‘Well, not now, of course, now that you know what he is like. Maria can’t marry him now.’ The words spilt from Luna’s mouth in an indignant rush.

‘Maria will most certainly marry Guido Palagio; there is a signed contract. Which is why I ask you if you accuse him, for that would mean I must take this to your father.’ Mamma Lucrezia sounded as though she was explaining a dilemma of practicalities. She came to stand in front of Luna. It was a simple thing, her open palms implied, a problem easily solved. ‘Are you hurt?’

Luna frowned then shook her head.

Her step-mamma smiled and brought her palms together as though in prayer. ‘My dear girl, then you are still whole. No harm was done.’ She drew Luna into a hug. Her shoulder was warm and Luna closed her eyes and dropped into the hold. ‘You are lucky,’ she said softly, ‘else you would have ruined this whole family.’ She kissed the top of Luna’s head. ‘Now, we need never speak of this again.’

Luna kept her head against Mamma Lucrezia’s shoulder, working her step-mamma’s words round in her mind like a hard sweet she must soften in her mouth. She was lucky? She felt Mamma Lucrezia’s hand rubbing her back and she wanted so badly for the gentle touch to do its job and soothe her.