Color suffused his cheeks as he turned away. “You can use this room,” he said as he led them into the bedroom next to his own. Most of the furniture was also covered in dust sheets, but Alec pulled a few off, revealing a gilt dressing table and a matching full-length mirror even finer than the desk in his room. Valentina pulled over a chair and immediately began to unpack her beauty instruments, but Alec seemed riveted by a silver-plated brush, comb, and hand mirror that rested on the tabletop.

Lottie’s heart twisted as another realization hit her: Alec hadn’t bought this dilapidated palazzo; he had inherited it. From his parents.

And this must have been his mother’s room.

Alec reached out and grazed the handle of the brush with his little finger. “Use whatever you need.” Then he glanced over and Lottie nearly lost her breath. He looked just as lonely, just as lost, as he had on the first day they met all those years ago.

“Thank you.”

He gave her a short nod. “I have to see to a few things before this evening. But I leave you in Valentina’s most excellent care. You can trust her. With anything,” he stressed.

“I’m sure,” Lottie murmured, confused by his sudden gravity.

Alec then cast another longing glance at the dressing table before he left. Lottie stared after him, wishing for all the world she could ease his pain. But it would take far more than a plate of custard tarts this time.

“Come sit,” Valentina said with an engaging smile.

Indeed, the young woman was thrilled to have the chance to practice her skills and must have thanked Lottie a dozen times over. After two days of travel, Lottie’s hair was a wretched mess. She tried to apologize to Valentina, but the girl waved her hand. “Not to worry. I will help.” She then loosened Lottie’s pathetic excuse for a Psyche knot and began to gently comb through her hair. At Lottie’s urging, she chattered happily about her desire to become a lady’s maid abroad.

“You don’t want to stay here in Venice?”

Valentina frowned. “No. There is nothing for me in this city. Not anymore,” she added softly. Her mouth then twisted with the familiar expression of regret.

“But what about your sister, and little Nico?”

“They have the professor now. He will watch over them,” she said with a certainty that made Lottie tense.

I can take care of them.