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‘So…?’

Jane collected herself and decided to tell the truth. ‘On Friday night it went wonderfully well for about twenty seconds and then it didn’t.’

‘I’m afraid you’re going to have to explain.’

So Jane did. She told Flora what David had done that fateful night and then what he had said. Reading sympathy on the elderly lady’s face, she decided to open up fully and went on to tell her what she had learned at the wedding about his injuries, ending with the conclusion she had drawn. ‘I have a feeling he deliberately didn’t want to take things further because he was afraid I wouldn’t want him once I found out he’d been disfigured. It’s awful to think he might believe I could be so superficial, but I can’t think of any other reason for him to behave like that.’

Flora reached forward with both hands and caught hold of Jane’s on the table. ‘Oh, Jane, I’m so sorry for you. The thing is, he’s been burned before.’

‘Now you’re the one who has to explain.’

‘Have you ever heard of Scarlett?’

‘Scarlett O’Hara,Gone with the Wind?’

‘This is a different Scarlett; still American, but very much twenty-first century. She comes from one of Boston’s oldest and wealthiest families, and she and David were together for two or three years. There was talk of engagement and marriage.’

‘Wastalk…?’

Flora nodded. ‘It all broke up three years ago.’

‘I’m sorry.’ Jane didn’t know what else to say. Her brain was desperately trying to work out where this might be leading.

‘Nothing to be sorry about if you ask me. If you’ll pardon my language, she was a cow’ She let out a hiss of exasperation. ‘Anyway… the thing is, she dropped him like a hot potato after he was wounded. You see, appearance was everything to Scarlett. Apart from all her designer clothes, between you and me she must have spent a fortune on surgical enhancement. Mind you, not as bad as her mother – they say that woman’s had so many nips and tucks, when she winks her eye, her leg lifts.’

In spite of the circumstances, Jane almost laughed. ‘So you’re saying that this Scarlett dumped David because she couldn’t stomach being associated with somebody who had been scarred?’

‘Exactly. Can you imagine the effect it had on him? There he was, lying in hospital, fearing for his looks, if not his life, and the woman who might have been his future wife takes one look at him and says, “Sorry, darling, but I’m off. You’re on your own.” Talk about kicking a man when he’s down!’

Jane sat back and digested what she had just heard. Just like her mother had said the other night, David had quite possibly hooked up with a very wealthy woman so as to rule out the chances of a gold-digger being after him for his money rather than himself, only for her to turn her back on him in his hour of need. It was disgusting, but it helped to explain his reaction on Friday night. Once bitten, twice shy. He had stepped back after that kiss because he had been afraid of falling into the same trap once more. She took a tentative sip of coffee and ran her other hand through her hair in frustration.

‘Wow, what a cow indeed! And where is she now?’

‘Diana tells me she’s just about to marry the owner of a chain of casinos in Las Vegas, according toHello!magazine. Sounds like a match made in heaven.’

‘Poor David, talk about a double whammy. Little wonder he decided to drop out and take refuge up here. After what he’s been through, it’s a wonder he’s still sane.’

‘It’s been hard, all right. That’s why I’m so pleased to see the way he’s come on over the past few weeks and I know it’s down to you. He’s clearly attracted to you. You’ve had a tough time as well and you can understand what he’s been through far better than most people. It’s like I said; I’m convinced you’re made for each other.’

‘I hope you’re right.’ Jane gave Flora a nervous smile. ‘And you wouldn’t object if he was?’

‘Object? I can’t think of a better partner for him. Of course I give you both my blessing, but first, you need to have a serious talk with him – sooner rather than later.’

‘That’s lovely to hear, thank you so much, and thanks for telling me this. Now all I’ve got to do is convince him that I’m a different kind of woman from Scarlett.’

‘He already knows that, I’m sure.’

Jane spent the rest of the day making arrangements for the Hollywood people as well as working through more of the fan letters. The bag was beginning to lighten now and she reckoned she should have dealt with them all by the end of September. David was never far from her thoughts, and after a late snack lunch, she tried phoning him to wish him well but received thewe have been unable to connect youmessage. Presumably he was already in the hospital and her heart went out to him.

Later on that afternoon she took Dino for a vigorous walk up the hill behind the villa and they both sat down for a well-earned rest when they reached the top. It was another scorcher of a day and she could feel her heart pounding. At her feet, the dog was panting like a steam train. She looked down at him affectionately and rubbed his tummy with her foot as she addressed him.

‘Looks like you’re going to have to come back to Venice with us until your master returns. That means you won’t have all this space to run around in.’

He stretched and grunted happily while the realisation dawned on her that as soon as David was well enough, he would no doubt return to his house up here while she and his mother would take up full time residence an hour and a half away in Venice. It was a sobering thought. She had got so used to seeing him and his lovely dog on a regular basis up here that it was going to be grim to be separated from them.

She wondered if it might be possible for her to come up at weekends – maybe using the excuse of taking Dino for walks in the woods – and stay in the little house. The moment this occurred to her it simultaneously crossed her mind that she hadn’t seen any radiators in the little summer house. Maybe the reason it had been given that name was because it was only for summer use and she wouldn’t be able to stay there in the colder months. For a few moments she had an alluring image of sharing a house – and a bed – with David before reality once more descended on her. She had yet to find out whether he saw the relationship developing or whether he still intended to keep his distance, even though she now knew and didn’t care about the nature of his wounds. She wasn’t another Scarlett and she knew she would do all she could to prove that to him.

She pulled out her phone and tried calling him again, and this time was delighted to hear it ring and then to hear him answer.