‘I start, I start.’ She had her hands on her hips, her eyes blazing. ‘This woman, this bad woman who ran away from her husband, why does not he search for her, eh?’

‘I’ve told you, my brother is taking care of their bairns.’

‘You say this but I do not believe. I think you want her. You say her name in your sleep. Rose. Rose.’ She spat on the floor. ‘I spit on her name.’

‘Cut it out, Maria.’

‘What is she to you? Your sweetheart, your’ – her voice faltered for a moment – ‘your wife?’

‘I’m not married, for crying out loud. You know that. And she’s my sister-in-law.’

‘Even if this is true, you still want her.’

‘I’m not having this again. I’ll sleep in my own room tonight.’

As he put the glass of wine on the little table by the bed she was at his side before he had a chance to fling back the covers, throwing her arms round his neck as she lay across him. ‘No, you no leave me. You stay.’

Swearing under his breath he tried to put her from him but she was like a limpet as he attempted to free himself, covering his face with frenzied kisses. When he eventually shoved her off him it was with enough ferocity to send her flying onto the floor with a thud that must have jarred every bone in her body. Rather than lying in a crumpled heap though, she struggled to her feet and then came at him, her hands like claws as they raked his face before he managed to restrain her. He shook her, much as a terrier would shake a rat, his voice a growl as he bit out, ‘You’re mad, that’s what you are. Stark staring mad.’

‘Don’t leave me.’ Now she was crying hysterically, still fighting him. ‘Stay, you stay.’

‘I’m only going to my room.’ He had kept the room on for appearances’ sake although every night for the last few months he had slept in Maria’s bedroom. ‘We both need time to calm down.’

‘No, no.’

‘Quieten down, woman. Do you want to bring Marcelo and Luigi here?’ Alfonso’s two brothers had rooms in the attics of the inn away from Maria’s bedroom and the guest rooms, but with the row she was making he wouldn’t be surprised if they heard her ten miles away.

‘I no care.’