‘Your father suggested I might enjoy perusing his shelves, though I’m not sure why when I told him how I dislike reading. Perhaps his hearing fails? In any case, I am more comfortable here than at the table listening to the gentlemen’s dull conversation.’ His eyes travelled up Luna’s body. ‘You have a crutch hidden under those skirts?’

She ignored his vulgarity, though she could not stop the tremors that shook her whole body. ‘Please take your feet off the desk.’ As she spoke, she fumbled behind her for the door handle.

He raised his eyebrows and snorted. ‘Provocative she-Devil. I believe I will get to know my future sister-in-law properly this evening. Much more entertaining than books.’ He came towards her.

Luna’s chest hurt, she was breathing so fast. She did not take her eyes off Guido as she fumbled blindly for the door handle. Up close she saw that the flesh of his cheek was pinpricked with small cavities from scarring of the pox. She thought of calling out but knew that her cries would be heard only as evidence of her impropriety, her shame. Guido grabbed her arm and pulled her roughly. Luna could not stop herself from falling against him. She turned away from the smell of his breath and so she did not have to see his eyes. Her heart beat furiously. She was mightily afeared. His hands grappled with her skirts and she fought him, losing her balance. As she struggled, the ties that secured her knee to the peg-leg broke and the contraption fell off, smacking loudly to the stone floor. Guido reared back in shock at the sight of Luna’s stump and she took the chance to escape, wrenching open the door. Then she was out into the hallway and glad to see a servant stare in shock as she stumbled past, insensible to the pain in her leg, towards her chamber. At least Guido would not follow.

*

Signore Palagio and his wife and son left the Fusili palazzo uneventfully in the dusk hour of that night. Luna watched from a discreet position on the balcony above, intent on knowing when she might feel safe in her house again. Her father bid Signore Palagio good health before seeing the family to their carriage and the two mothers parted with newfound familiarity as soon-to-be matriarchs united by their children’s marriage.

Luna disappeared back to her bedchamber, tugging at the formal dress to get it off her skin. It was the same gown in which she’d sat for her portrait and Mamma Lucrezia had insisted she put it on for the Palagio dinner. Now she threw the beaded skirts to the floor. One of the small pearls broke free and skittered away. Her mind burned with shame and dismay.