page14 (1/2)

Stately cypress groves provided a lush green counterpoint to the rolling fields of Tuscany, and with the sun burning low in a cobalt sky Savannah wondered if there h beauty here to distract her from her main obsession—but her main obsession turned at that moment to speak to her

‘We’ll be arriving at the palazzo at the perfect time’

‘Sunset,’ Savannah guessed A thrill of exciteiven her for the earlier ht faded his face was in shadow, so she couldn’t see his expression to gauge hishere that had lifted it—his palazzo, she suspected Following the direction in which he was looking she searched hungrily for her first sight of the building The sky was a vibrant palette of tangerine and violet so draly beautiful, she had butterflies in her stoht co with expectation, and try as he ht to be stern all the time, an attractive crease had appeared in his face He’d softened just a little Now if he could only soften a little ift she wanted

‘When we cross the river, you’ll see the palazzo in this direction’

As Ethan pointed towards the shadowy purple hills, she sat bolt upright, tense with expectation

‘I don’t want you toher interest ‘It’s quite spectacular’

‘I won’t,’ she assured hi told her that this was one of those preciousall her life and must be cherished

She was only half right, Savannah discovered When it came into view the palazzo exceeded her expectations so far it took her breath away Rising like so road and an old stone bridge, and then the towering walls A glittering snake of water travelled beneath the bridge, and as they crossed it she thought the restless eddies were likethe sun-fire to the sea

‘Now you understand why the palazzo got its name’

Even Ethan couldn’t quite keep the excitement from his voice

‘Understatement,’ she breathed The turreted spread of the Palazzo dei Tramonti Dorati appeared fraination hadn’t co it justice This wasn’t the Gothic horror she’d feared Ethan ht, built fro warm beneath the red-streaked sky, it couldn’t have appeared

‘What do you think?’ Ethan prompted

Savannah was surprised her opinion h she mustn’t read too much into it, she reminded herself ‘I

think it’s stunning,’ she told him honestly ‘The colour of the stone is extraordinary’

‘Pink?’