“I am sorry with all my heart, cara mia. But we have to do what is best for his future and his safety. What if you had to leave in a hurry in the middle of the night? What if, God forbid, the secret police came for you?” He saw the look of fear crossing my face. “While I am here I like to think you cannot be touched, but things are changing. My father has become disillusioned with Mussolini and is distancing himself, fearing that no good outcome will happen. So let us act while we can.”

He looked at me. I tried to nod and agree, but I couldn’t. “I love him so much, Leo.”

“I know. That’s why you can give him up. Because you love him.”

Angelo tottered over to Leo with the train in his hand and hauled himself up against Leo’s knee. “Papa,” he said, holding out the train.

“I will bring the papers over for you to sign,” he said. “Everything is ready for him.”

“Just give me time to say goodbye. Let me paint one last picture of him.”

“Of course.” He stood up, sweeping the boy into his arms. “I do not wish to cause you pain, Julietta. If there were any other way, I would do it. All I want is to keep you both safe.”

He handed Angelo to me, kissed the top of his head and then kissed me before he departed.

July 8, 1941

I haven’t seen Leo recently. I gather he has been busy on some kind of assignment he can’t tell me about. When he did drop in for a second or two, there was no mention about handing over Angelo. So far I haven’t managed to finish the painting. I wonder why. Then this evening, late, Leo arrived. He looked worried.

“Cara, I have to go away, tonight,” he said. “I couldn’t leave without telling you.”

“Where?” I asked.

“I cannot say. And I don’t know how long I will be gone. Take care.” He took me into his arms and kissed me with great passion. He released me, looked down into my face and then almost ran out of the door.

So now my protector is gone. The wise thing to do would be to take Angelo to the palazzo now. But frankly I no longer feel that I am in danger. I am known by my neighbours. We pause and chat around the vegetable barge. I exchange pleasantries with the old men when I take Angelo to the park, and they give him crumbs to feed the sparrows and pigeons. Even the local policeman knows me and bids me bondì .