REFUSING to accept what was happening, Marty made a lunge for the cup that Jennifer was drinking and tried to extract it from her hand.
“Jennifer.” he said, “That’s enough. No more for you.”
The prince intervene. “Leave her alone.” he said.
Marty looked at the prince in shock. “Your highness.” he said, “How can you allow this? That’s my girl you’re getting drunk.”
“Wrong!” said Jennifer, “I was your girlfriend. And don’t start giving lectures on temperance here. This is the 15th whatever we’re in. I could have as many drinks I want just to forget you.”
“I’m not going to allow this.” said Marty.
Seeing that Jennifer was pouring out yet another drink, Marty reached for the bottle to yank it from her only to see a rapier from one of the guards in the way.
“Now why don’t you…Count Tannenio.” said the prince.
Marty turned around to see that the count had arrived with his men and said to himself Oh shit!
“I see you have Simonetta sitting with you tonight, eh?” said Tannenio.
Jennifer looked up at the count and in her drunken stupor she said “Biff!
What a pleasant surprise.”
“Biff!” exclaimed Tannenio, “Simonetta, where do you get off…woo!
You’re drunk! I like it.”
“Count Tannenio.” said the prince, “If you try anything to dishonor her…”
“Never mind.” said Jennifer, “Hey Biffy baby, how ‘bout a dance.” She was barely finished with her sentence when she spat out a drunken laugh.
“Biffy baby?” asked Tannenio.
“Simonetta.” said the prince, “Don’t dance with him. He’s evil.”
“Wanna fight over her, eh?” demanded Tannenio, “Let’s do it.”
“We can’t.” said one of the count’s henchmen, “The captain of the guard has our swords.”
“I’d listen to your henchman if I were you, Tannenio.” insisted the prince.
“Don’t worry about me, prince.” said Jennifer, “I’ll dance with him.”
“No you won’t, Jennifer.” said Marty.
Tannenio turned to Marty and pushed him to a table saying “What’s it to you, fool?” Then he grabbed Marty by the top of his sleeve saying “You know, you’re looking for a fight. And now you’re going to get it.”
Then a foil of a rapier came between the two combatants.
“Are you looking for trouble Tannenio?”
Both pairs of eyes turned to see Captain Stricklandio trying to part the two like Moses did with the Red Sea centuries before.
“No trouble.” said Tannenio, “Just a little tit for tat with Dumas here.”
“My count.” said one of his henchmen, “That’s ‘tete a tete’. ‘Just having a little tete a tete with Dumas here’.”
“Alright.” said Tannenio, “Tete a tete. I want you and all the prince’s men to stay out of this.”
“Can’t do that, Tannenio.” said Stricklandio, “I only obey the prince and his orders and under his orders I am here to make sure that there’s no trouble here.”
“Captain Stricklandio.” said the prince, “Escort Count Tannenio and his men off this premises at once.”
“Yes, your royal highness.” said Stricklandio. At once he motioned to some of the guards to escort the count and his henchmen out of the festival.
Turning to the prince, Marty said “That was great, prince. I mean that was
awesome. I wouldn’t mess wit that…”
“Alexander Dumas,” said the prince, “I suggest that you go home. You’re
bothering my future bride.”
“No I’m not.” said Marty, “There’s been a mistake. You can’t marry her. She doesn’t belong to you.”
“Yes I do, Marty.” said Jennifer, “Admit it. You blew it with me!” She picked up her cup and poured out another drink.
“Jennifer.” said Marty, “Give me that! You’ve had enough.” He tried to grab both bottle and cup from here but was held back by the guards.
Seeing Marty held, Jennifer said “That’s it. You guys hold him and I’ll hit him.”
“Simonetta.” said the prince, “I must agree with your harasser. You had enough wine for tonight. Ladies, escort her to her bedroom and prepare her for bed.”
Some women came up to take Jennifer back to the palace.
Turning to Marty, the prince said “As for you, Dumas. You have caused enough disruption for one night. Not only did you introduce some strange music that was bad for the ears of the guests but you have frightened my lady.”
“Your lady?” exclaimed Marty, “Listen. Like I said, she doesn’t belong to you . She belongs to me.”
He felt a tap on the shoulder. It was Marco. “Listen.” he said, “Maybe it’s time for us to go home.”
“Not without Jennifer.” said Marty.
“Dumas.” said Simonetta who was with her husband, “There’s nothing you could do now.” Holding out her hand to Marty, she went onto say “It’s about time to forget about her.”
Looking towards the palace where Jennifer was at this moment being led back in, he said “You’re probably right.”
Marty left with the Vespucci’s knowing now that there were only five days left before Doc returns. Only five days for him to get back with Jennifer for on the Saturday following that Thursday, Jennifer will marry the prince and strand both of them in the past for good.
++++++
When the festivities were over, the servants were cleaning up as the prince went up to Simonetta’s room. There she was fast asleep.
Going to his study, he met up with Botticelli who was at the festival with his models saying “Simonetta really drank a lot this evening.”
“I’ll say.” said Botticelli, “It’s like she’s never tasted wine before.”
“She said that she’s nineteen.” said the prince, “And that she was
forbidden from drinking liquor until she reached the age of twenty-one.”
“Where did she come from?” asked Botticelli, “She looks some much like the Simonetta Vespucci that is wed to Marco. Yet it looks like that she’s from a faraway land that doesn’t exist yet. Are you sure you want to marry her?”
“Yes I do.” said the prince, “The other Simonetta is only my mistress and married to someone else. This one is not. And someone has made her unhappy. If this marriage is to restore that happiness, so be it. Good night, maestro.”
“Good night, my prince.” said Botticelli as he and his models both bowed to him before leaving.
After they left, the prince went up to Simonetta’s room again. There she was in drunken sleep.
He looked at her asking “Where did you come from? I want to know.”
After that, he left.
Sunday, October 24, 1473
9:00 a.m.
Florence, Italy
Jennifer woke up to the worst hangover in her life.
Ooh, my head. she said to herself, My kingdom for an ice bag.
Prudencia came in with a tray with a bottle and a cup on it.
“Prudencia.” asked Jennifer, “Do you have any Tylenol?”
Prudencia gave Jennifer a puzzled look. “What’s a Tylenol, eh?” she asked.
Noticing the bottle, Jennifer asked “What’s that?”
“It’s something for those who suffer from too much drink.” said Prudencia who pour out the contents into the cup. Giving it to Jennifer, she said “Here, drink it.”
Jennifer took a sip. The taste was awful. She spat it out asking “What is
this?”
“Drink it!” insisted Prudencia.
“You mean drink it down?” exclaimed Jennifer.
“Of course.” said Prudencia.
“Oh well, bottoms up!” said Jennifer as she drank it down.
It churned in her stomach so much that she felt more sick that a minute ago.
“Prudencia!” said Jennifer ready to throw up, “Where’s the bathroom?”
“The what?” asked Prudencia.
“I forgot.” said Jennifer, “They don’t exist yet. Okay, I hope I hold my stomach in until I get something on and run out to that outhouse.”
“No need.” said Prudencia, she called to a servant who brought in a huge vase. “You could hurl in there.” she said.
And Jennifer did.
++++++
Marty came out to the balcony for breakfast with Simonetta and Marco.
“I guess it’s over.” he said, “I’ll never have Jennifer back again which means I’m stuck here.”
“You did your best.” said Simonetta, “I wish I could help.”
“You didn’t caused the problem, Simonetta.” said Marty, “I did. I helped a woman escape a violent man and lost the girl I love.”
“It sure will teach you, Marty.” said Simonetta.
“Marty?” he exclaimed, “How did you know I was Marty?”
“Take a guest, creep!” said Simonetta.
Marty took one look at her and realized that it wasn’t Simonetta at all but Jennifer. And sitting next to her was not Marco Jim Jandick.
She turned to him saying “Hey Jim guess what? Marty left me for your wife.”
“He did?” exclaimed Jandick very angerly.
“Yes.” said Jennifer, “Are you going to do something about this?”
Jandick approached Marty demanding “You’ve been sleeping with my wife?”
Marty got to flee only to run into Jim who hauled off and hit him.
Then, he woke up.
Wow! said Marty to himself, What a nightmare!
He got out of bed and got dressed for breakfast.
When he came in, Simonetta and Marco were having breakfast.
“We’re going to Mass at noon.” said Marco, “Care to come.”
Realizing that he only had a prayer to get Jennifer back, he said “Sure.”
++++++
Jennifer’s head began to clear after having a bath. Coming into the banquet hall, she saw the prince having breakfast.
“My love.” he said, “I see you’re getting better after last night.”
“I sure put it away last night.” said Jennifer as they both kissed, “Safety education had nothing on the Renaissance.”
“Safety what?” asked the prince.
“Forget it.” said Jennifer, “What’s for breakfast?”
“Have a seat.” said the prince as he clapped his hands.
She did as the servants brought in trays full of covered food and placed it in front of her. Removing the covers, Jennifer beheld toast, omelet and an empty glass.
There was a pitcher nearby, Jennifer reached for it but the prince said “May I?”
“Sure.” said Jennifer.
The prince obliged. Then he said “At noon, you will accompany me to church for mass.”
“I am?” asked Jennifer. Then, she said “Yes. I think that would be a good idea.”
“Then afterwards, we’ll both go to the dressmaker to fit you in the best wedding gown in the principality.”
“Oh that’s going to be wonderful.” said Jennifer.
“And then we’ll lunch at the best cuisines in all of Italy.” said the prince, “Then, we’ll go about the town because I want to showcase the most beautiful woman that came into my life.”
“Stop this.” said Jennifer, “You’re making me blush.”
They both began to laugh.
“And tomorrow,” said the prince, “I’ll have the Lord Mayor close all the schools and businesses to proclaim it your day for the City and Principality of Florence.”
“Oh Lorenzo.” said Jennifer, “You’re making me the most happiest woman on earth.”
“Yes I am.” said Lorenzo, “Now eat up. You must prepare yourself for the day ahead.”
With her headache nearly gone, Jennifer began to eat her breakfast and contemplate her new future in the 15th century in which a prince was to be her husband.