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He was staring at her—si at her—as if she’d sprouted extra ar wrong? She looked away again, feeling her heart beating faster than it should Was she behaving inappropriately? Was that it? Shouldn’t she be putting herself forward and joining in the conversation, asking his uncle questions or presu to answer them?

Then, across the table, she heard the professor say to Rafaello, ‘Your ill keep you busy for quite some ti to see’

She bit her lip again The last thing Rafaello would ould be to be landed with taking her sightseeing

‘Oh, no,’ she put in hurriedly, ‘that would not be possible—my little boy…’

‘I am sure your son will be quite content to be looked after by Maria and nora Calvi replied cal’

‘Oh, no,’ said Magda, disconcerted ‘Please—really— I couldn’t leave Benji’

‘It will be good for him to develop the ability to be happy without your constant attendance,’ pronounced Rafaello’s aunt ‘You need have no anxiety about leaving him with us Maria is extremely experienced with children, and she tells ht up child, well advanced for his age He is a credit to you, she tells me’

She gave her benign sht She stared down at her plate Suddenly she felt a light touch on her hand

‘It has been hard for you, I think, no?’ said Rafaello’s aunt quietly ‘People will often ements’

She threw a deliberate look at Rafaello, who tightened his e of subject, she said, ‘Ring for Giuseppe, Rafaello He may serve the next course’

The remainder of thediscovered an eager listener in his nephew’s bride, required very little proed extensively over the history of Tuscany and that of Italy as a whole Apart froh she knew perfectly well that the sda found herself feeling less and less unco, and that both his aunt and uncle seemed quite happy to let him remain as silent as he did