‘Since we’re neighbours,’ he said in Italian, ‘I think we should at least introduce ourselves.’ He held out his hand. She took it, noting its slight tremor.

‘Virginia Peirano,’ she replied, with a smile. ‘Pleased to meet you.’

‘Paulo Spinola.’ Still holding her hand, he gave a slight bow. ‘The pleasure is mine. Do you have time to sit and talk?’

They found a secluded bench near to the garden, where the air was heady with the smell of mint, myrtle and orange blossom. They spoke about their families; he told her that he had an older brother, Franco, who was in the Navy and had just been decorated for valour in the Turkish conflict. Paulo hadn’t wanted to follow in his brother’s footsteps; he had read chemistry at the University of Genoa.

‘I tried to take my own road.’

She was impressed. ‘Do you work as a scientist?’

‘No, my parents felt that science wasn’t an appropriate career for a Spinola.’ His mouth twisted slightly. ‘But I’d much rather talk about you – are you happy here?’

‘Oh yes, I love it,’ she replied warmly. ‘It’s a thousand times better than boarding school in England.’

‘You didn’t like school?’

She smiled ruefully. ‘It was run by nuns and the rules were suffocating – I couldn’t see why they should teach me how to live. I put white mice up their habits. I broke out of windows and ran away so many times that eventually, Mama gave up sending me back and let me stay at home.’

There was an amused look in his eyes as they met hers. They were deep brown, with tiny golden lights in the irises. She felt an answering pulse deep within her belly, like electricity.

Romance blossomed quickly. Ginie was encouraged by Rosa, who couldn’t conceal her delight at the prospect of joining an ancient, aristocratic family. Ginie was in love with Paulo – and with his title and property. It was impossible to separate the man from the enchanting world he inhabited, but she felt a real kinship with him, a surge of recognition and understanding. They were both struggling against family restrictions, looking for ways to escape.

They spent their days wandering dreamily in the garden, their nights in the fashionable restaurants and clubs of Rapallo. Paulo took her for jaunts in his new Alfa Torpedo – they had a shared passion for cars. He drove with one hand on the wheel, the other tightly entwined with Ginie’s as the car sped around heart-stopping bends, its engine scarcely a murmur.

When Paulo proposed on bended knee, Ginie accepted at once. He pulled a small box from his pocket; inside was an egg-shaped sapphire with tiny diamonds clustered around it. She wound her arms around his neck and kissed him ardently.