Lucy bit her lip. ‘Can you forgive me?’
Elena squeezed her hand. ‘You have a wonderfully kind heart, Lucy Anderson, but—’
‘But what?’ Lucy’s voice wobbled.
‘I’ve just finished re-reading your copy of Jane Austen’sEmma.’
Lucy swallowed hard. She knew exactly where this was leading. ‘Oh?’
‘The central character reminds me of somebody…’
‘Really?’
‘Sì.’
Lucy’s words tumbled over each other. ‘I know I have a tendency to try and fix things, I get it from my mother and I’m not trying to throw you and Dario together, I mean for one thing it’s too soon, isn’t it, but I just think you both deserve a bit of grown-up fun. Oh God, that sounds all wrong, like I mean sex! I don’t, I mean some time doing grown-up things like going to concerts and stuff with someone you feel comfortable with and without a child in tow. Not that you have ever complained, and why would you? But it must be hard being a single parent and I—’
Elena’s finger pressed Lucy’s lips. ‘Stop. It’s a lovely surprise, and I’m so looking forward to it, but much as your inner Jane Austen would secretly love there to be some heart-fluttering, pulse-quickening romance between Dario and I sometime in the distant future, it will never be.’
‘But…’
Elena shook her head at the expectation in Lucy’s voice. ‘It – will – never – be. You are in love with the idea of romance,cara.But life is not so simple.’
‘You think I’m interfering, don’t you?’
Elena made a face. ‘Yeess… but not in a bad way,’ she added quickly. ‘Like you say, you want to fix things…’
‘You mean I’m bossy…’
‘No, you misunderstand me. You want the best for everybody, but everyone must find their own path – and so must you.’
Lucy sighed. ‘You’re right, Elena. I thought I was in love, but the Stewart saga made me realise that I was being swept away with theideaof getting married, having kids…’
‘But from what you have told me, you had a lucky escape,’ Elena said. ‘In fact, we have him to thank for leading you to Italy.’
Lucy smiled. ‘True. I’m finally my own person, happy within myself. Why would I want to risk that?’
Elena looked at her intently. ‘But what about love?’
Lucy shrugged, not knowing what to say.
‘I still think Dario…’
‘What about Dario? Did I hear my name being mentioned?’
Elena flushed. ‘Ah, Dario. I was just saying… What was I saying, Lucy?’
‘You were saying…’ Lucy stammered. ‘You were saying…’
Dario fixed her with an interrogative but amused gaze. He wasn’t letting her off the hook.
Lucy cleared her throat. ‘What Elena was saying was that you’re… starting to enjoy opera and classical music, and… will appreciate the concert tonight. Isn’t that right, Elena?’
Elena nodded. The two women fixed their gaze on the floor. Dario wiggled his strong, dark eyebrows, looking from one to the other.
They were saved by the honking of the taxi horn.
Stefano came bounding towards them, Harry at his heels, barking loudly. ‘Mamma, Dario, time for you to go.’
