The Lion and the Rose by Kate Quinn (English) Paperback Book

Description: The Lion and the Rose by Kate Quinn A follow-up to The Serpent and the Pearl, national bestselling author Kate Quinns brilliant, unputdownable novel of Renaissance Italy. The Lion and the Rose follows the fortunes of the Popes beautiful concubine, Giulia Farnese as she, accompanied by two unlikely companions, navigates the perilous world of Romes most notorious, and ruthless, family- the Borgias.From the New York Times bestselling author of The Alice Network and The Briar Club comes the continuing saga of the ruthless Borgia family that holds all of Rome in its grasp, and the three outsiders thrust into their twisted web of blood and deceit...As the cherished concubine of the Borgia Pope Alexander VI, Giulia Farnese has Rome at her feet. But after narrowly escaping a sinister captor, she realizes that the danger she faces is far from over-and now, it threatens from within. The Holy City of Rome is still under Alexanders thrall, but enemies of the Borgias are starting to circle. In need of trusted allies, Giulia turns to her sharp-tongued bodyguard, Leonello, and her fiery cook and confidante, Carmelina.Caught in the deadly world of the Renaissances most notorious family, Giulia, Leonello, and Carmelina must decide if they will flee the dangerous dream of power. But as the shadows of murder and corruption rise through the Vatican, they must learn who to trust when every face wears a mask... FORMAT Paperback LANGUAGE English CONDITION Brand New Author Biography Kate Quinn is a native of Southern California. She attended Boston University, where she earned a Bachelors and Masters degree in Classical Voice. A lifelong history buff, she has written four novels in the Empress of Rome Saga and two Novels of the Borgias, before moving to the 20th century with the The Alice Network. All her books have been translated into multiple languages. Review Praise for Kate Quinn and her novels: "A riveting plunge into an ancient world."—C. W. Gortner "No other author brings history alive like Quinn."—Michelle Moran "Equal parts intrigue and drama, action and good old-fashioned storytelling."—John Shors "A masterful storyteller."—Margaret George Review Quote Praise for Kate Quinn and her novels: "A riveting plunge into an ancient world."-C. W. Gortner "No other author brings history alive like Quinn."-Michelle Moran "Equal parts intrigue and drama, action and good old-fashioned storytelling."-John Shors "A masterful storyteller."-Margaret George Excerpt from Book THE LION AND THE ROSE Chapter One You are as wise as you are perfect. --Rodrigo Borgia to Giulia Farnese GIULIA Youd think that the Holy Father would have an all-seeing gaze, wouldnt you? Being Gods Vicar here on earth, surely he would be granted divine sight into the hearts and souls of men as soon as that silly papal hat everyone insisted on calling a tiara was lowered onto his brow. The truth is, most popes dont have divine insight into much of anything. If they did, theyd get on with the business of making saints and saving souls rather than pronouncing velvet gowns impious or persecuting the poor Jews. Blasphemy it may be, but most popes have no more insight into the minds of humanity than does any carter or candlestick maker walking the streets of Rome in wooden clogs. And my Pope was no exception. He was the cleverest man I knew in some ways--those dark eyes of his had only to pass benignly over his bowing cardinals to know exactly which ones were scheming against him, and certainly that despicable French King had learned not to cross wits or swords with Rodrigo Borgia over the past year and a half since Id been ransomed. But when it came to his family, His Holiness Pope Alexander VI was as dense as a plank. At least at the moment he was a very happy plank. "Mi familia," he said thickly, and began to raise his goblet but put it down again to dash a heavy hand at the water standing in his eyes. "My children all together again. Cesare, Lucrezia, Joffre--Juan--" The loathsome young Duke of Gandia preened, sitting at his fathers right where Rodrigo could easily reach out to touch his favorite sons shoulder. Juan Borgia, twenty years old now and returned from his lands in Spain. Although he was a duke, a husband, even a father (Holy Virgin, fetch me a basin!)--that auburn-haired young lout looked no different to me, lolling in his chair fiddling with his dagger hilt, already halfway through his cup of wine and giving me the occasional leer over the rim. Id heaved a great sigh that afternoon, watching him strike a pose before the cheering crowd as he disembarked from his Spanish ship. My lovers second son had been wearing silly stockings embroidered in rays and crowns, and Id realized just how much Id been hoping never to see Juan or his ridiculous clothes or his leer again. As soon as I heard Rodrigo had summoned Juan from Spain to take command of the papal forces against the French, I prayed so devoutly for a shipwreck. Youd think someone nicknamed the Bride of Christ could get the occasional prayer answered, wouldnt you? But if I wasnt exactly thrilled to see Juan or his silly stockings again, my Pope was--he had rushed from his elaborate sedan chair across the docks to embrace his son in a great sweep of embroidered papal robes, kissing both his cheeks and uttering a great many ecstatic things in Catalan which he saved for moments of high emotion. Nobody else had missed Juan when he departed Rome for Barcelona to take possession of the Spanish duchy and the Spanish bride my Pope had inveigled for his favorite son--but my Pope certainly had. And nothing would do but to gather the whole family together for an intimate evening cena in the Holy Fathers private apartments at the Vatican. And what apartments! Just a modest little nest of rooms in the Vatican where the Holy Father could remove his jeweled cope (along with the weight of all Christendom) and relax at the end of the evening like any ordinary man. But Rodrigo Borgia would have nothing ordinary. He had declared he would have the papal apartments new-made, stamped and decorated with a flair that said nothing but Borgia. It had taken two years, but that little painter Maestro Pinturicchio had finally finished the frescoes that had been designed especially for the Holy Fathers personal rooms, and the resulting splendor left all Rome gasping. Our small cena tonight had been set in the Sala dei Santi: the long table draped with sumptuous brocades and set with solid silver dishes and fragile Murano glass; the ceiling arched overhead painted in double crowns and the Borgia bull; the frescoes framed with geometric Moorish patterns in a blaze of colors, imported straight from Spain. Pinturicchio had used us all as models for his various scenes--Lucrezia dimpled and tossed her blond head under the beseeching figure of herself on the wall as Santa Caterina; inscrutable Cesare lounged under his own image as inscrutable Emperor Maximilian in a massive throne; fourteen-year-old Joffre pranced in the painted crowd as one of the background figures; and Juan cut a ridiculous figure on the wall in a silly Turkish mantle as a turbaned heathen. I was a Madonna in one of the other chambers, with my Laura on my lap for the Christ child. "Surely its blasphemous to have a girl sit as model for our Lord!" Maestro Pinturicchio had protested. "Any more blasphemous than to have a harlot sit for the Madonna?" Id countered, the Holy Virgins blue veil swinging about my face like a joke. Id never asked to be a notorious woman; Id been raised for a husband and children like any other girl of noble birth, but here I was. Id made my own choices, and I made no bones either about what it made me--but Id been determined to have my Laura in the frescoes along with all the other Borgia children. Maestro Pinturicchio had taken one look at the set of my chin and begun sketching. A nice little man, ugly as the day was long, but skilled. His wife was the most notorious harpy in Rome, and I gave him a rose-quartz and crystal bracelet to give her in the hopes it would sweeten her temper. It hadnt, but he thanked me anyway, and he made Laura look very pretty indeed in our Madonna-and-Child fresco. Though the halo certainly didnt suit her; she was a full three years old now and a proper little imp! Rodrigo was still looking about the table with misty eyes, and I ceased my musing. "Its not just Our own children here tonight," he continued, beaming like any proud father despite the regal papal We. "Our new children as well. Sancha--" Young Joffres Neapolitan wife, Sancha of Aragon, was making doe eyes at Cesare through the candlelight, but she dropped her lashes demurely at her father-in-law. "--and of course Lucrezias Giovanni Sforza is here in our thoughts, if not the flesh. A pity he could not join Us--" Lucrezia giggled behind her hand, not looking very put out about that. My Pope had called her back from her husbands home in Pesaro last winter for a long visit, declaring he could not do without his dear daughter any longer, and certainly Id been delighted to see Lucrezia again, both of us chattering and gossiping in the Palazzo Santa Maria just like the old days when shed been a little girl dreaming of marriage--but she had certainly not seemed inclined to go back to her new home now that she was married. I suppose Pesaros provincial pleasures had worn rather thin after two years. Lord Sforza had stamped off home this spring, muttering of duties that could not be put off, and hed stamped off alone. "And a pity your beautiful Maria Enriques could not travel with you from Spain," Rodrigo continued, giving Juans arm another pat. "We would have liked to see Our new daughter." "She begged to come, but shes breeding again." Juan shrugged, rotating the silver stem of his wine goblet between restless fingers. "Im happy enough to leave her behind. The cow is always weeping and praying." "Now, now," Rodrigo chuckled. "Shell be mother to another Borgia prince soon!" He gave an indulgent shake of his head and raised his goblet. "No matter. All of us are together again. As it should be." His children raised their goblets too, but I couldnt help noticing that not everybody looked entirely pleased to see la familia Borgia reunited. Joffre was sulking, squashed in beside Juan and ignored by Sancha, and as for Cesare . . . "La familia," said the Holy Father. "La familia," everyone echoed, and the look Cesare sent his brother across the table could have kindled the napkins. "So," I said brightly as a stream of papal servants entered with massive silver dishes, "how was the crossing from Spain? Did the waves stay smooth for the Duke of Gandia?" "Smooth enough," Juan said, eyes flickering to my breasts. "I suppose your Duchess will be very much distressed to have you gone." Myself, Id have thrown a great party in celebration. Juan shrugged again, clearly not interested in his wife. His eyes went to Cesare as the first dishes were laid before us on the cena table. "So, brother. Hostage to the French, were you? I hear you ran away." "Escaped," said Cesare. He was a dark shadow among the candles--in his plain black velvets he seemed to eat the light and refuse to give it back again. "The Holy Father and I arranged it all. I escaped as a groom shortly after we set out from Rome." "Ran," Juan grinned. "He was ever so brave," Sancha cooed in her milky-sweet voice. She and Joffre had been recalled from their official seat in Naples to Rome that May, and it hadnt taken me more than a week to start despising that velvety purr of hers. Id met Sancha only once, at her wedding to little Joffre when he was twelve and Sancha four years older, and that occasion had been quite enough to make me think we werent destined to be the best of friends. And when Sancha took an idle look at Leonello at her welcoming banquet and told me, "Your dwarf is a fine specimen; have you ever considered breeding him? I have the most cunning little juggling woman--" Well, after that Id started calling her the Tart of Aragon, and I knew Id happily watch her choke to death on a fish bone. "Try the carp, Sancha," I suggested, but she Details ISBN0425268764 Author Kate Quinn Short Title LION & THE ROSE Language English ISBN-10 0425268764 ISBN-13 9780425268766 Media Book Format Paperback DEWEY 813.6 Pages 464 Year 2014 Imprint Berkley Publishing Corporation,U.S. Place of Publication New York Country of Publication United States Series A Novel of the Borgias Series Number 2 Publication Date 2014-01-07 US Release Date 2014-01-07 UK Release Date 2014-01-07 Publisher Penguin Putnam Inc Audience General NZ Release Date 2014-02-10 AU Release Date 2014-02-10 We've got this At The Nile, if you're looking for it, we've got it. 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