The family were spared any further conversation by the appearance of Livia. ‘Say good night to the master.’ She spoke directly to Filippo in a voice that had deepened with the press of years and loss. Neither of her sons had lived past infancy and she’d been widowed just after she’d first joined the household to care for Luna as a newborn. She was devoted to the Fusili children. ‘I should get him settled, mistress.’ She bobbed into a curtsey and took Pippo’s hand as they turned to go.

Once they’d left the room, Mamma Lucrezia gently placed a hand on her husband’s arm. ‘Leonarda Lunetta has finished the lace trim on the handkerchiefs you requested.’ She nodded at Luna. This was her step-mamma’s way of moving the conversation to safer ground.

‘My clever daughter, I am most humbled by your diligence.’

‘If it pleases you, then I am happy, Papa. I took my time with the trim to ensure it was properly finished and so as not to waste any of the most beautiful lace that Mamma made for me. Could I use the remaining to make a collar for Maria?’

‘Maria will not want for fine lace where she is going, of that you can be sure,’ Mamma Lucrezia said with pride and went on to describe a long list of other advantages of marrying into the Palagio family. Luna’s gaze alternated between her step-mamma and her sister, and she worried at the way Maria had begun to sway back and forth in her chair. She reached beneath the table once more for her sister’s hand.

‘Do not be afeared,’ she whispered.

Maria leant towards her. A bubble of spittle was caught in the corner of her mouth. ‘I cannot leave home. I think I will scream.’

Luna sat back in alarm. Mamma Lucrezia continued to speak excitedly about the Palagio family’s great wealth and the potential for Maria’s happiness, and without thinking, Luna cut across her. ‘I spent time reading Isotta Nogarola’s dialogue on Adam and Eve again today, Papa,’ she said loudly, ignoring Mamma Lucrezia’s frown. At least her abrupt change in subject seemed to surprise Maria out of her distress; she’d settled in her seat. ‘I know her writings extremely well and I do adore her.’

‘Must we have such talk at the table?’ said Mamma Lucrezia.

Luna kept her eyes trained on her father.

‘Do you indeed?’ he said eventually. ‘Then impress me with something of this lady’s rhetoric.’

She hesitated a moment, trying to gauge his mood. ‘What would you like to hear?’

Mamma Lucrezia snapped. ‘Enough of your badgering, Luna! Your father has more important things to deal with.’

‘I would rather listen to Luna than the two of you arguing,’ he answered and Luna edged forward on her seat.