The last words came out as a scream, for Elise had started to laugh. She shook with mirth until she felt she might choke, while her enemy regarded her in frustration.

‘I’m telling you, sell your house,’ she repeated furiously.

‘There is no house,’ Elise said, calming herself. ‘That’s why I’m living in a hotel. Ben already sold our house. It was his way of forcing me to go to Italy with him.’

‘Then you’ve got the money. I know all about property laws-’

‘Somehow that comes as no surprise,’ the dark Italian murmured. ‘If there’s one woman I feel I could rely on to know about property laws, it’s you.’

‘So I’ve protected myself, so what? Husband and wife own the marital home jointly-’

‘True,’ Elise agreed. ‘That’s why Ben went about it in a twisty way. First he took out a huge mortgage on our London home, forging my signature when necessary. Then he bought a place in Italy. By the time I found out, it was too late. The money was already out of this country.’

‘Don’t give me that,’ Mary sneered. ‘You married Ben for his money and you’ve had eight years to put aside a nest egg for yourself.’

Sick loathing rose in Elise and for a blinding moment she nearly blurted out the truth-that she’d cared nothing for Ben’s money, had married him only to head off a threat to her beloved father, who could have gone to gaol with the evidence in Ben’s possession.

But she forced herself to stay silent. The years of her dreadful marriage had taught her self-control.

‘There’s no nest egg,’ she said. ‘You can believe that or not, as you like.’

‘And yet you’ve got enough to live here.’ Mary’s gesture took in their luxurious surroundings.

‘No, I haven’t. I’m moving out to somewhere cheaper as soon as possible.’

‘Wherever you go, I’ll be on your tail.’