Juan genuinely loves his little brother. Goffre is fun, sweet, nice. He looks up to Juan with eyes filled with admiration and affection. To the youngest Borgia, Juan is worth something. He's a fount of knowledge and the epitome of all things fantastic.
Those are high expectations and Juan would rather throw himself in the Tiber than disappoint Goffre. Being the older brother makes him the automatic protector of the younger. That makes him feel good, like a hero in one of the old fables Lucrezia's always reading.
He wonders if Cesare ever felt like that towards him.
"Like a masterless dog." Those words, coupled with a forlorn look, seal the deal. The Pope's handsome son not only wants the servant who can kill without blinking, he wants to take in the lost puppy. A dog is a man's best friend, or so the saying goes. Cesare Borgia needs someone to trust and Micheletto is willing to be that person.
Some days it's just too easy.
Cesare makes himself not hate Giovanni Sforza. Sure, the man's married his baby sister, but he doesn't look thrilled at the prospect of marital bliss with a fourteen year old and she spends her wedding night alone. It's a marriage of convenience, and as long as he doesn't hurt the little blond angel, Cesare will forgive him the sin of marrying Lucrezia.
Then she visits and the sad look in her eyes reminds him of promises of hearts and dinner knives.
"The source of this disquiet." His hands run up her leg, tickling her thigh and his fingers…dear God! Guilia lies back in bed and her eyes go wide, her mouth opens to release a moan.
Then the Pope's tongue flicks against her stomach and she can't stay still any longer. His hair brushes against her skin and he crawls up her body, hands pawing her breasts and teeth nibbling her neck. She pulls him up until they meet and he enters her slowly, to draw out the pleasure.
She makes a mental note to ask for future geography lessons.
Dr. Burchard likes books. Books don't pester him to swear loyalty to their pages, then leave him to face the competing parchment who want to kill him with papercuts. Books are safe. Books are all he needs.
He wishes other people appreciated books more. If Juan Borgia read a book, the world might be a safer place. If the Holy Father read, the world might be more aligned with God's will. If Cesare Borgia read, the world might…actually, that one's clever enough. He doesn't need to read any more.
But if all these people picked up a book and read it, they might leave Dr. Burchard alone. And that would fine and dandy with him.