I snatched off the bracelet and thrust it toward him.

“Pray tell me you have said naught of this to anyone else, especially not the Master,” I cried, leaping to my feet with a swiftness that sent Pio scrambling out of my way. “You must know that your affection is sorely misplaced. Let us pretend you never spoke such foolish thoughts.”

“What can you mean, Dino?”

The youth’s smile faded into uncertainty. He stared up at me with wide eyes, his blush fading and his expression one of dismay. “Are you saying I should forget that I love Novella?”

“Novella?” Now it was my turn to stare. “Who is she?”

“Why, she is Rebecca the washerwoman’s daughter,” he replied, his gaze dropping in misery to the bracelet he was turning about in his hands. “She has always been friendly to me, and I thought… That is, I hoped…”

He trailed off with a shake of his head. Pio, sensing trouble, put a cold nose to the boy’s pale cheek in sympathy. As for me, my fear of discovery was washed away by a hot wave of embarrassment. So wrapped up had I been in my own concerns that I had let myself believe that mine was the sole small drama being played out among my fellow apprentices. And now, my thoughtless words had caused Vittorio pain.

Eager to make amends, I seized an excuse to help mend those emotions that I had frayed.

“Pay no heed to my words,” I urged, dropping back down beside him and giving his shoulder an encouraging shake. “I-I thought you spoke of someone far older than you. I do know Rebecca’s daughter, and I am certain I have seen her give you favorable smiles when you were not watching.”