Ginevra Fiammetta di Silvestri

I was born in a smallish but prosperous city near Venice early in the 16th century. My father was a middle class merchant and my mother was the uneducated but intelligent daughter of an educated immigrant who fled Spain in 1492. Their marriage was a love match. 

I have two older sisters and a younger brother. My eldest sister married a man set to inherit his father’s business. The middle sister entered a convent. My brother is the baby of the family, but despite the indulgences of our parents he is sweet-tempered and generous. He is still a bachelor, and has never shown any interest in women*. 

As a child, I was close with my maternal grandfather, who doted on me. He taught me to read and write, to speak Spanish and Arabic, and everything he knew from his time in Spain. He died when I was thirteen.

When I was old enough, I found work as a lady’s maid to the spoiled only daughter of a kind, wealthy widower. He was very passionate about education, and paid for tutoring for his daughter as well as her younger brother, whose birth (after several miscarriages) resulted in their mother’s death. The daughter had no interest in her lessons, often complaining and doing the bare minimum she could get away with, but her brother was bright, and by observing their lessons I learned a great deal. At night, I would sneak into their library to read. I can’t be certain, but I think their father knew this and tacitly approved.

Upon the death of their father, the daughter dismissed me. Using my knowledge of and easy access to the house, I robbed her of several valuables and a great deal of her money. Knowing that I might be caught, and that my options in life would be limited, if I stayed, I fled the city. 

I began to travel away from the city, and stopped at an inn for the night. There I met a courtesan who was passing through the area. She invited me to dine with her, and we bonded over a shared love of literature and intellectual pursuits. She invited me to accompany her on her trip. I did so, and ended up returning with her to her home in Venice, where she instructed me in how to be a successful courtesan. She took me to visit libraries, and some of her patrons were friendly and taught me other things, like languages. I changed my name to Ginevra (I was born under a different name). When I was finally ready, I set myself up in a small but lavish home in a fashionable neighborhood nearby and began to take patrons.

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*He is either gay or asexual​

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