"Exactly. Which is why I was upset and nervous and started babbling about Byron."

"Unlike the poet, I would have given you dinner first, I swear," he assured her, and took her hand. When she curled her fingers round his in relief he gave her a very direct look. "You are a woman of much allure, Jessamy. I did not imagine for one moment that you were a virgin. Why did you feel you had to tell me that?"

She stared down at their clasped hands. "I suppose because you said there should be truth between us. And after that nonsense about Byron it just came out I thought that maybe here, in Italy, even someone my age might be expected-"

"To be a virgin," he finished for her.

"Right And after your experience with Renata I wanted you to know this first. Not-" She halted, her face hot again.

"Not during the rapture of our first night together," he said, a deepened note in his voice which sent a great shiver down her spine. "You are cold," he said instantly, but she shook her head.

"No. Not in the least." She looked at him in appeal. "As I've told you before, it's the effect you have on me. Would you put your arms around me, Lorenzo? Please?"

His eyes dilated, his fingers suddenly cruelly tight on hers. "Come inside, then. Out here I feel as if the eyes of the world are on us."

Once inside the beautiful, formal room he dropped her hand, removed his jacket, then stood very still, just looking at her, and after a moment or two Jess realised it was up to her to make the first move. She went to him, arms outstretched, and with a smile which made her bones feel hollow Lorenzo drew her close against him, bending his dark head to hers. She could felt his heart thudding against hers, and clutching him closer so that he could kiss her and make everything better. The kiss made everything so much better that in a very short time both of them were ravenous for more than mere food. Then Jess's stomach gave a great, unromantic grumble and Lorenzo put her away from him, laughing uproariously.

"You are hungry!"

She nodded, giggling like a schoolgirl. "Yes. I am. Now."

He raised a quizzical eyebrow. "Now?"

"I couldn't have eaten a thing a while ago, when you were angry with me."

He grasped her by the shoulders and shook her gently. "You were angry with me, also, Jessamy."

She bit her lip. "I've said I'm sorry."

"I need more than words to heal my hurt!"

Jess reached up to wind her arms round his neck and kissed him with such passionate contrition Lorenzo put her away at last, breathing hard.

"We must eat," he said unsteadily. "Before you tempt me into behaving like your mad Lord Byron. But first," he added with sudden emphasis, "my only reason for bringing you here tonight was something you said during the flight"

She eyed him in surprise. "What did I say?"

"You said you would prefer me to kiss yon in private, Jessamy. So. Instead of showing you off in triumph in the restaurant I chose to bring you here." His eyes held hers. "But only to kiss, and to touch, perhaps. Nothing more. You believe this?"

"Yes," said Jess in deep remorse. "Of course I do."

Lorenzo seated her with much ceremony at me table. "Our dinner is in the refrigerator in my seldom-used kitchen. For this, our first meal together, I chose dishes which would wait as long as we wished. So tonight I must play waiter." He went from the room, then returned with a tray he placed on the credenza. He set two plates on the table, then opened the bottle of wine, his eyes dancing. "And tonight we shall actually drink some prosecco, no?" ,

"Yes!" Jess smiled radiantly as he filled her glass.

He sat down, gazing into her eyes. "What shall we drink to?"

She thought for a moment, then raised her glass. "To truth-always!" '

"Sempre la verith," he echoed.

The meal would have been tempting if Jess had possessed no appetite at all. As it was, with their first quarrel behind them, her relief was intense at surviving it without alienating Lorenzo forever. Suddenly hungry, she was quick to start on the salad of San Daniele ham and figs, and savoured the flavours of mint and basil with enthusiasm Lorenzo viewed with open approval.

"At last, I see you eat," he said with satisfaction.

"I do it all the time-too much, sometimes," she assured him indistinctly. "Which is why I'm never going to be like Leo or Kate."

"Why should you wish to be?" he said, frowning.

"They can eat anything they like and stay slim." She smiled at him philosophically. "I tend to get a bit too rounded if I indulge too often."

"Rounded," he repeated, lingering on the word with pleasure. "I like this very much. I prefer a woman who curves in and out in certain delectable places. Like you, amore."

So she was amore again. Euphoric with relief, Jess began with enthusiasm on the main course of filleted salmon served with anchovy and caper mayonnaise, and sat back at last with a blissful sigh. "That was perfect," she informed him, and got up to take their plates, waving Lorenzo back when he would have done it for her. "No, let me. I need to make up to you for being so horrible." She shook her head. "When I think of all you've done-"

"Please! I do not wish to hear this." He paused, eyeing her intently. "Jessamy, when I spoke of my reward on the plane, did you really think I meant to claim this tonight? In payment for an air fare and a few medical bills for your friend?"

"No! That never occurred to me. But when you brought me here and I saw the scene set like this-" She shrugged ruefully. "I was afraid that history was repeating itself."

Lorenzo's eyes narrowed. "What is this history, Jessamy?"

"Are you sure you want to hear? The story of my love-life is short enough, goodness knows, but very boring."

"Not to me," he assured her. "Nothing about you could bore me. Tell me. Start at the very beginning of this love-life of yours. The very first man in your life."

Jess sat down and put out a hand and Lorenzo grasped it, smiling in encouragement. "Very well, then," she began, resigned. "I experienced my first run-in with sex-it certainly wasn't love-with the boy who took me home from the farewell dance at my school. I was seventeen."

Lorenzo's grasp tightened. "He was also young?"

Jess nodded. "But older than me. In more ways than one. He was captain of games at his own school, and good-looking in a hunky kind of way."

"Hunky?"

"More muscles and hormones than brains."

"Ah." Lorenzo nodded, enlightened.

"I'd had such a good time. Mother bought me a great dress, Leo did my hair, and all my friends envied me my partner because he was the best-looking boy there. He drove me home in the moonlight in his father's car, and on the way back he parked in a lane, took a rug from the back seat and suggested a stroll down to the river. I thought he just wanted a few kisses. Which he did, to start with. But he'd come prepared for a lot more than that. In every way." She pulled a face. "He was a big, muscular lad and very fit. I didn't stand a chance."

Lorenzo frowned darkly. "He hurt you?"

"He certainly did. I fought like a wildcat, which was not only useless and gave me bruises, but excited him so much that when he got his way at last it was over almost as soon as it had begun. He was furious and humiliated, I was hysterical with rage, and he drove me home at such speed it's a wonder we both got there in one piece. I never heard from him again. Nor," she added, eyes flashing, "did I want to."

Lorenzo said something short arid expressive in his own tongue, then raised her hand to his lips, eyeing her questioningly. "And this came back to haunt you tonight?"

"Heavens, no!" Jess drank some of her wine. "I just mentioned it to explain my reluctance to repeat the experience. It would be different, I told myself, when I actually fell in love. I just had to wait until that happy day arrived." She shook her head sadly. "One day I really thought it had. But when we got as far as bed at last the whole thing left me cold. So the man vanished into the night in a huff."

"Were you heartbroken?" asked Lorenzo tenderly.