They had a quiet wedding in Trieste, after he had paid the Vatican handsomely to have Ginie’s unfortunate union with Paulo annulled. Stephen didn’t invite his family. He would face that music when they got back to England. He’d been to hell and back in the trenches, filling his mind with darkness; then along came Ginie like the sun, burning the shadows away, bringing him in touch with the sharp simplicity and intensity of the moment. He already knew he wanted to marry her, the baby simply sped things up and brought them even closer. He wanted to grasp everything Ginie gave him as hard as he could.

8 Ginie, London, 1920s

8

Ginie, London, 1920s

How sweet it was to wake in the mornings with Stephen wrapping her close in his arms, their breathing in sync. For the first time in her life, Ginie felt safe.

When she looked in the mirror, she couldn’t help exalting in her triumphant, beautiful reflection. She was Mrs Stephen Courtauld now, nothing could touch her. He was a good man; he had a purity of spirit that was untarnished, despite what he’d been through. She felt the hot glitter of tears and thought about all the secrets stored inside her. She regretted that she had lied to him about being pregnant, but she was desperate. It was a wonder the past didn’t show in her face and reveal everything. If he knew the truth, he would cross the road to avoid her. The Courtauld family motto was Tiens à la verité. Hold to the truth.

If only her father could see her now.

Riccardo Peirano was a self-made man who had built up a successful shipping company, exporting grain from Russia to Western Europe. He was handsome, broad-chested and energetic with a rich, deep voice and brown eyes like Ginie’s, except his were framed by laughter lines. Ginie’s mother, Rosa, was a peasant woman of great beauty, grown stout and pious in age. She had two brothers, Riccardo junior and Enrico, who were sent to boarding school and too old to be Ginie’s playmates or peers.

Riccardo and Rosa hadn’t married until after the births of all their children. Ginie found out about this through overhearing the servants talk. No one knew why it had taken the Peiranos so long to legalise their union, but there was much speculation, and it was concluded that it was because of differences in nationality and class.

Riccardo doted on Ginie, nothing was too good for her, but Rosa found fault everywhere. Ginie was too tall, she was stupid, she was loud – but worst of all – she had no feminine modesty or grace.

Rosa had always found Ginie excessive. As a small child, she’d had not one, but four imaginary friends. She held parties for them, never forgetting what each of them liked to eat and drink, and carried on conversations with wild laughter.