The plane gathered speed, lifted into the air and then wheeled to the right. Below her Caroline saw the whole of Venice spread out like a map, the tower of the campanile rising above the domes of St Mark’s, the canals sparkling as they divided the city into little islands within the island. There was the Zattere and the building with her flat, awaiting her return. Caroline allowed herself a small glow of happiness. Luca was right. It was a time for new beginnings. And just one of them, she suspected, might include him. She was flying home to England now, but he was to join her. He had already bought them tickets to New York and reserved a suite at the Plaza. When Caroline had offered to pay, he had laughed it off and said, “Business expense.”

What had made this even sweeter was that she’d had several emails from Josh in the last few days.

Cara, I’ve been trying to reach you, one of them said. Your grandmother said your phone isn’t working in Italy. Is that true, or are you just avoiding me? Answer, please.

And then, Cara, we need to talk. I’m not sure how things are working out here. I don’t seem to be getting any more commissions, and I can’t go on living off Desiree forever. Frankly, I’m not so sure I want to stay on indefinitely. This life is so incredibly phony. It’s all about show. Call me as soon as you get back to England. You are coming home soon, aren’t you?

The plane levelled out and the seat belt sign was turned off. As she stared out, watching white puffball clouds drifting below the wing, she realized, with stunning clarity, that she didn’t want Josh back. He had said that he only married her to do the right thing. Well, maybe the same had been true for her. She had thought she was in love, but she had been twenty. What did she know about love at that age? Or about life? Girls’ boarding school to college, sheltered all the time. She simply hadn’t been ready for marriage or a long-term relationship. The one thing that held them together had been Teddy. And now they had both matured, gone their own ways, and she was ready to move on.

And if that moving on included Luca? Included a life that was at least partly in Italy? She realized it was far too soon to make such momentous decisions, but it was good to be able to look forward again. Maybe she would go back to fashion design, or maybe pursue some other kind of art, maybe just rent out her flat in Venice for most of the year and enjoy life. And she found herself wondering if this was what Aunt Lettie wanted when she left her that cardboard box.