Ren pulled Lia next to him, putting his arm around her. “Consider it our gift to your parish for the service you did for us this day.”
“There are many families who will benefit from your unselfish donation, Your Grace. Mille grazie.” With that, the priest left.
Lia glimpsed Ghita standing in the doorway, watching tears falling from the maid’s eyes. The innkeeper’s wife shouted at her, ordering her to get busy cleaning the rooms upstairs. Feeling responsible for the other girl’s condition, Lia had an idea.
She hugged her brother one last time before he left with Cully. It seemed Ren had assigned Luchino to be in Cully’s charge, and the little boy was ecstatic at the idea of following a ship captain around.
After her brother was out of sight, Lia turned to Ren. “May I have a word with yo
