She saw the fountains Carlo had spoken of. They rose and fell, never ending and full of dreams. On impulse she made the driver stop and wait while she dashed over to one she couldn’t even name. With a wish, she flung in a coin. She watched it hit and fall to join thousands of other wishes. Some came true, she told herself. That gave her hope.

When the driver barreled up to the curb and jerked to a halt she began to fumble with bills. He took pity on her and counted out the fare himself. Because she was young and in love, he added only a moderate tip.

Not daring to let herself stop her forward progress, Juliet ran up to the door and knocked. The dozens of things she wanted to say, had planned to say, jumbled in her mind until she knew she’d never be able to guarantee what would come out first. But when the door opened, she was ready.

The woman was lovely, dark, curvy and young. Juliet felt the impetus slip away from her as she stared. So soon, was all she could think. He already had another woman in his home. For a moment, she thought only to turn and walk away as quickly as she could. Then her shoulders straightened and she met the other woman’s eyes straight on.

“I’ve come to see Carlo.”

The other woman hesitated only a moment, then smiled beautifully. “You’re English.”

Juliet inclined her head. She hadn’t come so far, risked so much to turn tail and run. “American.”

“Come in. I’m Angelina Tuchina.”

“Juliet Trent.”

The moment she offered her hand, it was gripped. “Ah, yes, Carlo spoke of you.”

Juliet nearly laughed. “How like him.”

“But he never said you would visit. Come this way. We’re just having some tea. I missed him when he was in America, you see, so I’ve kept him home from the restaurant today to catch up.”

It amazed her that she could find it amusing. It ran through her mind that Angelina, and many others, were going to be disappointed from now on. The only woman who was going to catch up with Carlo was herself.

When she stepped into the salon, amusement became surprise. Carlo sat in a high-backed satin chair, having an intense conversation with another female. This one sat on his lap and was no more than five.

“Carlo, you have company.”

He glanced up, and the smile he’d used to charm the child on his lap vanished. So did every coherent thought in his mind. “Juliet.”

“Here, let me take this.” Angelina slipped Juliet’s bag from her hand while she gave Carlo a speculative look. She’d never seen him dazed by a woman before. “Rosa, come say good morning to Signorina Trent. Rosa is my daughter.”