The Artist's Heart

<p><strong>The Artist's Heart:</strong> Florence April 1475</p><p>The first time Alessandra Pazzi saw true art she understood that her life had been a beautiful lie.</p><p>She stood in the shadows of Andrea del Verrocchio's workshop disguised as a servant to commission a painting her father would never approve of when a stranger's voice made her forget every lesson in propriety she had ever learned.</p><p>The way you've captured the light on her hands-it's as if she's actually glowing from within.</p><p>The man speaking was Lorenzo de' Medici enemy of her blood heir to everything her family despised. But in that moment as he discussed the sacred mysteries of pigment and vision with the reverence other men reserved for prayer Alessandra realised that some truths transcend the accidents of birth.</p><p>Neither of them knew as their eyes met across a workshop filled with half-finished miracles that their love would nearly destroy Florence itself. Neither could foresee that in three years' time their families' ancient hatred would explode into conspiracy and bloodshed in the most sacred space in the city.</p>