‘We’re going to an opera house?’

‘In a sense. The judge is waiting for you at the Caracalla Baths.’

‘Baths?’ she echoed cautiously.

‘The Emperor Caracalla built a public bath complex nearly two thousand years ago. It’s a ruin now, but every summer there are performances of operas.’

The light was fading fast by the time they entered the city, and her first view of the huge stone ruin was in floodlight. Before she had finished gazing with delight she saw Matteo, tall and elegant, standing by the kerb, waiting for her. He was in a dinner jacket and black bow-tie, and even in the crowds that thronged the streets he stood out as an impressive man.

‘Take the rest of the night off,’ he told the chauffeur as he handed Holly from the car.

Close by was a small bar, and he led her inside. ‘We have time for a drink before the performance.’

As she seated herself she was aware of him studying her with approval.

‘I see you resisted the temptation to send that dress back,’ he said. ‘I’m glad. I thought at the time that the black would suit you better than the red.’

‘At the time? You mean, on that first evening? Just how far ahead have you been planning?’

He shrugged lightly. ‘No good lawyer allows himself to be outwitted by unforeseen events.’

‘So when I turned up in your compartment on the train, you had anticipated everything?’

‘Well-perhaps not quite everything,’ he conceded, smiling at her.

She smiled back, enjoying the shared joke. But at once she wished she hadn’t. It simply wasn’t safe to laugh with this man and risk something irresistible coming into his eyes, with double the force as they met hers directly.

Holly had a sudden mischievous urge to ask just how far ahead he had organised her life, and whether she would be allowed any say in it at all, but wisdom made her suppress it. They had a distance to travel yet and there would be time enough to tease him.

‘Which opera are we going to see?’ she asked, changing the subject to something safer.

‘It’s a concert tonight. I think you’ll enjoy it. It starts at nine o’clock, so we should be going soon.’

Her first close look at the Caracalla Baths astonished her.

‘I thought it would be a sort of swimming pool,’ she said, looking around at the open-air theatre under the stars, the huge stage, flanked by two great, ancient brick columns.

‘It was a lot more than a swimming pool,’ he said, enjoying her awe. ‘There was a gymnasium, a sauna, a hot bath, a warm bath and a freezing bath. After that you got to swim in the pool, browse in the library or wander the grounds. Now all that’s left is a ruin-’

‘But what a ruin,’ she said, turning right round, and then again. ‘And all the grandees used to bathe here?’

‘Not just grandees. There would be nearly two thousand at a time. This place was for everyone. We Romans do things properly.’

‘We Romans,’ she said with a hint of teasing. ‘You make it sound as thought it’s all still happening.’

‘But it is,’ he said. ‘Look around you.’

She did so, and saw how the crowds were pouring in, how the lights made the ruins vivid. After nearly two thousand years this place was alive in a way that many new buildings would never be.

And so was the man looking at her with a vibrant intensity that she couldn’t dismiss. He threw everything else into shadow, and made her conscious of each part of herself, responding to him.

The concert was a selection of light music, popular arias, bouncy overtures and Strauss waltzes. As the music washed over her, filling her with ease, Holly knew that Matteo had chosen perfectly. It was like being caught up in a delightful dream of which he was a cleverly unobtrusive part. She could sink into it or emerge from it, as she pleased.

Now, she felt, she understood his plan. He was trying to enchant her, even to make her fall a little in love with him-and all to keep her reserved for himself and Liza.

But she knew he had no idea of loving her in return. She had heard him say, ‘My heart is armoured, and nothing will change that.’ This was merely to keep her away from the attentions of other men. He would coax her just so far into love, then say, Stay there! as he might to an obedient dog.

Cheeky, she thought, more amused than annoyed. But at least I know what you’re up to, so there’s no harm done. And I’ve discovered that I can play games, too.

‘Why are you smiling?’ he asked her as the applause died away.

‘Was I? I didn’t know.’

‘That makes it even more intriguing. You were wrapped up in some private thought of your own; one that fascinates you. Perhaps you are plotting something?’

He paused, but she stayed silent, merely turning her smile directly onto him.

‘I see,’ he murmured with a slow nod. ‘You mean to pique my curiosity.’

‘What makes you think it has anything to do with you at all?’

‘I hope it has.’

‘Then you’re very conceited. My thoughts had drifted elsewhere. I apologise. Since you’re entertaining me it was rude of me to be thinking of other m-that is, of anyone…anything else.’

She thought she’d managed that rather well. He thought so too because his eyes gleamed appreciation.

‘Not Bruno,’ he said. ‘Only promise me that. It would disappoint me to think you were yearning for that piece of trash.’

‘Not Bruno, I promise. In fact, it was Tomaso.’ She gave a wistful sigh. ‘I wonder how I managed to lose his interest so quickly. But you, who are his friend, can advise me how to win back his heart.’

He raised her hand and brushed his lips against the back. ‘Magnificent,’ he whispered. ‘Your tactics are perfect.’

‘So is my strategy,’ she assured him.

‘Don’t tell me I’ve met a woman who actually knows the difference between tactics and strategy?’

‘Strategy is when the enemy is out of sight, and tactics are for when the enemy is right in front of you.’

‘And I’m the enemy?’

‘I don’t know. Are you?’

‘I haven’t quite decided.’

Holly leaned back, regarding him with a slow, luxurious smile.

‘Neither have I,’ Holly assured him.

The second half featured a well-known soprano singing of love betrayed. She was a superb performer, but Holly was untouched. Heartbreak was yesterday. Today led to tomorrow-and the next day…

As they left the baths he said, ‘It’s only midnight. We have time for a little supper.’

He made it sound like a spontaneous decision but she wasn’t surprised when they reached the restaurant to find the table booked.

He gave the order for food, then asked, ‘Do you have any preferences for wine?’

‘I should like to drink champagne, please. I have a special reason.’

The champagne was served at once, and when they were alone again Matteo asked, ‘What are we celebrating?’

‘My freedom,’ she said, raising her glass with a sigh of delight. ‘I wasn’t sure of it until tonight, but now I am.’

‘Why tonight? What is it? Holly, why are you laughing? Am I being stupid about something?’

There was an edgy note in his voice, as if she’d touched a nerve.

‘Not at all,’ she hastened to reassure him. ‘It’s just that we’re here, in public. If you can risk being seen with me, then I must be safe.’

‘I don’t think you have anything further to worry about. Bruno is no problem as long as he makes himself scarce, which he seems to be doing. Forget him. You’re here to have fun. How long since you last had any? The last time you saw him, I suppose.’

‘No,’ she said, suddenly realising. ‘Being with Bruno was heady and thrilling, but I was too tense to simply enjoy myself. Maybe I sensed even then that something else was going on.’ She gave a half-smile. ‘But that’s the beginning of wisdom, isn’t it? Knowing that something else is always going on.’

‘Perhaps not always,’ he said cautiously.

‘Oh, I think so. Or at least far more often than people realise, and usually with the last person you’d expect.’

‘But according to you it can be expected from everyone,’ he pointed out, watching her.

‘I’ve had time to learn from experience, and it’s very illuminating.’

He didn’t answer at once, but she could feel the teasing humour die.

‘Yes, it is,’ he said heavily at last.

‘I can’t look back far enough to find an evening I’ve enjoyed like tonight. It’s as if you’ve given me a new world. You’re right. This was a wonderful idea. And practical, of course.’

He was refilling her glass but he stopped, looking up in surprise.

‘Practical?’

‘Certainly. We need to talk about Liza, and it’s difficult at home because she’s such a sharp little thing that she always knows what’s going on, and wants to be part of it. So arranging to meet outside was a really clever idea on your part.’

‘I see. I was as clever as that, was I?’

‘Oh, yes. Of course, it helps that you’re a judge-having an businesslike mind, I mean.’

He regarded her with ironic appreciation, and didn’t even try to find an answer to this. One up to her, she thought.

‘Now, about Liza,’ she resumed. ‘I think I’ve gone as far as I can on my own, but I need you to tell me a lot more, not just about her, but about her mother.’

‘Surely you can learn that from Liza herself,’ he said gruffly.

‘Not really. A little girl can’t know everything, even about herself. I know she’s trying to see her mother in me, but sooner or later she has to let go. If she starts telling herself that Mamma has somehow come back-well, that wouldn’t be good for her. I’m going carefully, feeling out each situation, one by one, but I’m groping in the dark.’

‘Then you’re doing something right by instinct,’ he said. ‘That book that you’re reading together-it belonged to Carol. She used to read it to Liza. She wanted her to be fluent in her own language as well as Italian.’