Chapter 21 Summary

Cosimo catches his first glimpse of the girl when she comes riding from the opposite side of the field chased by two male riders, and zigzags so erratically that they are unable to catch her until at last she disappears through the trees. Cosimo follows her, a blonde and an accomplished rider, to the point that he can finally see her face, and his hopeful suspicions are confirmed. She rides deep into the forest, and he goes to where he is sure she will head to escape the hopeful suitors behind her: to the Ondarivas' garden.

When he arrives, he finds her wandering among the fountains and then ordering servants to various tasks of cleaning and arranging the place to her liking. When she spots Cosimo up in his tree just as she left him, her pleasure shows through her surprise. She alternates...