"I, too," he said, kissing away her tears. "But this is not possible for a week or so. I shall join you the moment I can, I swear." He looked up to smile at Emily, who was hovering in the doorway.

"Come. Join us," he said at once, getting to his feet.

"I don't want to intrude," she said awkwardly, "but I heard Jess crying. Is anything wrong?"

Jess smiled, sniffing hard, blissfully ignorant of mascara streaks under her eyes. "Come and sit down. Look!" She held out her hand. "Lorenzo just gave me this."

"And you're crying?" Emily shook her head. "I'd be over the moon if someone gave me a ring like that!"

"I did not bring you a ring, Emily," said Lorenzo, handing over a package. "But I think you may like this.''

She gazed at him, horrified. "After all you've done for me I don't need presents!" Recalling her manners hurriedly, she thanked him and undid the parcel, her embarrassment changing to laughter when she held up a packet of Earl Grey tea. "Wonderful! Just what I need," she assured him.

Lorenzo went off to hand the tea over to Caria, and to change his formal suit for something more comfortable, and the three of them spent a relaxed afternoon together, Jess telling him how much they'd enjoyed meeting the vivacious Isabella.

"She's going to ring you tonight to invite us to dinner tomorrow," said Jess, "but it seems a shame to desert Mrs Shaw on her first evening here, especially when I'm leaving next day. Lorenzo, could you invite Isabella and her husband to dine here instead? Roberto, too, of course."

"You mustn't change your plans on my account," said Emily swiftly. "Mother would hate it if she thought she was causing any trouble."

Lorenzo smiled at her in reassurance. "Jessamy is right. I shall ring Isabella myself to suggest a change of plan, and tell her I am to do as she wishes and get married again."

"I've already told her," said Jess quickly. "I hope you don't mind, Lorenzo."

"Mind? I am delighted!"

"I just hope another dinner party won't be too much work for Carla."

Lorenzo laughed indulgently. "When I tell her we celebrate not only the arrival of Emily's mother but our own betrothal, carissima, Caria will be very, very happy to make a special dinner."

He was right. After a conversation with his sister after dinner Lorenzo went off to talk with Caria in the kitchen. She came hurrying back with him to kiss Jess and embrace her with exuberance, tears in her eyes as she professed her joy in a spate of words which needed no translation before she rushed off to give her husband the official news.

Emily went to bed soon afterwards, insisting she was tired out by all the excitement. Blessing her friend's tact, Jess spent the rest of the evening in the small sitting room with Lorenzo, her head on his shoulder as they made plans.

"I hope your family will receive the news with equal joy," said Lorenzo huskily, his cheek on her hair.

"I'm sure they will." Jess turned her head to meet his eyes. "But even in the unlikely event that they don't, nothing will change my mind, Lorenzo."

"Carissima!" He kissed her at length to show his appreciation. "I am delighted to hear this, of course, but I would prefer to receive your parents' blessing. I like them both very much. And little Fenella, at least, will be most pleased. She wishes to visit me here, remember."

Jess chuckled. "The moment she hears the news she'll want to be bridesmaid again, too" She frowned. "But perhaps you'd rather not have a church ceremony this time."

"Because of my first wedding?" Lorenzo shook his head. "This time it will be very different for me. I would like to many in your charming little church, Jessamy. Your parents would prefer this, no?"

"Of course they would." She looked at him questioningly. "What sort of date did you have in mind?"

"My choice would be tomorrow if we could!" He kissed her hungrily and at once the urge to talk vanished, replaced by desire so swift and overwhelming Jess surrendered herself to his mouth and hands with a lack of inhibition which, in more private surroundings, would have swiftly brought them to the inevitable conclusion.

"This is torture," Lorenzo said hoarsely. "If you love me, Jessamy, for the love of God marry me soon. I need you."

Shaken to the core by his plea, Jess held his head against her breast, smoothing the dishevelled dark hair until they were calmer. "Lorenzo," she whispered at last, and he raised his head to look at her.

"Yes, tesoro?'

"On Saturday, shall we stay at your apartment in the hotel?"

He sat up, his eyes narrowed to a triumphant gleam. "No. We shall not."

Jess raised an eyebrow. "Where, then?"

"Isabella has offered us her house in Lucca for the night. Andrea is taking his wife and sons to visit his parents in Siena. They will return on Sunday morning, just before we leave for the airport." He raised an eyebrow. "You approve?"

Jess felt a tide of hot colour flood her face. "You know I do," she muttered, and buried the offending face against his shoulder.

Lorenzo heaved in a deep, unsteady breath. "Isabella takes pride in the room she keeps for visitors. I have slept there before. But always alone. This time-"

"This time you can hold me in your arms all night," said Jess in a muffled voice.

"My problem, amore, will be to let you go in the morning!"

Because Emily was still in no fit state to make the journey, next day Jess went with Lorenzo to fetch Mrs Shaw from the airport at Pisa, and sat in the back of the car with her to reassure her that Emily was improving fast. Janet Shaw looked tired and pale, but after expressing repeated thanks to Lorenzo grew very animated at the thought other unexpected holiday to Italy, and exclaimed in delight at everything she saw on the journey. When they reached the Villa Fortuna Emily was sitting under the trees, waiting. Janet flew out of the car and rushed to embrace her daughter, and, leaving them to their tearful reunion, Lorenzo and Jess went inside the house to ask Caria to bring tea to refresh the weary traveller.

The evening was even livelier than the one before. To do justice to the occasion Jess wore a clinging black dress bought for her brother's twenty-first birthday party, with no jewellery other than the new ring, which she slid onto the appropriate finger, happy for the world to see Lorenzo's love token on her hand. When she found him alone in the salone, he said nothing at all for a moment as his eyes moved over her, then he seized her in his arms and slid a hand down her spine to hold her close against him.

"In future," he said against her mouth, "you will wear this dress only in private with me."

"Don't you like it?"

"I like it too much," he growled. "You can feel how much, no?"

"I can, yes!"

The sound of footsteps in the hall tore them apart, and when Janet Shaw came in with her daughter Lorenzo was pouring wine and Jess sitting demurely on one of the brocade armchairs. By the time Emily and her mother were provided with drinks cars were heard approaching outside, and shortly afterwards Isabella, stunning in a red. dress, came rushing in with her husband, with Roberto bringing up the rear. Andrea Moretti was neither as tall as the Forii brothers nor as striking when it came to looks, but Jess met humorous blue eyes in a thin, clever face, and liked him on sight before she was engulfed in the flood of introductions and embraces which welcomed Lorenzo's visitors within the family cycle.

Carla's dinner was a triumph, as expected. Roberto took the seat between Emily and her mother, and flirted so outrageously with both of them that by the time the first course was eaten Janet Shaw had forgotten any shyness and was enjoying herself as much as her daughter.

Later, after all the toasts had been drunk, grateful thanks expressed by the Shaws, and congratulations given to the happy pair, Jess managed a few private words with Isabella before the party broke up.

"Thank you so much for letting us stay at your house?'

Isabella's eyes danced. "My little betrothal gift to you, cara. I was sure you would prefer this to the hotel. And Andrca was perfectly happy to make a surprise visit to his parents."

Laughter dawned in Jess's eyes. "You mean-?". A sudden inspiration of mine. When I suggested it to him last night Andrca, being a man, was quick to see the advantages for Lorenzo. For you, also, no?" added Isabella with a wicked little smile. "We shall leave at ten in the morning, but Lorenzo has keys to our house, so come to Lucca whenever you wish. We shall return on Sunday morning to say goodbye before you leave."

After the drive from Florence through the industry-dominated Lucchese plain, Jess was delighted with the historic centre of Lucca, where Lorenzo told her that only taxis and residents were allowed to drive within the city walls. He pointed out the Roman legacy still evident in the grid pattern of its narrow streets, and the Piazza del Mercato, which followed the shape of the original amphitheatre, then took her to the Moretti house, which was situated just within the city walls, with a small garden which backed onto the tree-crowned sixteenth-century ramparts.

"I'm so grateful to your sister for taking such trouble for us," said Jess, while Lorenzo showed her round the house.

"Since Andrea was taking his family to Siena for the night, it was no trouble. Though I, too, am grateful-very grateful," added Lorenzo, ushering her into the guest room.