‘You see, you still care for me.’

‘I’ve never denied that either. You’re great fun, Freddy, but I wouldn’t be married to you again for all the tea in China.’

‘You wouldn’t get the chance. I’ve replaced you several times over.’

‘You didn’t wait for the divorce to do that,’ Joanna said wryly.

There was a brief silence before Freddy said, ‘And may I remind you, my darling, that there’s more than one way to be unfaithful? Oh, forget it. We agreed, no hard feelings on either side.’

‘Yes,’ she said, and Gustavo wondered if he only imagined the note of relief in her voice.

He was ashamed of himself for eavesdropping, but once he’d started to listen nothing could have made him draw back. For some reason he needed to know what sort of relationship Joanna had with the man whose wife she’d once been. What he heard left him not knowing what to think.

But he would have given a good deal to know how to interpret ‘there’s more than one way to be unfaithful’.

A moment later there was a step outside the room, and Gustavo turned to see Freddy enter alone.

‘Coffee?’ he asked politely.

‘Thanks,’ Freddy said. ‘Well, well, fancy it being you!’

‘You mean you’ve heard that old story? Well, it’s history now, and there’s no more mileage to be had out of it,’ Gustavo said, keeping his voice light.

‘Anything you say.’ Freddy accepted the coffee and spooned in a generous amount of sugar. Seeing Gustavo regarding him he said, ‘I’ve got a very sweet tooth.’

‘So I would have imagined.’

Freddy gave a slight frown. He wasn’t normally quick on the uptake but there was no mistaking Gustavo’s tone.

‘Meaning?’ he asked. ‘Meaning?’

‘Let’s just say that Joanna is a very generous woman.’

‘Oh, you heard that last bit? Well, yes, she is a generous woman, but I’m a very tolerant man. It’s not easy for a man when she’s so much richer than he is. There’s always that inequality, and you can’t help feeling it. But I did my best to cope.’

Gustavo turned away to conceal his disgust. But in the next moment a picture flashed into his mind.

Joanna’s suite at the Ritz, the most expensive the hotel had to offer. And his own single room, so much cheaper.

There’s always that inequality, and you can’t help feeling it.

Who was he to censure this man for seeking Joanna’s money?

He recalled the indulgent half-contempt in her voice as she’d yielded to Freddy’s pleas. She was used to men who were after her money. They were probably the only kind she’d ever known. Starting with himself.

And, like the voice of the serpent, there came into his ear the sound of Joanna saying, ‘You abandoned my large fortune for her small one. I call that honourable.’

‘Hey, are you all right?’ Freddy clapped a hand on his shoulder.

‘Yes,’ Gustavo said, with difficulty. ‘Yes, I’m all right.’

He got out fast before he did something violent.

On the way up to his room he met Joanna coming down. She smiled and touched his arm.

‘I’m sorry to dash off and leave you last night, but I really had to talk to Freddy.’

‘Obviously there was a lot to talk about,’ he said, trying to keep an edge out of his voice, and not quite succeeding.

‘It was mostly about Billy. He isn’t seeing as much of him as he’d like, so we had to work something out.’

‘And it took all night? He was supposed to be leaving yesterday.’

She smiled wryly. ‘He only said that to get my attention. I’m afraid Freddy tends to say whatever is convenient at the moment. That’s the kind of man he is.’

‘Astonishing!’

‘What does that mean?’

‘Nothing, I’m just in a bad mood.’

‘Gustavo, I have a confession to make. Freddy wants to see Billy. He has every right and Billy loves to be with him, so-’

He groaned. ‘So he’s coming to stay with us? When?’

‘I don’t know. Do you mind?’

‘Would it make any difference if I did?’

Laughing ruefully, she shook her head.

‘Hello there!’

The shout behind them made them turn and groan simultaneously.

‘What’s up, Freddy?’ Joanna said.

‘Well, I thought it was time we were on our way to Italy.’

‘We?’ Gustavo echoed ominously.

‘Yes, didn’t Jo say she’d invited me?’

‘She has just informed me of the honour of your visit,’ Gustavo said glacially.

‘Honour? That’s very kind of you but there’s no need to go overboard. A bed in the corner will do me.’

‘I think we can manage a little better than that,’ Gustavo said with terrifying courtesy. ‘So, we three shall travel to Rome together.’

‘Jolly good!’ Freddy whipped out his cellphone. ‘I’ll let Billy know now.’

‘No, don’t.’ Joanna put a hand on his arm. ‘Surprise him. Think of his face when you walk in.’

Freddy beamed. ‘What a sight!’

‘I’ll call and book the tickets,’ Joanna said.

‘Be sure to let me know how much I owe you,’ Gustavo said firmly.

‘Get first class,’ Freddy called. ‘More leg room.’

‘You’ll fit yourself into whatever I can get,’ she called back cheerfully.

Left alone, the two men eyed each other. Gustavo’s dislike was mixed with unease, but he doubted if anything in the world could make Freddy uneasy, unless it was a bill and no Joanna to pay it.

CHAPTER NINE

JOANNA managed to get three first-class tickets to Rome, landing at seven o’clock that evening.

‘I called Billy and said I’d be there tonight,’ she told Gustavo as they flew over France later that day.

‘Did you weaken after all, and tell him his father’s coming?’

‘No, I don’t want to spoil the surprise. But he’ll be thrilled. They’re just kids together. My only fear is that Billy’s growing up so fast that he’s soon going to find his father a little young for him. But he’s so kind-hearted that I expect he’ll hide that.’

‘Freddy’s a lucky man. Tell me something-has Billy ever blamed you for Freddy’s disappearance?’

‘You mean in the way Renata blames you? No. But then Freddy hasn’t actually disappeared. They’re in touch all the time, either talking or texting.’

Gustavo sighed. ‘Yes, that’s it, isn’t it?’

‘Do you hear from Crystal?’

‘I believe she’s in Paris right now, with her gigolo. She’s sent Renata some postcards, mostly talking about the wonderful time she’s having.’

She squeezed his hand sympathetically, and he squeezed in return. But she knew it wasn’t the moment to try to draw him back to the mood that had been shattered last night, especially with Freddy sitting just across the gangway.

At Rome they went through the formalities of entry. As they came out of Customs Joanna, who was walking first, saw Carlo with Billy. She made frantic signs for the boy to look behind her, then stepped aside, giving him a good view of Freddy. The next moment the child’s shriek and the man’s yell split the air.

‘Dad!’

‘Billy!’

Then they were in each other’s arms, hugging tightly, swinging around and around, while people passing by stopped to stare and smile at such happiness.

Laughing with pleasure, Joanna turned to see Gustavo, also watching them, and the look on his face broke her heart. There was no child here to greet him.

‘Renata’s in bed,’ Carlo said quickly. ‘She didn’t sleep well last night, so Laura thought-you know-’

‘Of course,’ Gustavo said in a toneless voice. ‘I’m sure Laura knows best.’

Getting everyone into the car was a tight squeeze.

‘I didn’t know there was going to be a third person,’ Carlo explained apologetically.

‘No matter,’ Gustavo said. ‘You all go ahead, I’ll get a taxi.’

‘I’ll come with you,’ Joanna said.

‘No, go with your son.’

‘Are you kidding? He’s got his father; he doesn’t need me right now.’

But Billy called to her, ‘Come on, Mum. Come in here with Dad and me.’

‘Go on,’ Gustavo said quietly and walked away without waiting for an answer.

Billy came and grabbed her by the hand, pulling her to the car. ‘It’s gonna be great, all being together,’ he said.

‘Of course it is, darling,’ she said cheerfully, not wanting to spoil it for him.

But inwardly her heart ached for Gustavo, returning to his home alone because there was nobody there who wanted him.

At the palazzo Joanna was greeted by the housekeeper with the news that her new room was ready.

‘My new room?’ she queried.

‘His Excellency telephoned me with instructions that Signor Manton was to be put in the Julius Caesar room and move you to a suite on the next corridor.’

‘I thought it would be nice for him to be next to Billy,’ Gustavo said when she went to find him. ‘I was sure you’d feel the same, since you are so anxious for them to enjoy each other’s company. I don’t think you’ll have any complaints about your new accommodation.’

It was certainly magnificent, and it seemed as though nothing could be more genial than Gustavo’s concern for his new guest, although she suspected him of a hidden agenda.

Freddy, popping along to see her, whistled at the sight, and immediately pinpointed her suspicion.

‘He’s taken care to put you a long way away from me, hasn’t he?’

‘Nonsense. He was thinking of you.’

‘Sure, and I’m very glad to be next to Billy. But why did he move you as far away as this?’

‘Freddy, I’ll get cross with you in a minute.’

‘That’s right, darling, you do that. I always knew when I’d hit the nail on the head, because it made you so mad.’

He laughed and went off to find Billy, leaving Joanna wishing she knew what to think.

Almost at once she was plunged back into work. The team descended on her, eager to bring her up-to-date, and for days she hardly left the dig.

She felt as if she was floating in limbo. She had shared with Gustavo a moment of incredible sweetness, spoiled by Freddy’s untimely arrival. Now she longed to reach out and catch once more at the whispering shadows of that moment, perhaps even reclaim it entirely. But somehow the time was never right. Freddy’s presence in the house was an inhibition, and Gustavo himself seemed content to let things remain like this, not going out of his way to be with her. Sometimes she almost wondered if she had imagined everything.