‘The Lord offers me a view of the heavens I believe few others are fortunate enough to witness. When it is a clear night, I can see the planets and stars as easily as the seeds embedded in this loaf of bread.’ He reached for the warm loaf and pulled off a chunk. Luna saw the dark spots of seeds baked into the crust. She thought the view from her city garden had been splendid but star gazing here must be extraordinary. A sensation she hadn’t felt for months tugged at her.

‘You must join me one night,’ the professor offered.

Luna shook her head. Of course she had expected she may be confronted with talk of star gazing at some time during her stay with the Novaras, but his offer still took her by surprise. She didn’t speak until she was sure she could do so evenly.

‘I have no more interest in the stars,’ she answered and rose shortly thereafter to avoid any further discussion of the subject. First the professor had wanted to find her a husband, now he invited her to watch the stars; it was too familiar, too close to home, and yet there was also something different—kinder—about the way the professor asked. He gave Luna a choice and accepted her decision even when it went against his request.

When she passed the stairwell to the tower she stopped a moment and listened to the wind whistling down, wondering at what glory there must be in witnessing the breadth of view from so high. The professor had talked of the lunar eclipse three months hence. The same she’d hoped to convince her father to watch. She had no intention of watching it now and her refusal had been solidly expressed, so why did it feel like a betrayal of her very essence? She hurried away to her chamber, closing the door behind her and then closing the shutters across the window too. She sat by the fire in the dwindling light. Despite everything, her curiosity was still dangerously alive.