She gazed down at the buildings and their shining lights. ‘If Tenuta Domenicali isn’t making enough money from wine production, your family could do many of the tourism things you’ve mentioned, bringing in the tourists in minibuses on the existing road.’

‘If only it was that simple.’ He looked down into her face. She was beautiful. He could smell her perfume on the evening air and around them fireflies were beginning to glow like hovering fairy lights as if vying with the stars popping out above them. It was a wildly romantic setting and since he and his ex, Nicoletta, had split up and she’d gone to Milan, he’d brought a few women here with seduction in mind. Now, though, he needed to focus on the turmoil that filled his every day and threatened his future. ‘We all want to sell; Papà to travel, Emiliano would stay and continue to turn grape juice into wine and I have another passion. There’s been no interest in the vineyard except for this one deal. None!’ He paused to collect his thoughts. ‘I’ve always been on great terms with my family but it’s becoming tricky. Everyone’s sorry I’ll lose my home but … If I sell, do you think the Binotto organisation has deep enough pockets to ensure they get everything they want regardless of the law?’

‘Bribery happens,’ Zia said pragmatically. ‘And regardless of my experience, you should bear in mind that lawyers don’t usually lie, as such.’

It wasn’t what he wanted to hear but he accepted it with a sigh. ‘And I’ve never had to question anything Papà told me.’

Zia stroked back wisps of her hair that danced in the evening breeze. Her hand was elegant, the nails painted lilac. She frowned, answering obliquely, ‘Dealing with family is delicate. They tell you things – or avoid telling you – and you don’t quiz them. You trust them. There’s plenty in my life I wish now that I’d questioned.’ She smiled and he watched the way her lips drew into a bow, then she checked the time. ‘I’d better find Ursula. We plan to eat our evening meal in Bella Vista’s gorgeous gazebo.’

‘You like the gazebo? I made it.’ He couldn’t resist telling her, enjoying her eyes widening in surprise.

‘The one by the cottages?’

‘I have one here, too, though you can’t see it in the dark. Spare me another minute?’ He took her across the front of the house and around to where his workshop still stood open to the evening breeze. Switching on the lights, he watched her blink then focus her gaze on the lantern roof that was awaiting Antonio.

‘That’s gorgeous!’ She stepped closer to stroke her fingertips along the grain of the wood and reach up to touch the onion-like finial.