‘Don’t you love the horrible dragon?’ Jared said. And as they moved round, ‘Look at the terrified monks fleeing from St Jerome’s lion.’ And then further round, ‘Isn’t the little dog with St Augustine cute?’

‘They’re fantastic,’ she said, almost forgetting that her guide was Jared Temple, and that she was supposed to be working, as she studied the beautifully executed narratives. When they finally emerged into the blinding sunshine, she felt dazed.

Jared was eyeing her. ‘Worth it?’

She grinned. ‘Oh, my goodness, Jared. So worth it.’

He beamed. ‘I knew you’d like them.’ He took her arm companionably and this time she didn’t resist as they walked back the way they’d come and crossed the bridge in the direction of St Mark’s Square.

‘Art like that is life-enhancing,’ he added quietly.

When they reached the piazza, Connie immediately saw couples from her group, looking about, probably wondering where she was, and realized it was nearly twelve. They’d been much longer in the Scuola di San Giorgio than she’d intended.

‘I’ve got to go,’ she said, glancing up at Jared. ‘They’re waiting.’ He nodded. ‘Thank you for showing me the paintings. They were really wonderful,’ she said.

‘I’ve loved every minute,’ he replied.

She thought, when he didn’t immediately move off, that he might dare to kiss her again and became slightly flustered. But he made no attempt to do so, and absurdly she realized she was disappointed. The memory of his lips on hers that night at Lake Como came back to her again and she caught her breath.

‘Bye,’ she said, turning quickly away and hurrying over to her charges, hoping they hadn’t seen her and Jared together. She didn’t want them reporting her for dereliction of duty.

The rest of the afternoon passed in a blur of organization. Connie had to corral the group at the end of the day and pack them onto the train back to Desenzano. Not easy when everyone had dispersed into the crowds after the basilica tour. They only just made the train, one couple sauntering onto the churning water taxi, calmly licking ice creams as if they had all the time in the world.

It was not until she shut the door of her room that night, and could finally dispense with the company lanyard round her neck, take off her shoes and wipe away her make-up that she could properly think about Jared.

So strange, she mused, him turning up like that. Although these things did happen, she knew that. It was, as people were always pointing out, a small world. And, after the initial surprise, she had enjoyed seeing him. The Carpaccios were gorgeous and he was so knowledgeable, so interesting about the scuola and its history – she had been quite carried away in his company.