The rest of their time in Italy would be spent talking to neighbours and going to the jeweller’s in Portofino too. She had also stumbled upon the name of the powder pink villa from a photo of Connie standing by the majestic front entrance where there was a ceramic name plaque mounted on the wall. Casa di Donato. So they would ask around until they found somebody who knew exactly where the villa was. And there were still lots of diaries that hadn’t been read yet, which Grace had painstakingly copied onto her laptop, so a long train journey would provide the perfect opportunity to read through them.

Walking through the crowd, Grace experienced a moment of anxiety when she couldn’t see Ellis, but then her face broke into an enormous grin of relief on spotting him looking every inch like a suave local in shades, chino shorts, loafers and an open-necked striped polo short with the sleeves rolled up, accentuating his caramel-coloured tan. Somehow, he looked different, standing here in the airport in Italy. Sort of radiant and more handsome, but then Grace supposed somewhere as beautiful as Italy would make everyone and everything seem more attractive and airbrushed. Plus she was relaxed and happy and that always had a wonderful effect on her perception.

Ellis was holding up a piece of black card with the words Grace Quinn Benvenuta a Venezia printed on in purple ink.

‘You made it, Grace,’ he said, his American accent sounding even stronger when mingled with the lyrical Italian language being spoken all around them as the other travellers greeted their loved ones. Waggling the card in the air, Ellis stepped forward to embrace her with a kiss on each cheek. Grace reciprocated, liking the quick burst of citrusy lemon scent that emanated from him and filled her senses. It was rejuvenating and upbeat, and much like her current mood.

‘I did, and thanks for the lovely welcome,’ she said, touching the card in his right hand, thinking what a sweet gesture it was.

‘Ah, this! Well, I figured … when in Rome—’

‘Do as the Romans do,’ she said, laughing, and then added, ‘but we’re not even in Rome.’