Date: Mon, 23 Jun 2014 08:21:52 -0400
From: John skehan <jaskejr@hotmail.com>
Subject: Florenc Love- part 4

Florence Love -part 3 JA Skehan

This is a work of gay fiction containing scenes of sex between consenting
males. If this offends you stop reading now! If you are under age stop
reading now! If it is illegal to read this in the country where you live,
stop reading now and move! This work is under copyright to the author and
can not be used or reprinted without the author¡¯s written consent.

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Florence love- part 4- An heir

1790 -Florence

In light of the dispute with the archbishop the council urged Ferdinand to
consider taking a wife and securing the dynasty by production of an heir,
something I could not give him. He surprised them, and me, by announcing
that he had sent a personal envoy to the Duke of Modena to ascertain if a
marriage to the duke¡¯s younger daughter was possible. At first I was
hurt but later that night he explained his motive. Yes, he needed a heir to
reduce the chance that any faction in the city would attempt to overthrow
him. Modena would be a strong ally and defender of his son¡¯s
rights. He also confided that the young lady in question would not
interfere with our relationship. He had many reports that her main
interests were increasing her wardrobe and her jewel collection. As the
younger daughter she would view her elevation to Grand Duchess as a high
honor and not bother her husband unduly. Then Ferdinand pressed another
jeweled silver ring into my hand as a sign of his love.

The news of his intention to marry spread through the city, as he
expected. The case brought by the archbishop disappeared. The negotiations
were conducted smoothly and the wedding date set. My own position was
further elevated when it was announced that I would be the second
chamberlain of the household. I was moved into a set of rooms adjoining
those of the Grand Duke. There was a secret door connecting them to allow
me to perform my ¡°duties¡± .

As the day of his wedding fast approached, Ferdinand took to visiting my
sleeping chamber three and sometimes four times a day. He expected me to
share his bed each night. He did not appoint another body servant, letting
the grooming tasks fall to his footman. I was assigned a young boy to
maintain my own chambers as well as a personal body guard.

The wedding celebrations occupied two days. The bride arrived with a
retinue of her own servants and ladies -in-waiting. She was given a wing of
the palace to accommodate such a large number of people. Finally, on the
wedding night the couple were escorted to an elaborately decorated room to
consummate their union under the watchful eye of a small group of noble
matrons. The new Grand Duchess was indeed fertile, producing a male heir
within a year. This required only a few visits from her husband. Within
four years of the marriage she had produced 2 sons and a daughter for her
husband.

I adored the children because they were produced from the seed of
Ferdinand, my lover. As was the custom, their mother left the upbringing of
her children to wet nurses and governesses. When they were of age to begin
an education, the Grand Duchess asked if I would supervise the education of
the two boys. I consulted with scholars at the university to find suitable
tutors. I provided the household with a set of male tutors, as was the
custom, for the boys. They were identical images of their father.

By 1795 the revolution in France had spawned discontent in the rest of
Europe. The great powers seeking to protect their own exalted positions had
allied themselves against the upstart regime. The regime had dared to
execute the monarch, many nobles, and many high clergy. As in the past,
religion began to play a key role in the struggle. The revolutionaries has
replaced the catholic religion with one of their own invention. The ideas
of the revolution had spread across the border into Italy, causing
discontent among the people and fear among the ruling classes.

The French army had been placed in the hands of a young Corsican officer,
Bonaparte. He had quick victories over the squabbling armies of the
allies. His armies moved quickly into Italy. One by one the small,
independent states fell. Ferdinand, seeing their advance, made hurried
preparations for the defense of the grand duchy. He also saw that his
family must be protected and sent them to the safety of his relations in
Hapsburg domains. I supervised the preparations for their departure. The
household servants, officials of the state, important state documents and
treasures were loaded onto carts and barges to be sent away for safe
keeping. The last to leave were the immediate family of the Grand Duke. It
was a sad farewell for me also. I had grown very fond of the family, even
of the Grand Duchess. She had accepted my position in the household and
heart of her husband. Over the years we had become friends. I chose to stay
with Ferdinand as he prepared to defend his city-state.

____________________________________________________________

Ok folks, here we begin to bump into the real events of a history too well
known for fiction. There will be one or maybe 2 more parts that will carry
the story to an end.