‘Yes, my child, as do I. I still remember how your mother held you with such adoration that first night under a full Moon and you a tiny whelp of new life that so awed us. She only stopped holding you in death. Hers was a soul too pure for this Earth.’ He turned to the left and pointed again to a spot in the night sky. Luna felt her body lift with the movement of his arm, like the young girl she once was. She followed his line of sight again and saw the Moon, high and glowing white as marble.

‘I hope Maria weds a man as good as you.’

‘Do you think I would choose poorly?’

Luna shook her head.

‘Maria will look to you for guidance, so you must speak well of marriage. She is fulfilling her duty, which is something of which to be proud.’

‘Yes, Papa.’

‘You don’t sound persuaded, Luna, but you must remember that a betrothal brings good fortune to our family. There is much to be happy about.’

Luna nodded slowly as she wrapped her cloak more closely about her. She thought about her sister’s fate, but knew no way to change it. They stood together and watched the sky in companionable silence. A cat shrieked from the alley beyond the wall and it was a lonely sound in the night’s stillness. She thought about the planets so far away as to be unreachable, and yet there they shone, ever-present markers in the sky.

‘Sit,’ he instructed. ‘I will return shortly.’

Luna dropped onto the wall gladly. Her foot had begun to ache. Dew dampened her cloak and she shuffled on the hard stone in search of a drier patch. She watched as her father’s cloaked figure weaved behind one of the potted fruit trees and then reappeared near the high wall at the back of the garden, overgrown with vines. He leant into the old gate that led into the alley and Luna wondered what tomfoolery had overtaken him. Then she heard the gate creak and saw him stumble as it swung wide and the vines sheared apart. He dipped his head and slipped through.