arianna, he clasped a goblet in his hand and as the wine sloshed around, he raised it above his head.

"May this evening be fine; the wine and women better!"

Laughter.

Arianna however, did not laugh and instead pushed herself away from Henry and made her way back to Cherise, who looked to be in conversation with several other younger girls.

Immediately, Arianna felt out-of-place. Turning on her heel, holding her goblet close to her body, she weaved through the crowd and people.

Seeing a lone balcony that over looked the streets made her instantly feel better, since it reminded her so much of Florence and the view she had at the villa.

Stepping out on the balcony, the cool air hit her like water. Goosebumps instantly rose on her skin as she made her way over to railing and pressed her upper body against it, and looked down at the streets.

The suddenness of her movements caused her wine to sloshed around, dripping a few morsels of the bitter drink on the ground. She paid no mind to it, and lifted the goblet to her lips and pour the excess wine down her throat.

It wasn't sudden, and it made her body feel warmer than before.

The cool breeze rolled off the sea, and the air smelt of salt water; it was something that made her relax.

"Ah, my apologies I didn't realize anyone else was out here." The voice was familiar, and an almost soothing hue of what Arianna had listened to. Arianna didn't turn around to look who it was, because she necessarily did not want to find out.

"It's alright," Arianna started, licking her dry lips before tipping her goblet back against her mouth making the last few drops slip onto her tongue, "you do not have to apologize."

They took steps towards her, only stopping when they reached the railing as well, and leaned against it to look at her, "you've been out here for more than half the party, may I ask why?"

Arianna chuckled, thumbing her empty goblet, "I'm not exactly good at conversation, and I'm someone's guest to a party she was originally invited to."

"So you think yourself no right to be here?"

Opening her mouth, Arianna was about to respond with a 'yes' but closed her parted lips.

"I'll take that as a yes, but why? You are beautiful and single, no? This party is originally for all eligible women in Venice."

Arianna turned her head, ready to retort but again, immediately sealed her lips when she saw she was speaking to the host. She couldn't insult him in his house; she was not that rude.

"Surprised I am speaking to you? You've piqued both mine and my cousin's interest."

"Your cousin?" Arianna hesitated to ask after a moment.

"Ah Henry, the blighted fool, did not tell you his relation to me? How queer."

There was an awkward, tense atmosphere before Arianna heaved her legs on the railing and stepped up to lean more directly over the railing.

"Careful, you are no bird; you will fall."

Arianna didn't respond with a 'I'll catch myself, always have' but instead heavily sighed before shivering from a chill breeze that blew in from the North.

"Why aren't you inside asking after a dance with one of the eligible women inside?"

"Simple."

"What? What is your answer then?" Arianna looked at him, narrowed eyes before stepping down from the railing.

"For you are out here, I wish to know you."

Her breath caught in her throat before she choked, and began a harmonious laugh.

"As if I hadn't heard that one before, Signore."

"Ah, but Signora, I believe you to be quite prettier and eye-catching than those inside my home."

When the words reached her ears, her cheeks managed a bright, almost eerie pink.

"You're a smooth talker, no wonder the women swoon around you."

"They swoon?"

"Oh yes, with hearts in their eyes and lust in their throats."

His joyous laughter burst from his lungs, catching Arianna more than slightly off guard. Her shoulders jolted backwards before her lips twitched upwards, a small smile creeping onto her face.

"You speak so ill of the women here."

"And yet you laugh?"

His laughter died down as the onlookers from inside started to become curious and look towards the two.

"Because I know it to be true, but you hold a certain prejudice against them. Why is that?" Arianna stepped down from the railing and not thinking about what she was about to say next.

"I hold no prejudice, I only speak the truth."

"The universal truth then?"

"No, my truth."

It was silent for more than a few minutes, and it held a certain awkwardness to it. Arianna shifted her weight to her right foot before piercing her lips together. Adam took a step forward, holding his hand outwards and taking a stray piece of Arianna's hair to twirl around his finger. His smile was delicate as he managed to teasingly tug on that same piece of hair as well.

Arianna's cheeks grew hot from the sudden touches and bit her bottom lip until his face had grown near her own.

"I like you; perfectly smitten in fact. Not a lot of women have the intelligence and diligence to uphold a conversation such as this one, or the sarcasm."

Swallowing the glob of spit that accumulated in her throat, she promptly shook her head slightly, adding a hint of a laugh, "I would say I'm not most women, but that would be almost to cliché."

"Almost? I've heard that from too many women to count on both my hands and feet." With his free hand, he stroked her cheek with his thumb before pulling back; taking two steps backwards, her hair leaving his hand and his warmth leaving her as well. However, Arianna couldn't shake the uncomfortable feeling from her skin. His hands set her on fire, and not in a good way.

Adam watched Arianna as she scurried off and back into the house, without looking back. A smile etched onto his mouth before he caught sight of his cousin, who was watching him with curious eyes, and gave him a wave over.

"What is it?" Henry questioned, sipping on his wine as he looked longingly at the party.

"Her last name is Auditore; you know what that means, right?"

Henry let a smirk crawl across his face and coil before drinking the rest of the wine in one gulp, "I'll contact him."

"The young women were talking about you at the party." Cherise said while they walking hip to hip down the crowded street, loosening her hair from the high bun she had put it in, "they were quite envious of you."

"Envious?" Arianna spat out, her face holding a deep seeded blush, "he was uncouth; touching me as he pleased."

"Yet you didn't tell him to stop." Cherise teased in a sing-song kind of voice before toning it down as people gave her almost nasty looks.

"Who was I to stop him?" Arianna began, wrapping her shawl around her shoulders as they continued to walk, "he was the host, and it was a courting party."

Cherise all but shrugged her shoulders, hooking her hands together.

"You could have told him you were not interested in his advances."

"Yet I did not, because I am not rude and uncouth like he."

The walk back to the house was quiet, and somewhat awkward. Yet, Arianna took some privilege with this as she breathed in the crisp, salted air and the breeze rolling in from the North. Everything was still besides the occasional drunken slur or yell. Arianna felt almost at peace.

Two Months later...

Arianna had fallen into a schedule, a routine that she neither minded or consciously started. Every morning, just after breakfast she would go to the market and look for the girl selling jewelry. Ultimately, she'd be out strolling until dusk and return back to the housing district and play with the boys. Sunday dinner was to be served at seven o'clock, after everyone returned from church. Arianna almost never went to church, but instead watched over the boys.

Jacopo had been a sweetheart, and had started to teach Arianna some French. Alphonse sat, begrudgingly with his arms crossed over his chest in an angry fashion, and corrected her she pronounced something even a bit wrong.

"Mon nom est Arianna, heureux de vous rencontrer." Jacopo started slow at first, pronouncing each syllable and keeping a distinct tempo at which he spoke.

"Mon nom est Arianna, hareux de wous rencoutrer."

"Heureux, de vous rencontrer." Jacopo said slower than before, making Alphonse chuckle almost maliciously.

"Mon nom est Arianna, heureux de vous rencontrer. (My name is Arianna, pleased to meet you.)"

"Parfait! (Perfect!)"

"Suis-je aller mieux? (Am I getting better?)"

"Oui. (Yes.)"

Arianna's face lit up with brilliance as she received praise from the smaller boy. His face flushed red before kicking his brother underneath the table when he let out a loud snort.

"Jésus, connard qui font mal! (Jesus, you asshole that hurt!)"

"What did he just say?"

"Nothing!" Jacopo started almost too quickly as he narrowed his eyes at his brother, "he's using bad words, ones that Mama told us never to use."

"What does she usually do when he says those bad words?"

"Washes my mouth out with soap." Alphonse stated, slumping in his chair, pouting with his lower lip. Arianna wanted to believe the innocent look of the boy, but shook her head and thought about all the evil things he's done to her.

"Should we do that?" Arianna glanced over at Jacopo, who was starting to shake his head vigorously, while Alphonse looked at her as though she was the Devil incarnate, "oh, don't look at me like that. I would just be following what your mother does."

Alphonse narrowed his eyes at her and kicked the table before getting up from his spot, "and that's why I despise her. She never punishes Jacopo, only me; how fair is that when it's him that's being naughty half the time and not me!"

Storming up the stairs, it was only a few minutes before Arianna heard a door slam from the upper floor.

"Well..."

"Alphonse doesn't mean the things he says half the time. Please don't take it to heart..."

"Ah, yes..."

It was an awkward silence before Arianna laid her handkerchief on the table and got up from the table, the chair squeaking across the floor, "I'll go check on him."

Jacopo nodded his head before looking down towards his mathematics journal.

Arianna rounded towards the stairs, lifted up her skirting before heading upstairs to knock on Alphonse's door.

There was no response.

"Alphonse?" Arianna spoke quietly, as if everyone was sleeping, and knocked again, "Alphonse? May I come in?"

Still no response, but the door did open and his little red-head poked through the opening.

"What? You want to talk about my feelings? Well I don't so you can go away and play favorites with Jacopo."

"I have no favorites," Arianna huffed suddenly upset by his words, "now, let me in. We need to talk." Alphonse rolled his eyes before Arianna stepped forward and smacked him over the head, narrowing her eyes at him with a disgruntled look painted on her features, "have some respect for your elders Alphonse."

Against his better judgment, he let her wander into his pint-sized room with two single beds shoved up against the wall two stand-alone dressers, a large window, and two desks on opposite sides of the room. Pictures of trees, birds, and flowers were hanging above one bed and on the other were pictures of ships, and even a world map with different colored pins that were stuck into such countries like EUROPE, RUSSIA, and GREECE.

"That's my brother's side," Alphonse clarified when Arianna took a sudden interest in the pictures of the ships, "he wants to be a sailor."

This surprised Arianna to say the least.

"So you prefer things like nature?"

"Yes," his face brightened up instantly, "I want to travel the world and learn about different agriculture."

Pacing over to his desk, or what was his desk since Arianna assumed the entire thing, and pulled out a large, bonded book with dog-eared pages. The title was written in elegant script, Gods Lustrous Nature. Alphonse handed the book to Arianna and sat down on the edge of his bed, patting the spot next to him.

"I'll show you my favorite picture."

The pictures in the book were all illustrated by hand, mostly by black ink. Alphonse flipped to a page with detailed mountains, overlooking a valley of snow and a rustic town below.

"This is where I want to visit someday," he started, looking almost apprehensive talking about it, "it's in upper Europe." Arianna watched as Alphonse skimmed his fingers over the lettering and the pictures; he looked almost at peace. And for this, Arianna was surprisingly happy.

"So you wish to visit Europe one day?" Arianna questioned, flipping through the book with light interest, and even stopped a few times to finger the dog-eared corners before smiling ever so slightly.

"Europe, Russia, and most of all Austria."

Arianna nodded her head meekly before closing the book and folding her hands silently on her lap. Alphonse scurried off to his desk and pulled out a leather-bound booklet before flipping to the mid section and handing it to her.

"You're the first one I showed this too."

Arianna's fingers dipped down and traced the dry ink that stained the paper. She smiled lightly, tracing the entire drawing that Alphonse showed her.
It was a still life of a beautiful willowed tree that was decorated with flowers and birds.

"Il est très beau. (It's very beautiful.)"

"Merci. (Thank you.)" Alphonse hurriedly took the booklet back before flipping through it with mild interest, "I drew it the day you arrived actually."

Arianna smiled once again, playing with her fingers and intwining them with the spine of the nature book, "it's very beautiful; you have a great talent."

"Thank you."

Arianna and Alphonse talked for what seemed like hours before heading back downstairs once again. It was drawing close to midday now and people were finally starting to trickle back from church. Cherise was the last to return, but she did so with a great smile etched on her mouth.

"I was invited to another party today, by Henry and Adam no less."

"Congratulations." Arianna offered without meeting Cherise's eyes.

"And, an invitation has been formerly expressed to you as well," Cherise sang with vibrato, "Henry seems to have taken an interest in you, as well as Adam; you lucky girl! Teach me your secrets!"
To say that Arianna was surprised would be an understatement.

Another walk through the market place on a hot fall evening was not the thing that Arianna had in mind, in fact it was the opposite. This time however, Arianna was given the rare opportunity for a gentleman to escort her.

Alphonse, dressed in his Sunday best, was walking along Arianna as she walked through the market. The conversation was short and sparse, but it was something that Arianna welcomed. Usually, Arianna had always escorted herself to and from the market place, always holding a smile, and always holding light conversation with the merchants that attempted to swindle her out of her money.

Alphonse described his company as "protection" when Arianna asked why he suddenly offered to escort her.

However, today might as well have been her lucky day.

For today, dressed in plain colors and her brown, ringlet-ed hair tied with a red ribbon, stood a little girl selling jewelry.

Author's Note: THE HELLISH LONG WAIT IS OVER. I finally recovered this 4,000+ document from my data banks at my school! :D Sorry for the almost, what eight month wait? I'm horrible! Please enjoy and I'm on Spring Break which means ALL THE UPDATES for every story.