"We owe Rachel a debt. We have promised to find a home for her among the Jews of Orvieto."
"Oh, is she a Jew? But there are no Jews in Orvieto."
"The nearest Jews live in Rome."
Rome—where the Jews had already turned Rachel away. "She cannot go to Rome."
"Well, the girl would find working for me far more rewarding than living on charity."
"I am sure of it," said Daoud. But a dark memory from long ago rose to trouble him.
He fixed his eyes on hers. "You would not force her into whoring, would you?"
Tilia pressed her hand to her bosom in mock horror. "Force! Women beg to be accepted into the family of Tilia Caballo."
A terrible thing to do to the child, but it would solve my problem, thought David. Rachel already must be aware that Sophia and Lorenzo and I are involved together in some secret enterprise. It would be best to keep her where we can watch her.