‘She never would,’ Pietro said quietly. ‘She thinks of nothing but pleasing me.’

‘So I should hope. And imagine how pleased you’re going to be when she gives birth to that son. When is it due now?’

‘One month.’

‘We’ll have the wedding just after that.’

It was arranged that Gino would go to England for the firm, and bring his fiancée back with him for a pre-wedding visit. His work in England had been expected to last two weeks, but he was home in five days, mysteriously pale and quiet, which was so unlike Gino as to be alarming. In response to Pietro’s concerned questions he would only say that the marriage was off. He and his lover would never meet again.

As far as Pietro could tell Gino never called her, and if his cell phone rang he jumped. But it was never her.

‘Did you quarrel?’ Pietro asked cautiously. ‘Did she catch you flirting?’

‘Not at all. She just changed her mind.’

‘She dumped you?’ Pietro asked, incredulous. Such a thing had never happened before.

‘That’s right, she dumped me, and asked me to leave her alone.’

Before Pietro could explore further, his wife went into premature labour, and died giving birth to a son, who also died. In the aftermath of that tragedy all thoughts of Gino’s problems were driven from his mind.

When he was able to function again he saw that his friend hadn’t recovered his spirits. Pietro’s kind heart prompted him to send Gino away on a number of trips, seeking out new destinations for the firm.

Now and then Gino returned to Venice, seeming more cheerful. But always his first question was whether there had been any news from England, and Pietro realised that this young woman had callously broken his heart.

Her name had been Ruth Denver.

‘But it can’t be her,’ he growled to himself. ‘She doesn’t look anything like her. I’ve seen her picture-’

In a cupboard he found a book full of photographs and went through them until he found the one he wanted. It showed Gino just over a year ago, handsome, laughing, his arm around a young girl. She too was laughing, her face full of joy as she gazed at him. Peering closer, Pietro managed to recognise her as Ruth Denver. But only just.