Justine spent the rest of that afternoon in St. Mark's Basilica, judging angles, working hard to put Riccardo out of her mind by sheer force of will.

But when she returned to the Palazzo Calvani, Dulcie was bubbling with the day's events.

"Riccardo came this morning to check things for the party. I was just talking to him when you called."

So their meeting had been no accident. He had known where to find her. The thought gave her a strange feeling.

The palazzo was filling up with guests. On the day of the party several of the count's cousins arrived from distant parts of Italy.

Once, looking out of a window, Justine saw Riccardo arrive in a barge laden with food and two members of his staff. She turned away quickly. She did not want to think about him. He had left her thoughts in turmoil with his casually cruel remarks.

So easily! So ruthlessly!

What did he know?

"You look upset," Dulcie said.

"It's just that I found myself talking about Neil yesterday. Now I wish I hadn't."

"Do you regret divorcing him so fast?"

"Not you, too! I did what had to be done. That was it."

More guests arrived and Dulcie went down to greet them, leaving Justine with her thoughts.

It had been a mistake to marry Neil – she'd known that even on the wedding day. They were in love, but she didn't believe in love – not the lasting kind. How could she when her parents' divorce had left her homeless? Both of them had remarried, and she had been shunted around to a series of aunts, "until things settle down."