“No, but I’m told he is safe at our villa. You gave him up, then. You did the right thing. I am more proud of you than you can ever know. At least our son is safe, whatever happens.”

How could I tell him that his family snatched Angelo from me? But at least I knew he had not ordered it. It was one small comfort.

“Leo”—I took his face into my hands—“I love you. Please take care. Come and join me.”

“I will. I promise. As soon as I can. Go to Locarno and wait for me. I’ll find you there.”

“Yes.” I felt an absurd swell of happiness.

“Go now. I won’t leave this place until you are safely far away. And take care on the way home.”

“I will, amore mio .”

He kissed me again. Twigs scratched me as I scrambled out of the bushes. I felt my cheek bleeding, or was it a tear trickling down? I don’t know.

I made my way back to my flat. On the way I heard Germans singing in a bar—a coarse drinking song and lots of laughter. More than once I had to slip into a doorway and once into an open church until a patrol had passed. The Accademia Bridge was the worst because it was so exposed. But I walked across as if I belonged there, and nobody stopped me. Hanni was already sleeping peacefully when I arrived home, breathless and with heart beating rapidly. How I envied the young and their ability to adapt. I hurriedly packed a few things into a rucksack. I couldn’t risk taking a suitcase with me. Too obvious. Besides, there was not much that was precious to me. Leo’s ring was on my finger. I took out my British passport, money, the keys to my bank vault and my flat and the secret drawer in my desk. The drawings should stay safely hidden, along with the diary I had kept for so long, until I could return for them, after this nonsense had ended. But I did take the one painting of Angelo I had finished. It was a small oil painting in the Renaissance style of Angelo as a cherub. I removed the canvas from its frame and wrapped it around my toothbrush holder, tying it with a ribbon.

Then I ate a good meal, packed some bread, cheese and fruit for our journey and climbed into bed beside Hanni. Of course sleep wouldn’t come. I kept thinking about Leo. Would he get away safely? Could he make it back to the Allies? Would I ever see him again?

October 20