"I will send him a small favor, something he recognizes as mine. Then we will see how interested he is."
"Good," said David briskly.
As if dismissing her, he turned to Lorenzo. "Speaking of ladies and love, our young friend Rachel is still living here. I want you to escort her to Madama Tilia's house this afternoon."
Sophia stifled a gasp. She felt as if she had been struck from behind. She wanted to cry out in protest, but she knew it was useless.
"Must I?" said Lorenzo, and Sophia saw pain in his eyes.
"Remember your promise to me in Rome," David said, fixing him with a grim stare.
Lorenzo sighed. "I remember."
Sophia's heart, already bruised by her gloomy thoughts about herself, ached even harder for Rachel. She had tried to save her from being sent to Tilia's, but there was no more she could do. If Ugolini was right about their being in such terrible danger, Rachel might be safer at Tilia's than here.
How could she help Rachel, she thought desolately, when she herself was a stranger among strangers?