‘That’s why I have not seen you yet. You quite surprised me!’

He looked pleased at that and pressed his cap down cheerfully. Then he bent to warm his hands, shuffling in to the space beside Luna. Never had a man stood this close, save for Guido Palagio. She remained quite still. Her scalp prickled but Nicolaus didn’t move further. He hung over the flames, supple as a young olive tree, so the heat could reach his outstretched palms. His torso was broad at the shoulder. She heard him sigh with pleasure and imagined the feel of the heat on his fingertips and through his wrists. She felt it too, like a warm breath against her skin. Then he took a step back and dropped into one of the armchairs facing the fireplace.

‘I feel restored already. Did you enjoy the December festivities here?’ he asked.

‘I did, thank you,’ Luna replied as she sat in the other chair, hoping her voice sounded calmer than she felt. This man had a bewildering effect on her.

They weren’t able to talk further, as the professor appeared.

‘Where have you been, young man? I expected you to join me upstairs the moment you returned. We must be ready for the eclipse.’

‘Forgive me, professor. I stopped to greet Leonarda and would have been on my way to you sooner had not her company been such a distraction. I’ve found what I think will be the optimum location to watch the eclipse. We’ll have a fine, clean view and there’s a flat area to erect your triquetrum.’

Luna shuffled in her seat, a warm glow rising in her cheeks.

‘It will be exceedingly useful to get some new measurements.’ The professor turned to Luna. ‘Did you know that the Earth’s shadow will become visible on the Moon’s surface? Quite extraordinary! And as we know that the Sun’s position is one hundred and eighty degrees opposite the centre of that shadow in celestial longitude, we can pinpoint the exact coordinates of the Moon. Once we have those we can use them to check the distances of stars or planets to the Moon or Sun.’

She nodded. ‘No astronomer would let such an opportunity pass.’

The professor chuckled. ‘You are right, indeed. Would you like to join us, Leonarda?’

This was unexpected; she’d already said no when he’d asked her to watch the night sky from his tower. A second invitation seemed generous indeed. Her father most certainly would never have asked again. She was beginning to see how differently the Novaras treated her. Yet she had to say no, lest those dangerous aspirations start to rise in her again.

‘Thank you, professor, but I relinquished my right to study the stars when I left Florence.’ She rose from her seat and curtseyed to the gentlemen, then left them to finish their discussion.