“For the moment. The archbishop thinks we may be able to persuade the Germans that a prison sentence is appropriate. Particularly since the evidence Zwerger cited was pure speculation. And now, if you and Rosa don’t mind, I wonder if I might have a few moments of privacy with Nina. So we may speak of, ah, spiritual matters.”

Father Bernardi waited until he and Nina were alone, and then he sat on the chair next to her and lowered his voice so only she might hear. “I am not giving up on Nico,” he said. “I will move heaven and earth to bring him home to you. I promise you I will.”

She nodded, blinking back scalding tears.

“I also have an admission to make. I hope you will hear me out.”

“Go on.”

“I want you to know that I was a little concerned about your coming to stay with Nico and his family. In the beginning, that is.”

“Why? I thought it was your idea.”

“Would you believe it was Nico who suggested it? I told him of my friendship with your father. Of your father’s conviction that you were no longer safe in Venice. I told him that I was thinking of having you come to stay with me. I’d pass you off as a cousin of mine. An orphan in need of a home.”

“Why didn’t you?”

“Nico didn’t think it would work. And he didn’t think it would be fair to make a young woman hide away in a near-empty house with only an elderly priest for company. So he suggested you come and live with him, which of course would mean you’d have to masquerade as his wife. And that is why I was concerned.”

“I’m sorry, Father, but I still don’t understand.”

“I knew you to be an intelligent, brave, and affectionate girl. I was convinced—rightly, as it turned out—that he would need little encouragement to fall in love with you. And that would mean my selfish hopes for him to one day become a priest, and perhaps even take over from me here in Mezzo Ciel, would never be realized.”

“If you’re trying to make me admit that it was wrong for us to fall in love, I won’t,” she said, her voice rising.

“Nina, my dear. I’m trying to tell you that I was wrong. More than that, I’m trying to tell you that your love for Nico, and his for you, was meant to be. Some might call it fate. I prefer to think of it as an instance of grace.”

“Why are you telling me this?”