The silence between the two women stretched for a while before Signora Pallas cleared her throat. Lorena, cramped at the side of the small bed, raised her head to look at the older woman.

"I was going round, ensuring everyone was asleep, when I heard your voice. I knocked, but you didn't reply, so I pushed the door open just in time to hear your father." All of a sudden, she felt the need to explain to Lorena.

"You didn't do anything wrong," She sighed, wrapping her hands around her body. "If anything, you saved me from hurling more accusations at him."

Her foot made to move forward, but she...