“
He leaned his forehead against hers. “You’re never going to forgive me, are you?”
“I forgive you,” she said, fighting the urge to press her lips to his. She meant it. She couldn’t stay mad at him. And even though she didn’t understand, she would do her best not to judge. She was far from perfect herself.
Falco exhaled deeply. “That is the best news I have gotten all day,” he said. He leaned back, and his face broke out into a wide smile. “And the second-best news is that my paintings did well at the exhibition. A wealthy artisan from the mainland has offered me work. A lot of work.”
“Falco, that’s amazing!” Cass couldn’t resist reaching out to squeeze his hand.
“Life-changing,” he said, in a low voice. “Like you. Like us.”
Cass opened her mouth to protest, but no words came out. Falco was right. She wouldn’t deny that he had reached deep inside of her and unlocked secret places she had never even known existed.
“But the position will mean a lot of travel. Perhaps relocation,” he said.
She looked away from him, biting her lip. “You’ll be far away.”
Falco nodded. “But I might get to see my family again.”
“Your family?” Cass had never even thought to ask Falco about his family, whether he had brothers and sister.
“My mother is a washerwoman and my father a cobbler. My brothers all work at the shop. I have a pair of little sisters in a convent in Verona,” he said. “It’s been years since I’ve seen them.”
Cass couldn’t imagine what it would be like to grow up in such a large family, with so many built-in companions.
“Come away with me, Cassandra,” Falco said, his hands coming to rest lightly on her waist. “I can give you a life now. It may not be quite what you’re used to, but it will be filled with love.
”
”