The next morning, Luna lingered over her victuals. Her father had appeared again in her dream, this time fleetingly yet still vivid enough, and she’d woken with a start. A few coals still glowed in the fireplace but the bedroom was as cold as the frozen Arno. The embers hissed softly as she lodged a handful more amongst the dying heat and watched them flare briefly. Outside, the day’s activity had just begun in the yard. It would be easy to accept the professor’s offer to stay on indefinitely and part of her ached for that sense of belonging, but this morn was different from all the others and she did not trust herself to know what was best or right. Her eyelids were heavy and ached from crying. She must face the day knowing the truth of her birth and early years. Never again would she think on her father’s star-gazing adventures with pleasure, for those memories were now tainted by his lies. She’d clung to Elisabetta after she’d told her the truth, crying openly. The lady’s good heart was strong, even as her body still recovered from the snake bite. Luna hoped she would not want to talk about her mother again and she lingered on her way to sit with Elisabetta.

The sound of raised voices from the kitchen caught her attention so she stopped to see what all the noise was about. There was Livia arguing with the cook! She must have arrived late the previous night. When she saw her maid’s familiar face, Luna let out a cry of pleasure and fell into her arms. It had been months since Luna had seen her and yet she was still surprised by the goodness of the woman’s embrace. She did not want to let go.

‘Fie, you have a strength about you! The country air has done you good,’ Livia said cheerily, pushing Luna back so she could examine her.

‘What is the matter here?’ Luna asked, turning to the other servants, who stood with arms crossed, frowning at Livia.

‘I only wished to make your step-mamma’s stew as a surprise, but it seems there’s not a pot for me to use. I would have brought one from my sister if I’d known they were so poor here in Tuscany.’

‘Hush now, Livia. I lack for nothing and you’d do well to apologise if you want to eat more than bread and sops whilst you are here.’ She motioned towards the kitchen girls, who stood beside their cook like guards.

‘Very well.’ Livia went and made good with the cook and after that Luna took her up to her chamber. She would sit in with Elisabetta later.