It's her turn to reach for Spike's arm to keep him from following Joshua, perhaps to keep him out of earshot too, but then Lucrezia thinks that the boy can hear everything in this world anyway. But this way he can then pretend he didn't hear if he should choose.

"Colette left." If any fear or sorrow pass across her features, it is quickly replaced with a wry smile to hide them. She fears for him when he is fragile this way, even if his strength shows more clearly now or perhaps he lacks the will to hide it. She doesn't want him to know that sometimes she is still afraid too.

"My father's mistress carries the same name," she means Julia. Giulia. Spellings matter little when she is Lucrezia, Lucrecia, Lucretia. "But most call her La Bella Farnese, for her most divine face."