Slipping out the back of her palace, Lucrezia made her way into a surrounding hovel that housed many of her servants, and one talented woman by the name of Claudia that had been instructing the pampered daughter of privilege in the ways of the occult dark arts.
She rapped on the door to Claudia's home with a bejeweled hand. A beautiful woman with flowing auburn tresses opened the door and beckoned Lucrezia inside.
"Hurry, Lady. You shouldn't be seen."
Lucrezia sniffed and stepped inside. She saw something in a kettle over a fire in Claudia's kitchen. A table and some stools completed the furniture in the room, other than a heavy wooden chest. She couldn't believe that the woman lived in such cramped conditions.
For her part, Claudia expected her lover home any time, and she would prefer that the wanton Lucrezia not lay eyes on the handsome Laurent.
"Did we have a meeting to discuss your lessons, Lady?"
Lucrezia smiled. "I used my ring," she boasted. "Even now, I suspect my unsuspecting victim is on all fours wondering what has happened to him?"
Claudia frowned. "I did warn you not to rush these matters."
Lucrezia rolled her eyes and listened impatiently on the importance of treating the dark arts with a healthy respect. Meanwhile, approaching Claudia home with as much stealth as he could muster, a blond, muscular naked man, a small bag in one hand, leaped onto some barrels and tried to climb high enough to access the window to Claudia's upstairs bedchamber.
Downstairs, the two women looked up from the table in surprise at a clatter and crash from the rooms above.
"Is there someone else here?" Lucrezia asked.
Claudia took the opportunity to draw the noble daughter by the elbow. "I must cut short our discussion," Claudia said. "Besides, I am sure you want to check on the progress of the ring's spell."
Lucrezia permitted the hasty departure because she really did want to get back to the palace and judge how well the ring had worked.
"Send word by a servant when you want to arrange another lesson," Claudia said, unafraid to be direct, even with the noble-born woman.
As soon as she was free, Claudia dashed upstairs and into her room. She found Laurent sprawled on her bed, naked and waiting, propped on her pillows.
"Did you have to make so much noise?" Claudia said, sliding into bed by her handsome man's side. "The Borgia daughter was visiting, uninvited, of course."
Laurent laughed. "I'd liked to have seen her," he said. "I've heard so much about her."
"You stay away from her," Claudia ordered.
Laurent smirked and reached out to tug at the laces of her bodice.
"Did you get it?"
He reached behind a pillow and pulled out a small sack. He tossed it to Claudia, who caught it and heard the jangle of small coins.
"Good work, my daring man."
"Not so daring as to take on any more of your schemes, my love," he said, turning a bit surly with her. "A fox visited the farmer's coop last night."
Claudia felt her heart race. "Oh no! Are you..."
"It will take more than fox to put an end to Laurent DeSmet." He spoke blithely now, but it had been a close call with the sneaky fox. He had lost a few tail feathers.
"I never dreamed..."
"Relax, love," Laurent said and brushed a hand through her long hair. "Ol' fox didn't touch a feather on my body."
"I am so glad..."
"But the damned farmer nearly wrung my neck," Laurent revealed. "He had planned on a chicken dinner, and when the fox got his hen, he tried to make other plans. But this rooster was too smart and too fast for him."
Claudia looked almost stricken. "I've told you we should not mess with such powers."
Laurent grabbed the bag back, opened it, and poured the gold coins onto Claudia's bedcovers. "All's well, my dear."
Her eyes glistened as brightly as the coins.
"Good to be back in my man's body, though." He leaned toward her, leering. "Since none of those hens were at all obliging, how about we celebrate our good fortune?"
They kissed, fondled each other, and gradually became an unstoppable force atop the bedcovers. After they both had their fun, Claudia took a couple of the coins. "I think I will go to the market and fetch something impressive for our supper."
"I am tired of chicken scratch feed," Laurent joked.
She slapped his bare backside after she dressed. "See you soon."