‘I have my car. We can pick it up for you.’ She was subdued this morning. The puffiness around her eyes spoke of a sleepless night or a lot of tears. Or both. After the emotional reunion in the cottage, she’d gone off with Lucia and Durante for a date with their photograph albums. Neither he nor Ursula had tagged along. Zia had looked to be in a trance. Emotional overload would do that.

‘Really? That would be brilliant,’ he said frankly. ‘Monday’s probably going to be difficult enough without losing two or three hours.’ His stomach sank at the reminder that he had to tackle his father and brother yet again. ‘I’d be happy to meet the cost of your fuel, obviously.’

She waved that away. ‘The offer doesn’t come without strings.’ She paused and examined her fingernails, which were navy blue today. He imagined her sitting in the sunlight outside Villino Il Pino while she painted them. ‘Thing is …’ She lifted a clouded gaze to his. ‘It’s a bit of an imposition.’

As she seemed to be struggling to find a way to go on, he suggested gently, ‘How about you come in for coffee?’ He usually discouraged people from intruding into his workshop hours but he couldn’t find it in himself to ask if it could wait until evening. Aside from her volunteering to save him at least an hour each way on Strada Pievaiola on Monday, her mouth was too vulnerable, her eyes too troubled.

She didn’t even try to demur for the sake of politeness but followed him out of the workshop and into the glaring sunlight and the thrum of the ever-present cicadas. He made casual conversation as they strolled. ‘The house has doors front and back with an upper terrace above. One has a view and the other has a drive. I don’t have much of a lower terrace apart from this bit of paving.’ He indicated the mossy stones they were crossing, then pointed at where the vine that clung to the house was threatening to cover windows and block the gutter. ‘Living here isn’t like living in a town house with a square garden and a straight path to a rectangular drive. Here, man has built a house but nature keeps the rest.’ He opened the door for her and let her step first into the cool kitchen.

‘You live here alone?’ She gazed approvingly at the terracotta floor tiles and traditional unfinished stone walls.

‘I had a girlfriend but it didn’t work out.’

Politely, she didn’t ask for details but looked through the open door into hallway. ‘What beautiful stairs.’