‘I’ll look forward to that,’ he told her solemnly.

He helped Laura with the washing up, surprising her with his efficiency.

‘I thought Italian men were old-fashioned and macho,’ she said. ‘Working in the kitchen is for women, that kind of thing.’

‘You do us wrong, we’re very domesticated. When I was a little boy my mother taught me how to do these things, “just in case you ever have to”, was how she put it. She showed me how to wash a cup, and when I’d finished she said, “All right, now you know how to do it, go and play”.’

‘And that was it?’

‘That was my domestic education. But I must say this for myself-I wash a mean cup.’

They laughed together and finished putting things away.

She drove him into town in her little car, and they managed to get to see the bank manager after only a short wait.

‘It’ll take a few days for funds to arrive from your Italian account to your new one with us,’ the manager said. ‘But in the meantime there’ll be no problem if you overdraw a little.’

Gino’s first action was to pay Laura two weeks’ rent.

‘For this week and next,’ he said.

‘But this week’s almost over,’ she protested.

‘Business is business. Half a week counts as a full week.’

‘I’m the landlady. Shouldn’t I be the one saying that?’

‘You should, but you’re a terrible businesswoman, so I’m saying it for you.’ He looked at her kindly. ‘Someone needs to look out for you.’

It was so long since anyone had looked out for her that at first the words were almost startling.

‘I still feel guilty taking this,’ she said.

‘Don’t worry, you’ll earn it. I’ll be the most troublesome tenant you’ve ever had.’

By way of demonstrating just how awkward he could be he came round the shops with her, carrying things and generally making himself useful, explaining that he was improving his English.