what way?’
He shrugged. ‘In his mother’s eyes no woman in the world is good enough for Giancarlo Falcone.’
Abby eyed the aquiline profile curiously. ‘He calls her Mamma. You don’t.’
‘If you met her you wouldn’t believe she’s old enough to be Gianni’s mother, let alone mine.’ He smiled down at her. ‘How about you? What about your parents?’
‘My father died when I was little, so my mother brought us up almost single-handed. She’s due in Venice next week to meet her baby grandson.’ Abby smiled affectionately. ‘Mother thought it only right to let his Italian grandparents get their visit in first. They own a restored farmhouse not far from here. Laura and Domenico spent their honeymoon there.’
‘The ideal place for it.’ Max halted as clocks began chiming. ‘Alas, the witching hour. Time to get back to the car.’
Abby smiled warmly at him as they walked. ‘Thank you so much for dinner and the fascinating tour of Todi. I enjoyed every minute of it.’
His hand tightened on hers. ‘A pity you’re not staying longer so I could persuade you to do it all again.’
‘Perhaps you’ll come to one of the concerts in London before I finish.’
He shook his head. ‘If I do you’ll be too busy to spend time with me. How about dinner with me one night instead?’
Abby saw no point in being coy. ‘I’d like that very much.’
‘In that case—’ Max broke off as his phone rang. With a word of apology he listened for a moment before answering in fluent, irritable Italian. The heated conversation went on at length while he helped Abby into the car. When he finally slid into the driver’s seat Max gave her a wry smile. ‘My apologies. That was Gianni in full flow.’
‘Something wrong?’
‘As far as he’s concerned total disaster. Luisa’s taken it into her head to make a surprise visit to the Villa Falcone. She’s ordered Gianni to meet her off the train in Perugia tomorrow.’
‘He’s not happy with that?’
‘He’s devastated. She’s interrupting his idyll with the mystery lady.’
‘Ah! So was he asking you to fetch your mother instead?’
‘Practically begging. He’s desperate to spend every minute he can with the love of his life, so he implored me to help him out. If I fetch his mother from Perugia tomorrow afternoon he can spend a few extra hours with his innamorata.’ A smile played at the corners of his mouth. ‘I said I’ll ring him back to give my answer.’
‘So will you help him?’
‘I told him I had to sort something out first. You’re travelling by train to Pisa tomorrow for the flight to London?’
‘Yes,’ said Abby cautiously.
‘Then here’s the plan. I drive you to Perugia, and see you off on the train to Pisa before I meet the one from Venice.’ Max paused to gauge her reaction. ‘Afterwards I drive back to the Villa Falcone at a snail’s pace which, for entirely different reasons, will please both Luisa and Gianni. And somewhere along the way I’ll ring him with an ETA so he can pursue love’s young dream to the last possible moment.’ He grinned. ‘His mamma’s coming to make sure he gets enough sleep before the Rome engagement, with no idea that he wants to do his sleeping with Signorina X.’
Abby chuckled. ‘Oh, bad luck, Gianni! Are you willing to do that for him?’
‘Yes. What do you say? It’s one train connection less for you.’
‘Then I’ll say thank you very much indeed.’ She eyed him curiously. ‘Wouldn’t it be quicker for your mother to fly?’
He shrugged. ‘She won’t. She refuses to travel by road, either, if she can help it, which is why Enzo, my stepfather, bought the apartment in Venice. Water taxis and trains are Luisa’s preferred mode of travel. She’ll get a surprise when I turn up as chauffeur,’ he added. ‘She doesn’t even know I’m in the country.’
Abby was silent as they reached the hotel.
‘Penny for them?’ he said, turning to her.
‘I was just thinking that it’s very kind of you to drive me to Perugia tomorrow.’
His eyes locked on hers. ‘If it weren’t for Gianni and his love-life I’d drive you all the way to Pisa.’
Abby felt a lurch somewhere in the region of her midriff. ‘Just to Perugia will be a great help,’ she assured him.
‘In that case I’ll ring Gianni and tell him it’s on.’ Max began another rapid conversation with his brother, grinning broadly when he disconnected. ‘Gianni practically burst into song with gratitude.’
‘Will you take your mother up to your house first, to give him extra time with his lady?’
‘No. According to Luisa the journey there is bad for her heart.’
Abby chuckled. ‘I see her point, and there’s nothing wrong with my heart! I must go in,’ she added regretfully. ‘The train from Perugia leaves at eleven fifty-two, according to my timetable. What time will you pick me up?’
‘Ten sharp.’
‘Perfect. I can have a leisurely breakfast instead of rushing off to catch the local train. Thank you—again,’ she added, and smiled. ‘I seem to have said nothing else to you from the moment we met.’
‘Not quite,’ he said, and took her hand. ‘When I mistook you for one of Gianni’s fans you were ready to punch me.’
‘But I am a fan. I merely objected to the way you said it. Besides,’ she added, eyes kindling, ‘I’d just driven up those terrifying bends—on the wrong side of the road for me, remember—then the car broke down, and as the last straw this ball of flame came bursting out of the dust like something from an action film. I was petrified.’
‘So was I.’ He turned to look at her. ‘But once I could breathe normally again I realised I’d run into the best-looking damsel in distress a man could hope to meet.’
She eyed him narrowly. ‘I’m not sure if that’s a compliment or a sexist remark.’
‘It’s the simple truth.’ Max laughed, squeezed her hand, then went round the car to help her out. ‘I’ll see you safely inside, then get back to my retreat.’
* * *
The hotel bed was comfortable, but Abby lay awake for some time, her mind full of the eventful day which had begun with the surprisingly painful parting from her sister. Still at the mercy of her hormones, Laura had been a little tearful as she begged Abby to return soon and stay a lot longer. By that time, Domenico assured her, they would have moved into the new apartment with more rooms and a proper bed for Abby. After sharing a sofa with her little niece most of the night, Abby was glad to hear it. Isabella had needed much cuddling and reassurance to calm fears that Papa and Mamma wouldn’t love her so much now they had a new boy baby. Abby had relayed the news to Isabella’s shocked parents first thing next morning, and offered to look after baby Marco while they took their daughter out later for some kind of special treat.
‘You’re sure you’re up for this?’ Laura had asked before they left.
‘Of course I am. If he yells, Auntie will sing to him. That should shut him up. Ciao, Bella.’
Isabella held her face up, mouth puckered for a kiss. ‘Ciao, Zietta.’
Domenico grinned. ‘Ciao, Auntie. Do I get a kiss too?’
‘On the cheek,’ warned Laura.
‘Both cheeks,’ said her handsome husband, suiting action to words before turning to kiss