‘Only at first,’ Mandy replied. ‘Then he tried it on, but I gave him my “drop dead” look. It worked a treat.’

‘He has all my sympathy. You’re probably a karate instructor in your spare time.’

‘No such luck. I do research.’

‘Research? You mean-brainy stuff?’ He sounded nervous.

‘Well, I do have a couple of degrees.’

‘A couple?’ He edged away, as though fearful that her degrees would jump out and attack him.

‘It helps. I hire myself out to people writing books. They need stuff on other countries, history, language, that sort of thing.’

‘Is that how you come to speak Italian?’

‘That’s right. I had to learn some for a man who was writing a novel about the Borgia family and all their evil doings, and I liked it so much I went on and learned the rest.’

‘And I’ll bet that’s not the only language you know,’ he said, sounding more cautious by the minute.

‘I did French and German at school. They’re often useful too.’

‘You really are an academic.’ He sounded aghast.

‘Sure I am. Why do you keep looking down at the drop?’

‘I was wondering which would be the best place to throw myself off,’ he said in a hollow voice.

‘Don’t be in such a rush. Wait until we’re all safe, and I’ll think of something.’

They grinned in perfect understanding, and he refilled her glass.

‘You’re probably winding me up,’ Mandy said, sipping appreciatively. ‘I expect you went to college too.’

‘For a couple of years, but I was there on an athletic scholarship. As long as I won things, my lack of brains didn’t matter too much.’

She didn’t believe a word of it.

‘Don’t you ever want to write books?’ he asked.

‘I’ve done a couple of travel books.’

‘Is that why you’ve got a notebook?’ he asked, observing something in her hand. ‘You’re actually working out here?’

‘Just making a few notes. I do it wherever I am.’

‘Don’t you ever stop and simply enjoy yourself?’