As the minutes ticked past with no sign of the missing heir the count’s smile became glassy, until at last he announced that dinner could wait no longer. The four of them entered the vast, ornate dining room where Dulcie was escorted to the place of honour.

Francesco reminisced about Lady Harriet, with many anecdotes which Dulcie was sure he’d either invented or transposed from other ladies. Now and then he reverted to the bachelor theme.

‘I keep hoping my nephews will marry and comfort me in my old age,’ he mourned. ‘But they’re all stubborn and selfish.’

‘Very selfish,’ Leo agreed with a grin. ‘We have this funny idea of marrying to suit ourselves rather than “serving the blood line”.’

‘I’m afraid we’re all lonely bachelors in this family,’ Francesco sighed.

‘And your nephew Guido,’ Dulcie asked. ‘Is he a lonely bachelor?’

‘Well, he’s certainly a bachelor,’ Marco observed.

His uncle gave him a look that would have cowed an easily frightened man.

‘I must apologise to our guest for Guido’s tardiness,’ Francesco announced. ‘But I have no doubt he will be here very soon.’

He raised his voice on the last words, as if sending a message to the delinquent to remind him of his duty. But no erring nephew materialised, and the three Calvanis exchanged glances, wondering where he could possibly be.

‘Liza, please put that thing away,’ Guido begged nervously. ‘Here, let me take it.’ He relieved the housekeeper of the shotgun and assisted her to a chair.

‘It’s not loaded,’ she said faintly. ‘I thought you were a burglar. Maria vergine! I might have killed you.’

‘Not with an unloaded gun,’ he pointed out. ‘Although you nearly gave me a heart attack. And if I’d been a burglar what were you thinking of to tackle me like that? You’ve been watching too many gangster movies.’

‘Yes,’ she said with a sigh. ‘I just thought a little excitement would be nice.’

‘A little ex-? You need a restorative. Where does my uncle keep his best brandy? Here you are.’ He handed her a glass, saying kindly, ‘This will make you feel better. And if you want excitement, you can help me out of a spot I’m in. I need to get rid of these,’ he indicated the albums. ‘Just for a few hours.’

‘But he always shows them to his guests,’ Liza declared.

‘I know, that’s why I’ve got to make them vanish. I can’t explain but a lot depends on it. In fact, everything depends on it. Liza, my whole future life is in your hands, my marriage, my children, my children’s children, the whole Calvani blood line for the next hundred years. If you don’t help me it’s all finished. You wouldn’t want that on your conscience, would you?’

‘You’re up to something.’

‘Have you ever known me when I wasn’t?’

‘No. But you won’t manage it this way. If he finds them missing he’ll call the police.’

Guido tore his hair. ‘Then what can I do?’

‘Leave it to me, signore.’

Count Francesco was at his best when talking about the past glories of Venice, and although Dulcie recognised that it was a performance she still fell under its spell.

‘Everyone came here for carnival,’ he said expansively. ‘It was a time for pleasure. You know, of course, why it’s called carnival?’

‘I’m afraid I don’t,’ she said. This was clearly the reply expected.

‘It comes from carne, meaning flesh. Knowing that it would soon be Lent, a time of austerity, people revelled in the pleasures of the flesh, preferably from behind the safety of a mask. The orgies continued right up until Shrove Tuesday and stopped on the stroke of midnight.’

‘So that’s why Carnival is in February,’ Dulcie said.

‘The February carnival is a modern revival, designed to attract tourists during the winter. But who can make merry in the cold? I mark carnival in my own way, with a masked ball in summer. This year’s ball will take place next Wednesday, and I hope you will honour me by attending.’

‘Well, I’m not quite certain if I’ll still be here next week,’ she murmured.

‘Oh, but you must,’ he said earnestly, ‘if only to spare my blushes about tonight. I don’t know how to apologise for Guido’s reprehensible behaviour in not turning up. I shall inform him of my displeasure.’

‘But you’ve already done that,’ Dulcie smiled, ‘when he telephoned to apologise, half an hour ago. I’m disappointed not to have met him, but since this was a last-minute arrangement it must have been difficult for him.’

‘You are most gracious to say so. But next week he will make his apologies in person.’

There was no turning him from this idea, so Dulcie murmured something vague and polite, and gave herself up to the enjoyment of the palazzo. When the guided tour was at an end they all drank brandy and coffee, and then the three men accompanied her to the landing stage where the boat was waiting. Leo and Marco would have taken her hand but the Count waved them away with an imperious gesture.

‘To assist a beautiful lady is my privilege,’ he said with old-world courtesy. ‘Buona notte, signorina. I’m sorry the evening wasn’t more satisfactory. I’d hoped to show you my photo albums. I can’t understand how my housekeeper came to lose the key. It’s not like her to make such a mistake.’

‘I shall look forward to seeing them another time,’ Dulcie said.

‘Yes, when you come to the masked ball. Next Wednesday. Don’t forget. And Guido will be there.’

‘I’m really looking forward to meeting him.’

The boatman settled her comfortably, and a moment later they were on their way down the Grand Canal. The Calvanis waved until she was out of sight.

‘She’s perfect,’ the count said.

‘Just the same uncle, you’re barking up the wrong tree,’ Leo observed.

‘What do you mean?’

‘Guido’s romancing a new woman,’ Marco said. ‘It’s the talk of Venice that he’s spent all this last week with her, even taking days off work. When does Guido ever neglect his business? I tell you uncle, it’s serious.’

‘Why the devil didn’t you tell me this before?’

‘It seemed safer to get the evening over first,’ Leo said.

‘Is anything known about this woman?’ Francesco demanded, in alarm.

‘Only that he met her while he was rowing.’

Francesco snorted. ‘A tourist, looking for a holiday romance, ready to disport herself with the first gondolier she meets. Lady Dulcie is a woman of class, and he neglects her for a floozie! Is he crazy?’

‘He’s a Calvani,’ Leo observed.

The moon was high in the sky as Dulcie sat watching the Grand Canal drift by her. Venice was gently closing down for the night. The little waterside bars were emptying, and lights were going off. Now and then she could see a couple wandering by the water, arms entwined, then vanish into a calle, swallowed up by darkness the moment before their lips touched. A few gondolas were still drifting past, seeming to move from shadow to shadow. Every one of them seemed to contain lovers embracing, oblivious to the gondolier who grinned and looked over their heads. He’d seen so many lovers before.

But as far as Dulcie could see none of them was the man she was seeking, and she sighed, wondering what he was doing right now, what had kept him from her tonight, and how soon must she say goodbye to him? Perhaps he would call to say how much he’d missed her, and must see her. There might even be a message for her in the hotel.

She controlled her impatience, hurrying to the suite and fumbling with the key in her eagerness. But when she called the desk there were no messages. Dispiritedly she sat and stared at the telephone.

Suddenly she realised that she wasn’t alone. There was a noise from the second bedroom, and the next moment the door opened.

‘Jenny!’ Dulcie exclaimed.

‘Hello!’ The young girl threw her arms about Dulcie in an eager greeting. ‘It’s so lovely to see you.’

‘But what are you-I mean, I didn’t know you were coming.’

‘Dad said he thought we might enjoy a little vacation together. That’s why he booked this suite, so that there’d be room for both of us.’

‘Did he say why I was here?’

‘Only that you were doing some market research for him. I know he’s always expanding his business.’

It didn’t seem to occur to Jenny to be suspicious, but then, Dulcie realised, she knew nothing about her work, and so there was no reason for her to think the worst. Yet Dulcie had a terrible feeling that things were going badly wrong.

‘You look gorgeous,’ Jenny said, surveying the evening dress. ‘Oh, Dulcie, is it a man?’

‘I’ve had dinner with three men, and none of them the one I wanted,’ she said distractedly. ‘Now I don’t know whether I’m coming or going.’

‘Three is too many,’ Jenny said wisely. ‘One is better, if it’s the one you want. Oh, Dulcie, I’m so blissfully, blissfully happy. It was wonderful to see him again.’

Dulcie tensed. ‘What was that?’

‘When I arrived I called Fede straight away, from the airport, and he came to collect me, and we kissed and kissed. He said he’d missed me so much and then-’

‘Wait a minute,’ Dulcie said, trying to ignore the cold hand that clutched at her stomach. ‘You’ve been with Fede this evening?’

‘But of course. Who else? He didn’t think he could make it at first-’

‘But no doubt he changed his arrangements,’ Dulcie said, her eyes kindling.

‘I suppose so. I didn’t ask. What does anything matter beside the fact that we’re together?’

So that was where he’d been tonight, Dulcie seethed inwardly. He was playing fast and loose with the pair of them. And to think she’d been trying to see the best in him!

‘Where are you going?’ Jenny called as Dulcie strode to the door.

‘Anywhere!’ she flung over her shoulder.

As soon as she was out of the hotel she plunged into the maze of little dark streets. She didn’t look where she was going. She didn’t care. Jenny’s innocent words had ripped the lid off the pretence that had sustained her for days. She’d read herself lectures about being on her guard, being professional, never quite trusting him. And all the time she’d been slipping under the oldest spell in the world.