‘Of course, you are free to leave at any time.’ His eyes twinkled – it was the only word for it – and he smiled, flashing those perfect white teeth again. Christine felt slightly light headed. He ordered wine without looking at the wine list, and certainly without consulting her, which she found surprisingly pleasant; with Andy, there had always been long deliberations over grape, vintage and price, although neither of them really knew the first thing about wine. Rivelli may be an unreconstructed Italian macho, she thought, but he’s rather refreshing. As was the wine, when it arrived, a light tangy little number that slipped down very easily.

‘Your health,’ he said, ‘and thank you again. John tells me that you take a very hard line on these matters.’

‘Ah, now if we’re going to drift into professional waters, Mr Rivelli, I shall have to make my escape.’

‘No, no. Nothing of the sort. I understand your sensitivity. I say only one thing, and you say nothing. That I have learned a lesson. My business dealings are . . . complicated, I suppose, as all business dealings are. Some things are here, some things are there, we do not always want people to know too much.’

Christine put her hands over her ears. ‘I must not hear this, you know.’

‘Okay, enough.’ He playfully, but firmly, pulled her hands down. ‘But just to say that I am taking your advice, John’s advice, and I go like a lamb to the slaughter.’

‘It is better that way.’

‘Because, as you say, I do not wish to find myself under investigation for any suspicion of . . . what? Irregularity?’

‘Quite so. Delicious wine. Have you tried this olive bread? It’s perfect.’

‘I admire your discretion, Miss Fair . . .’

‘Please. Christine.’

‘Piacere. And you will call me Massimo, of course.’

They clinked and drank again, maintaining eye contact. This was starting to seem a great deal more like a date than Christine was anticipating – and, at the back of her mind, there was the delightful knowledge that she, for once, would not be picking up the tab. Impoverished thirty-year-old personal trainers with abundant sexual stamina were all very well, but there was much to be said for a man of substance. Besides which, Joel was becoming unpredictable. Sometimes he was clingy and demanding; at other times he broke dates, ignored her calls. The time had come to draw down the curtains on that particular episode.

‘You are, John tells me, the number one in your area.’

‘That’s very kind of John,’ said Christine.

‘How long have you been in family law? It must be hard to make a mark in your profession.’ Massimo showed more interest in her career in two sentences than Joel had in several months.