Annette had seemed to enjoy playing the lady of the manor and receiving beautiful jewellery from her husband, but then she’d had Antonias and things had started to go wrong.

Miriam was obsessed with her blond-haired, blue-eyed grandson. And Annette began to resent the way Miriam lavished money on him, when he didn’t need it.

Marias was always busy with business meetings with some client. And Annette simply wasn’t interested in the vineyard. She was young; she wanted to go out dancing the night away. Annette didn’t like the responsibility of a child and his needs, and felt she was far too young to become burdened with motherhood.

And then she had seen Carlos, who eased the boredom. He made her smile again.

Annette had told him tales of life back in London and Big Ben, and elaborated on the truth when she boasted about how many famous people she knew. He seemed impressed, and listened intently.

After several days of talking and mild flirtation, Carlos had taken a napkin full of bread and cheese, walked away from the lunch gathering and gone into one of the nearby fields, to eat his lunch.

Annette had watched him leave and had felt sad. She’d waited for the other workers to take their food into a nearby barn for shade and, making sure she wasn’t seen, she had sneaked off to find Carlos.

Carlos lay in the field, perched on his elbow, his head resting in his hand. He’d known Annette would come. He knew she was smitten, and it was time to make his move. She was a beautiful woman, and now she would be his.

Annette had sat beside him while he told her how beautiful she was. He reached up to move a wisp of hair from her face and she had felt the excitement bubbling up inside her.

Tentatively, Carlos had kissed her cheek and, noticing she didn’t pull away, he moved closer to kiss her on the lips.

After that first kiss, Carlos and Annette started an illicit and dangerous affair. The stolen moments they spent in the fields became Annette’s whole world. Carlos’s lovemaking seemed exciting and forbidden, and when Marias reached out for her in the night, she feigned sleep.

Carlos knew Annette was now putty in his hands, and that she owned half of a vineyard. He saw the fine jewellery she wore, and she was always giving him money when he said he might have to leave the vineyard to find better-paid work.

Annette was to be his ticket out of this never-ending peasant life; she could take him to London, and he would live like a rich man.

After six weeks of passion and excitement, and all the wonderful plans Carlos had made for them – if only he had the money – things had come to a head. Fate had stepped in.

One day as they were lying in the warm Italian sun, the shrill screams of panic filled the air. Annette and Carlos looked up at the sky from where they lay. They heard the commotion, straightened their dishevelled clothing and ran towards the vineyard. The foreman was ringing the farm bell and people were running around, then suddenly Annette heard the shocking news.