"Roberta," he said, lifting Jess's hand to his lips. "I have asked Jessamy to marry me."

Roberta looked stunned for a moment, then his eyes lit up with pure delight, and he got up to kiss Jess on both cheeks. "Ottimol From the look of triumph on my brother's face, cam, I assume you have consented?"

She nodded. "You probably think this is all very sudden. Do you approve?" she added bluntly.

Roberta gave his brother a drink, then sat down opposite with his own, grinning as he raised his hand in blessing. "If Lorenzo is happy of course I approve. I think my brother is a fortunate man." He shrugged. "But it is no real surprise, Jess. After years of trying to interest him in various charming ladies, with no success at all, one day he saw your photograph and-" He snapped his fingers. "That was that"

The telephone rang' in the hall and Lorenzo got up, excusing himself as he went to answer it When they were alone, Robert leaned forward, his eyes bright with urgency.

"My brother was greatly affected by his wife's death, Jess," he said rapidly in an undertone. "He may not have told you this. He has never discussed it. But for a long time afterwards he was like a man turned to stone. It has taken him a very long time to recover, and I would not see him hurt again, you understand. You are sure of your feelings for him, Jess? In such a short time?"

"Utterly certain." Jess gave him a very straight look. "I never imagined something so wonderful would ever happen to me."

Eyes softened, Roberto sat back in undisguised relief. "Bene! Then I welcome you to our family with a glad heart." He paused, staring down into his drink. "Does your-your family know?"

Knowing he really meant Leonie, Jess shook her head. "No. I need time to get used to the idea myself first"

"Naturally." Roberto looked up with a smile as his brother returned. "Isabella?"

"No, the hotel. A small crisis which demands my presence for a while tomorrow." Lorenzo shrugged ruefully, and resumed his place by Jess. "I must leave you for a few hours in the morning, carissima. But I shall return to you as soon as I can."

After the excitement of the dinner party Emily was glad to stay in bed next morning, and sent her goodbyes via Jess, who breakfasted with the brothers before they drove off separately to Florence.

"You must also rest, carissima," said Lorenzo, once Roberto had gone. "I shall be home this afternoon, I promise."

"I'll miss you," she said huskily, as she walked with him to the car, and Lorenzo took her in his arms and held her tightly.

"I am very glad that you will miss me!" he said against her lips and kissed her, leaving Jess to wave forlornly as he drove off.

Anna came hurrying out into the courtyard to inform Jess that the invalid had gone back to sleep after her breakfast "The evening exhausted her. She is not as strong yet as she believes," said the nurse darkly. "Dottore Tosti has asked me to stay until Emily's mother arrives to look after her."

Jess thanked her, then sat under the trees with a book, smiling to herself. Bruno Tosti obviously thought she couldn't be trusted to look after her friend herself, even though she'd done it before often enough, due to Emily's habit of catching any bug going the rounds during winter.

In some ways Jess felt glad to be alone for a while, just to sit and think over the past few days. Love at first sight was possible, she knew very well from Leo and Jonah, but she had never, in her wildest dreams, expected to experience it herself. On the rare occasions when marriage had actually figured in her thoughts, she'd visualised some steady, affectionate man who would make a good husband and father. But all that had changed the day she first set eyes on Lorenzo Forli. She stretched out on the couch she normally shared with him, so lost in daydreams she was startled when Caria touched her shoulder gently and mimed a telephone call.

"Lorenzo?" said Jess hopefully, jumping up.

Caria shook her head, smiling indulgently, and said very clearly, "Signora Moretd-Isabella!"

Jess went in the house and picked up me telephone from a marble table in the hall, clearing her throat a little nervously before she said a cautious hello.

"This is Isabella Moretti, sister of Lorenzo. You are Jessamy?" said an attractive voice more heavily accented than either of her brothers'.

"Yes, I am. How do you do?"

"Piacere! Caria says he has gone to Firenze, and you are alone. I hope I did not disturb you."

"No, indeed. How nice of you to ring. Roberto said you might come to the villa today."

"This is why I call, cam. I would so much like to meet you, but I know your friend has been ill. Would it disturb her if I come to lunch?"

"Not at all," said Jess with complete truth. Emily would be agog. "We'd both be delighted. Are you bringing your little boys?"

Isabella laughed, a husky, joyous sound very like Roberto's. "No, no. That would be much too much for everyone. They are in school. You shall meet them another time. Tell Caria I arrive at noon. Ciao!"

Jess went into the kitchen to inform Caria, with a great deal of hand-waving, mat Isabella was coming to lunch, then went upstairs to find the invalid up and dressed.

Emily turned from the mirror to smile at her, hairbrush in hand. "Feeling blue without Lorenzo?

"I was." Jess admitted, grinning. "But we'll soon have diversion, ducky. Signora Isabella Moretti is coming to lunch!"

Emily laughed. "Not breakfast, then?"

"No. And at least she warned us first I'm off for a shower." Jess eyed herself in the mirror without pleasure. "Just look at my hair-I was mad to have it cut so short."

"Very stylish, dearie, as you well know, so go and do magic with a hot brush, and I'll creep downstairs to the courtyard to read." Emily grinned. "Don't worry, Anna's given permission!"

Jess eyed her friend's face closely. "You certainly look better than you did last night, Em. Too much excitement, obviously, especially when Roberto turned up."

"Probably-he's very different from big brother!"

"Of course," retorted Jess. "Lorenzo's unique."

Certain that Isabella Moretti would be the picture of Italian chic, Jess worked on her hair until it gleamed, and dressed in black linen trousers and a cream silk shirt, with a plaited black leather belt Leonie had once brought her from the shops near the Santa Croce in Florence.

"Very classy," said Emily, when Jess joined her in the courtyard. "None of the babes you hue for the agency could do better."

"Thank you for those kind words." Jess pulled a face. "Silly, I know, but I'm nervous."

"How old is this famous Isabella?"

"She's the youngest, so late twenties. I suppose." Jess looked round with a smile as young Gina came out, carrying a tray with a pitcher and glasses. "Grave, Gina."

"I pleaded with Anna for a change from mineral water," said Emily, inspecting the ice-filled jug. "This, by the look of it, is fresh lemonade-bliss!"

When a car was heard soon afterwards Jess put down her glass and got to her feet, inwardly bracing herself as a sleek white roadster appeared through the cypresses. "You stay there, invalid. I'll do the necessary."

The driver slid from the car the moment it stopped, whipping off scarf and sunglasses to smile as she hurried forward, her dark eyes bright with animation.

"You are Jessamy," said the new arrival, and seized Jess by the shoulders and kissed her on both cheeks.

Isabella Moretti was a feminine, curvy version of her brother Roberto, her hair cut to hang in a skilful bellshape about her face.

"How nice to meet you," said Jess, responding involuntarily to the visitor's unaffected warmth. Isabella Moretti was just as elegant as imagined, in a starkly plain beige linen dress, her matching shoes a miracle of Florentine craft, her jewellery limited to a pair of rings and a watch set in a gold bracelet which hung loose from her wrist. "Please come and meet my friend, Emily Shaw."

Emily got up to extend her hand in greeting, and said a rather shy hello.

"Piacere! Sit, please," said Isabella, and took the hand, but also kissed both of Emily's still-wan cheeks. "Such bad luck to be ill on holiday."