‘Be quiet, Leonarda. Must I remind you that Friar Savonarola’s followers loiter in the shadows to root out just such womanly pride? Is there no common sense amongst all that knowledge in your head?’ He cast his eyes about and muttered to himself, ‘I scarcely recognise these streets where now I must pay a toll to Savonarola’s boys to pass from one district to the next, disguised as alms for the poor. No one can stop them ransacking homes. The arts have no patron, the city’s liberal thinkers flounder—Botticelli has stopped painting altogether! I have myself witnessed a group of these righteous boys bear down on a pretty woman for nothing more than a rouged cheek, practically stripping her naked. The shame! Perhaps my teachings have only served to make you more laughable. At least all this will come to an end soon enough. I pray it will not be hard on you.’

Luna was momentarily confused but then shook her head. ‘Do not fret. I will never forget what I am. How could I, when everywhere I go I am mocked?’ She lifted her chin. ‘There is little chance the city’s preacher would bother with a cripple anyway.’

‘Perhaps I do overreact. These times are hard enough, with Friar Savonarola accusing many of heresy who only seek to debate and not to disavow. Your father says the Signoria did not reckon with the preacher usurping their power, yet here we are, governed by his magistracies and a Great Council made up of the preacher’s devoted partisans. Meanwhile, Piero de’ Medici squeals in exile like a stuck pig and our city becomes more dangerous with each passing moon. Savonarola promised us a new Jerusalem, instead we must resign ourselves to the thought “Lord, in thy hands are all things.” I fear what the preacher would do with a girl of such a mind as yours. Please God, your father keeps you close.’

Luna crossed herself automatically and the movement allowed her to discreetly wipe away the tear of frustration that slipped down her cheek.

‘I am sorry to have upset you.’ Friar Bartolomeo sighed and the heat went out of his voice. ‘I’m just an old man who worries too much.’

Luna hated to see him troubled. ‘I know you only mean to protect me and I will try to be more careful. I feel the injustice of my sex so keenly, it’s hard to be silent.’

‘You are used to hardship.’ He patted her leg. ‘This is the price you must pay for knowledge. I think we both agree it is worth it.’