By the time Nicolaus had carried Elisabetta back to the house and laid her on her bed, she was much weakened. She stirred as he let her go, then whimpered, and Luna saw her eyes grow wide. ‘Find my husband,’ she said through shivering teeth.

Luna stroked her brow. ‘We have sent for the doctor. He’ll be here soon.’

‘I need Domenico—where is he?’

‘Hush, Elisabetta, do not speak.’ Luna raised her eyes to Nicolaus.

‘The professor went out to inspect the site I had suggested for watching the eclipse. I will send one of the servants to find him.’

Elisabetta moaned and her eyelids drooped. Luna turned to Nicolaus. The leg was discoloured from the ankle to the knee and a bulbous lump had erupted upon the stretched skin. Where earlier the wound had seemed small and contained, now it was impossible to distinguish where the viper had bitten. Nicolaus gently touched Elisabetta’s leg and the lady did not even flinch.

‘She is fading,’ he said softly. ‘I have some knowledge that might help.’

Luna nodded. ‘Then do not hesitate. Please, we cannot lose her.’

‘I must tie the spot above the wound as tightly as possible to prevent the poison from spreading.’

Luna handed him the belt from round her waist and watched as he tugged it so tight the skin of Elisabetta’s leg bulged furiously.

‘Do you know if they have any emetics in the household?’

‘I can make one up.’ Luna hurried to the kitchen, glad of a task to busy herself. She found the housekeeper and together they filled a bottle with the mixture Mamma Lucrezia had taught her for snake bites. She returned to the room. ‘We must get her to swallow this.’

Nicolaus lifted the patient whilst Luna pressed the bottle to her lips. Much of it spilt down her front, but at least a portion was imbibed. Then they waited.

‘You are shivering,’ he said to Luna.

Luna had not even realised and shrugged helplessly. Nicolaus drew a chair close to the bed for her and tucked a throw around her shoulders. She sat heavily, for in her rush to find help she’d moved far more hastily than was wise and the pain in her stump was unremitting.

‘Please God, the doctor arrives before long,’ Nicolaus said and crossed himself.

‘You seem to know something of medicine?’ she said, trying to keep her voice steady.

‘I dip my head into as many lectures as there is time for at the university. I hope it may help us now.’

After a few moments there was a moaning from the bed and Luna just managed to position the bucket before Elisabetta let loose the contents of her stomach. The poor woman groaned and fell back after only a few moments. Luna gave the bucket to Nicolaus. ‘That is good; there is at least some yellow bile gotten out.’