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snorting drugs to enhance her pleasure, drugs provided by that little delinquent. Well, it was time to put an end to something she had hoped would peter out of its own accord.
    She rose from her chair and went up to her bedroom to undress. She took off the emeralds and laid them carefully in their faded velvet box and patted them reassuringly. They had been noticed by everyone. No wonder; they had been her grandmother’s and were exquisite. They would never leave the family. She would give them to Marianna, but not if she married someone like that boy. Tebaldo’s wife was out of the question, of course, and Lapo… she stifled the shooting pain in her heart. Lapo would never marry. Not because no one would want him but because he would never believe that any one could love him. She pitied the girl who ever tried to get close to him. He was extremely cruel and wouldn’t recognise love even if it was given to him unconditionally, like the love that Marta gave to him. Ursula knew perfectly well thatMarta adored Lapo, but he was quite impervious to any feelings from others. Before they reached him they had to pass through a derisory filter that warped and negated them. Her thoughts returned to her daughter. The boy had to go and she would make damn sure that he did.
    It was a triumphant and hopeful Ursula who slipped into bed later that night. She fell into a deep dreamless sleep that lasted till morning.

CHAPTER FOUR
    Dragonetti showered and then prepared the coffee pot setting it carefully on the gas. He searched in the cupboard and found another small tin of tuna. As soon as he opened it the cat leapt off the chair and rushed towards him, rubbing against his legs. “Yes, it’s for you,” he told it. He watched the kitten eating while he sipped strong black coffee. The cat ate fast and soon emptied the plate, then sat back to wash its whiskers.
    They left the house together. When they reached the courtyard garden the cat sat down on its haunches and finished washing its face, one small paw passing repeatedly over the striped orange fur.
    “Go home,” he advised it.
    It watched him get into the car and drive off. The sky was relentlessly blue, the sun was already warm and it was going to be hot and humid again.
    Another day of boredom stretched endlessly ahead of him.
     
    Ursula appeared at breakfast looking so fit and happy that Lapo remarked on it. “Mother, you’re looking quite amazingly well this morning.”
    “Yes, and I’m feeling good too. I had an interesting enough evening and I’m making plans for a stunning charity concert which will quite overshadow poor Fiona’s little do. I have better contacts than she does and quite frankly, my house is far more suitable.”
    She ate a meagre but healthy breakfast.
    “You know, Lapo, I wish your sister would make an effort to come to the breakfast table.”
    “It’s the summer holidays. I don’t know why I got up so early myself.” He did; it was because he’d had a particularly unpleasant night tormented by nightmares. When he’d woken for the fourth time, his eyes anxiously seeking reassurance that he was indeed in his own bedroom and not in some land of horror, it had been a relief to find it was an acceptable hour to get up. He looked at his mother and wished he could find the kind of serenity she apparently had this morning.
    “Actually, I would have expected Guido to join us,” he remarked quietly.
    “Poor boy, he’s so tired. Late nights don’t agree with him. Well, it wasn’t that late actually but he had had a very busy day.”
    “Well, I expect Marianna had a late night, too.”
    “I know she did. I do understand that she’s young and prefers living at night rather than in the day, but I hardly seem to see her lately.”
    “No, she’s… busy”
    “Lapo, I’m well aware what your sister is doing and I’ve made plans to deal with it. She’ll be leaving for a holiday with Aunt Felicity. I’ve already phoned her, early this morning.