He gave her what she wanted – hot, hard and furious but exactly right. Then she stood beneath the cool shower once again, trembling with aftershocks as she tried to reassemble her brain. Piero, with a last lingering kiss and a promise to catch her later, went to pack a holdall for Durante. The scary events of yesterday had swilled away their previous wariness over how much they could relax with each other. Last night, Piero’s arms had felt like the most secure place in the world and this morning desire had hit her so hard she’d acted on it without thought.

Now it was time to force strength into her limbs by spooning up cereal and drinking coffee. Then she slipped into shorts and a T-shirt and plaited her hair and hurried along the terrace, exchanging the bright morning sun for cool dimness as she stepped into the hallway to the office. She switched on the computer then FaceTimed Durante on her phone. He flashed up on her screen at a peculiar angle, looking rumpled and exhausted, the bags beneath his eyes seeming to drag down his entire face.

‘Now I go to the hospital,’ he said, walking as he talked if the swinging of a car park and buildings in the background was anything to go by. ‘Dear Zia, I ask you to look after everything. I am so sorry.’ He had to raise his voice over those of passersby.

‘I’m happy to help. Just tell me what I have to do,’ she said comfortingly. A busy ten minutes followed as Durante furnished her with the computer password and, with a mixture of explanation and her showing him the screen via the camera, she learned where to find the bookings and guest contact details.

At the door to the hospital now, he became visibly anxious to be off. ‘Fiorella arrives at ten and she knows what needs doing for new guests.’

Zia felt a tingle of alarm. ‘And I’ve helped before but does she know about Lucia’s illness? Or do I have to break the news?’

Durante nodded, his hovering finger enormous as he prepared to end the call. ‘Sí, she know. I go now. Ciao.’ His image disappeared even as Zia tried to tell him to give Lucia her love. Blinking back tears, she supposed that if Lucia was still in pain she might not care for solicitous messages anyway.