"How lovely!" exclaimed Emily.

"Villa Portuna," announced Lorenzo. He looked at Jess, a question in his eyes. "You approve?"

"How could I not?" she said with fervour. "It's heavenly!"

Then there was a commotion as a small, plump woman came hurrying from the house, followed by a thin, dark man, both of them talking at once to welcome the lord of the manor and his guests.

Lorenzo jumped out of the car, smiling broadly in return, and suddenly Jess saw a different side of him. This was the man who'd been born here, and these the exuberant, affectionate couple who had known him from his birth. He greeted them with warm affection, then presented Jess to them with a proprietary air no one watching could fail to interpret.

"This is Caria, who cooks like an angel from heaven," he told her, "and Mario who takes care of everything else." He translated rapidly, bring much bridling laughter from the woman and a pleased smile from her husband.

Jess held out her hand. "Piacere," she said, with as good an accent as she could muster.

Her essay into Italian brought forth an incomprehensible stream of it in return, though the gist of it was easy enough to understand. The fact that Signer Lorenzo had brought guests to stay was the cause of much happiness for Caria and Mario Monti, and much sympathy for a white-faced Emily when, despite her protests that she could walk, Lorenzo carried her from the car to one of the shaded chairs.

"La poverina!" said Caria with sympathy, then hurried off to fetch refreshments, taking Anna with her while her husband saw to the luggage.

"We shall sit here for a few minutes," said Lorenzo, pulling up a chair for Jess. "It is not too hot for you, Emily?"

"Not in the least," she assured him. "Besides, there's a lovely cool breeze here."

"We Tuscans build our houses on top of hills for just this purpose," he assured her, and turned to Jess. "And you, Jessamy? How do you feel?"

Knowing that Lorenzo meant a great deal more than whether she'd survived the journey without ill effect, Jess smiled at him luminously, and leaned back in her chair with a sigh of pleasure. "I feel wonderful," she assured him, and waved at the view. "I'd be happy just to sit here all day, gazing at this fabulous landscape. When I stayed with Leo I never went outside the city."

"I am pleased you like my home." He looked up with a smile for Caria, who was returning with a tray of coffee and almond biscuits recently taken from the oven. "Grazie," he said as she put it down in front of Jess, then listened, nodding in approval, as Caria spoke at length before bestowing a smile on the guests and hurrying back into the house.

"Anna is putting your clothes away, Emily," he reported. "And the nurse says that once you have finished your coffee you must rest on your bed, so that you will feel strong enough to join us for lunch."

Jess grinned at the mutinous expression on her friend's face. "Anna's quite a tyrant, isn't she? But she's right, Em. Take it easy for a while."

"I will." Emily smiled ruefully. "In fact I'll be quite glad to lie down again. Feeble, isn't it?"

"You cannot expect to recover from la pleurite overnight," said Lorenzo gently. "Soon, once the medication has had more time to take effect, I shall take you exploring with Jessamy." He stood up. "But for the moment forgive me if I leave you for a while to speak with Mario."

When he'd gone Jess poured coffee with a steady hand, aware that Emily was watching her speculatively. "What?" she asked, adding cream and sugar.

"When you said all that about truly, madly, deeply and so on," began Emily in an undertone.

"Yes."

"Lorenzo feels the same about you, doesn't he?"

Jess smiled happily as she sat back with her coffee. "He says he does."

Emily pulled a face. "Which makes the situation a tad awkward for me, old love."

Jess shot a surprised glance at her. "Why?"

"Would you like playing gooseberry if the situation were reversed?"

Jess was quiet for a moment, trying to find words of reassurance. She took her sunglasses off and leaned forward to emphasise her words. "Actually, Em, it doesn't matter whether we're alone or not. To be in love with someone doesn't mean one has to make love."

"Not for you. Snow Queen, I know. But for most people it does."

Jess smiled crookedly. "Actually it does for me, too. This time."

Emily chuckled. "I thought as much. We've lived together for quite a while, Jess Dysart, but I've never seen you like this before."

"I know. But don't worry. I'm happy just as long as Lorenzo's somewhere near at hand. I promise there'll be no embarrassing displays of affection," Jess assured her. "Besides," she added, "there's not only you, but Anna, Caria and Mario, to name but a few. And Lorenzo said his sister, Isabella, will come rushing to inspect us when she discovers he's got guests."

"Is that a habit of hers?"

"Apparently he's never brought anyone to stay before. A woman, I mean."

Emily whistled softly, and held out her cup for more coffee. "Which means, I hazard a guess, that Signer Forii's intentions are strictly honourable where you're concerned."

Jess wasn't listening. She was smiling in a way which plainly dazzled the man who came to join them. "Is everything all right, Lorenzo?"

"Yes," he said simply, taking the chair beside her. "Everything." His eyes detached themselves from hers with an effort, which plainly delighted the third member of the trio. "How are you feeling, Emily?"

"She's feeling awkward," said Jess bluntly.

Emily went scarlet and Lorenzo frowned.

"Awkward?" he queried.

"She feels she's playing gooseberry," Jess informed him.

Lorenzo thought for a moment, mentally translating the unfamiliar term, then his face cleared, and he smiled at Emily with such warmth her colour receded a little. "Ah! I see." He nodded. "Jessamy has told you that she-she cares for me, no?"

"Yes," said Emily. "But she put it a lot more strongly than that"

Lorenzo exchanged a gleaming look with Jess, then turned back to her friend. "I shall be frank. I fell in love with Jessamy the moment I first saw her. And I consider myself the most fortunate of men, because last night she told me-"

"That it was the same for me," interrupted Jess. "And for the very first time, as you know better than anyone, Em."

"I do indeed. I'm very happy for you." Emily beamed on them both, then turned away a little to cough painfully. "Sorry. I think maybe it's time I found that bed. And not," she added breathlessly, "because I feel in the way. I just feel a bit weary."

Jess looked at her watch. "And in a few minutes it's time for the next dose of pills. Lorenzo, could you show us where we're to sleep?"

"Of course." He went over to Emily. "Come. I shall carry you upstairs."

"No, really!" she protested, looking horrified. "I can walk."

"Let us see how you are once you are inside," he compromised, and took her arm while Jess held on to the other.

Inside the house it was cool, and both Lorenzo's guests exclaimed with pleasure at the sight of gleaming tiled floors and stone walls, with arched doorways leading off the large hall into the various ground-floor rooms. A mixture of comfortable modem furniture lived in harmony with antique pieces, giving a very different effect from the formality of Lorenzo's apartment in the hotel.