the centre of an enormous terrace, overlooking exquisite formal gardens, and with a panoramic view of the city itself.
Juliet found herself the cynosure of all eyes as she walked to the table, and she had not been in Rome long enough to be untroubled by the frankness of some of the masculine glances and sotto voce remarks which pursued her. She sank rather thankfully into the chair the waiter was holding for her, and hoped she had managed to mask her embarrassment at the small ordeal. It was the kind of situation that Jan would have revelled in, she supposed, being escorted by someone as dark and devastating as Santino Vallone. It was quite a relief to shelter from prying glances behind the huge menu that she was handed. She wondered with dismay if she was supposed to appear knowledgeable about the choice of food being offered, and heard her companion give a low-voiced order to the waiter for two dry Martinis to be brought to them.
He leaned back in his chair and gave her an enquiring look. ‘What do you wish to eat, Janina? A simple steak and a salad, perhaps?’
‘Certainly not,’ she denied indignantly, her eye focussing on a magnificent trolley laden with hors d’oeuvres which a waiter was steering between the tables.
He raised his eyebrows slightly. ‘You do not fret perpetually about your weight? Meraviglioso!’
Juliet suddenly found herself thinking of the idle remark she had made to Jan—a lifetime ago, it seemed. Could it really be only twenty-four hours? She flushed a little.
‘No,’ she said with constraint, ‘not at the moment.’ She glanced about her, casting round for a change of subject, wanting to get away from any personal element. ‘What a magnificent view!’
‘Have you never been here before?’
She lifted one shoulder casually. ‘I don’t think so. I don’t remember …’
‘One goes to so many places,’ he finished for her, rather mockingly. ‘You are a true Roman, Janina. I am surprised that you still find the skyline romantic.’
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