Piero tried to reassure his friend, though the gravity of the news gave him chills. ‘Lucia’s a fighter. We were just talking about how she doesn’t give up easily. And the miracles of modern medicine …’ But they all knew he was issuing platitudes.

Briefly, Durante informed them he was staying with a cousin near Perugia so he could get to the hospital if needed and then issued a breathless goodbye.

Piero reclaimed Zia’s hand, knowing from her face that she’d understood. ‘So, the news isn’t good.’

Her eyes were wet. ‘No. Could it be appendicitis?’

He stroked her fingers, wanting to soothe her anxiety. ‘I don’t know. Maybe tomorrow we’ll learn more.’

‘Durante mentioned surgery?’ she whispered, fresh tears tipping slowly from her lashes.

His heart felt as if a cold hand was closing on it at the terror in her eyes but her understanding that much of Durante’s half-hysterical Italian made it pointless to shield her. ‘Possibly.’

She gripped his fingers. ‘I’ll text Durante and tell him I’ll help any way I can. I’ll look after the rentals or take a bag of his things to his cousin’s house or … absolutely anything.’

‘I’ll do it.’ He texted Durante in Italian. Then he rose, pulling her to her feet and into his arms, wishing he could do more to make her feel better. ‘What about you? Will you be all right? It’s getting late.’ He hesitated, not sure whether asking if she’d be OK alone would sound opportunistic.

But Zia beat him to it. She held him very hard and whispered, ‘Will you sleep with me? I don’t want to be alone tonight.’

Chapter Nineteen

Zia heard her words on the air almost as if someone else had spoken them and her breath caught in horror. ‘I don’t mean—’ She gulped. ‘I sound like a cold-hearted bitch, as if I’m propositioning you when Lucia and Durante are in such a bad place.’

His arms fit naturally into the curve of her waist and she was reassured by the lightness of his touch. ‘I understand. Let’s just be together.’

They cleared the table and closed up the main house then she took him to the little apartment she’d enjoyed smartening up, stepping within the white walls as if into a sanctuary. Her body felt like lead, exhausted by a 7.30 a.m. flight and a shit-storm return to Italy.

‘It looks fantastic in here.’ Piero glanced around approvingly at Zia’s temporary quarters. She took a quick shower and when she stumbled out, he was waiting to enfold her in a towel. In her bedroom he pulled back the sheet and tucked her beneath it, shucked off his own clothes and wrapped his body around her.

He spoke with his mouth against her hair. ‘Durante interrupted our conversation. Are you glad you found Harry?’