Piero glanced at his watch, plain but for the Dolce & Gabbana symbol. ‘The church bell tolls at the end of the service. I love the sound. Simple, but rich.’ They chatted as they waited for coffee and pastries. Piero told her he’d just been given the green light on a new project, a wooden playhouse. Zia told him about things looking better for Ursula and her husband Stephan, sitting back to let the waiter unload his tray of cornetti, biscotti, espresso for Piero and cappuccino for Zia. Piero offered her the plate. ‘I’m pleased for Ursula to have something so good to go home to.’

Zia took a deliciously moist and citrusy cornetto while Piero took a biscotto and dipped it into his coffee. She began, ‘Ursula will be going home before—’ She was about to tell him that she was planning to stay on in Lucia and Durante’s apartment, but before she could get the words out a furious woman stormed up to their table.

‘Piero, ti voglio sposare!’

Piero’s jaw dropped. ‘Nicoletta!’

Zia gaped at the woman, at her short dress and long, groomed hair. And the tears standing in her eyes. Had she just said Piero, I will marry you?

Then the woman gazed from Piero to Zia and the tears welled out onto her cheeks. ‘Bastardo, non hai aspettato che tornassi da Milano.’ There was no mistake this time. You bastard. You didn’t wait for me to get back from Milan.

As if announcing a funeral, the church bell began a single, sombre toll. The noise in the square increased as the church doors opened and a chattering throng streamed out. Zia thought she glimpsed Fiorella and Roberto with another couple of their age but she was too stupefied by what was happening in front of her to check.

Nicoletta fixed her huge, luminous eyes on Piero. ‘You had to amuse yourself with a tourist?’ She covered the word with scorn.

Piero kept his voice low. ‘Nicoletta, what do you think you’re doing?’

‘Un’altra donna,’ Nicoletta interrupted in tragic tones.

Another woman. Her? The words galvanised Zia. She shoved back her chair and leaped to her feet. ‘I’m no one’s other woman. Excuse me.’ She spun on her heel.

‘Zia!’ Piero called, sounding shocked.

She glanced back but didn’t halt. ‘This sounds like something you should stay and sort out. I’ll call Ursula to fetch me.’

Piero hesitated. A waiter rushed over, perhaps worried they’d all storm off and no one would pay the bill. Nicoletta began to hurl insults after Zia, much to the interest of the audience of café patrons and churchgoers. As Zia hurried, she heard Piero snap, ‘Stop it! Leave her alone. She’s going home soon anyway.’

It sounded as if his fiancée had come home unexpectedly and caught Piero cheating.

With her.