‘But I wanted you to move in and instead you’re moving on,’ he cried, as usual shifting tack when he didn’t want to answer. ‘Don’t you care I’m upset?’

‘Less and less every time we speak, if I’m honest, so there’s no point trying to guilt-trip me,’ she snapped bluntly. ‘I don’t know if I’d ever have committed to you if you hadn’t cheated but you did cheat so it’s tough shit if you’re unhappy. Now back off.’

A silence. Then Brendon’s voice turned into a furious hiss. ‘A mistake from me means it’s OK to hurt me? I don’t think so, Zia. Banging that woman had no bearing on how I felt about you and you know it.’

Zia winced. ‘But it most certainly had a bearing on how I feel about you. However crudely you put it, you had sex with another woman when we were meant to be exclusive. The end.’

Silence. Awareness of the hustle and bustle of St James’s Street gradually returned. She realised she was almost at the turning for the New Steine when she’d meant to stop at the supermarket. Then Brendon came again, this time in a low, dangerous drawl, ‘You’ll be sorry.’

Zia was left clutching a silent phone, ashamed she’d lost her shit but relieved the row had brought things to a head.

She half expected his last dramatic words to have been a threat to put in a bad word for her with Elise but the job offer arrived later in the evening along with a warm email. I’d LOVE to have you, hence the promptness of this offer. Can’t keep the job open for long, though … and I sense your heart’s not yet in this country.

As Zia had already arranged to say bye to Ursula on her lunch break tomorrow and was booked on a train to Stansted afterwards for an overnight stay ahead of an early flight, she had to admit Elise had called it right.

Chapter Eighteen

Piero hated the atmosphere at Tenuta Domenicali whenever Graziella was around but refused to be discouraged from getting his afternoon espresso.

Graziella gave a great sigh when he entered the big office and Salvatore beetled his moustache, his expression imploring Piero, as if to say, ‘Try not to have a problem with my girlfriend. You know how she is.’

Piero had a list of problems with Graziella but he had a bigger problem with upsetting his father so he paused to chat, displaying a sleek black device around his wrist. ‘I bought an Apple watch.’

Salvatore smiled shrewdly. ‘You have a sudden interest in counting steps? Or have you fallen out of love with your Dolce and Gabbana watch because it was a gift from Nicoletta?’