Rinaldo got to his feet restively.

‘I don’t want to hear any more,’ he growled. ‘You’ve plainly made a fool of yourself-’

‘If you mean that I’m enchanted, I plead guilty.’

‘Enchanted. Listen to yourself. You were sent on a mission and you return spouting a lot of sentimental drivel. She’s probably laughing at you this minute. In fact, it wouldn’t surprise me if she got straight on the phone to Montelli as soon as you left.’

‘You’re determined to think the worst of her, aren’t you?’

‘With reason.’

‘You know nothing about her,’ Gino said with a flash of anger. ‘You’ve been prejudiced since the first moment.’

‘Do you blame me?’

‘I blame you for not giving her a chance.’

Rinaldo sighed.

‘But it isn’t up to me. It lies in her hands now, that’s what’s so damned-’ he checked himself.

‘Don’t worry,’ Gino said. ‘She’s as crazy about me as I am about her. From now on, everything’s going to be fine.’

CHAPTER FOUR

ALEX had often heard of the magic of Italy, but, being a practical person, she had dismissed it as romanticising. Now she found that it was real.

Perhaps it was in the light that intensified every colour. Or perhaps it was Florence, packed with medieval buildings, where there were as many cobblestones as modern roads.

She tried not to be seduced by the beauty. She was only here to raise money, then return to London, marriage to David, the partnership: in other words, her ‘real’ life.

It was just that it seemed less real suddenly, and she could feel no hurry to push things along. David had told her to take as much time as she needed, and it might be better to stay here for a while, and broaden her mind.

So the day after her meeting with Gino, she did something she hadn’t done for years. She played hookey.