Over pasta and mushrooms Gino said, lightly, ‘So I suppose one of us has to marry the English woman.’

‘When you say “one of us” you mean me, I suppose,’ Rinaldo growled. ‘You wouldn’t like settling down with a wife, not if it meant having to stop your nonsense. Besides, she evidently has an orderly mind, which means she’d be driven nuts by you in five minutes.’

‘Then you should be the one,’ Gino said.

‘No, thank you.’ Rinaldo’s tone was a warning.

‘But you’re the head of the family now. I think it’s your duty. Hey-what are you doing with that wine?’

‘Preparing to pour it over your head if you don’t shut up.’

‘But we have to do something. We need a master plan.’

His brother replaced the wine on the table, annoyance giving way to faint amusement. Gino’s flippancy might often be annoying, but it was served up with a generous helping of charm.

Rinaldo would have declared himself immune to that charm. Even so, he regarded his brother with a wry look that was almost a grin.

‘Then get to work,’ he said. ‘Make her head spin.’

‘I’ve got a better idea. Let’s toss for her.’

‘For pity’s sake grow up!’

‘Seriously, let Fate make the decision.’

‘If I go through with this charade, I don’t want to hear it mentioned again. Hurry up and get it over with!’

Gino took a coin from his pocket and flipped it high in the air. ‘Call!’

‘Tails.’

Gino caught the coin and slapped it down on the back of his hand.

‘Tails!’ he said. ‘She’s all yours.’

Rinaldo groaned. ‘I thought you were using your two-headed coin or I wouldn’t have played.’

‘As if I’d do a thing like that!’ Gino sounded aggrieved.

‘I’ve known times when-well, never mind. I’m not interested. You can have her.’

He rose and drained his glass before Gino could answer. He didn’t feel that he could stand much more of this conversation.

Gino went to bed first. He was young. Even in his grief for a beloved father he slept easily.