CHAPTER FOURPaola stepped out of her bedroom shortly before nine o’clock.
She had been called at eight with her breakfast, but she knew that the Contessa never woke before nine.
She had learnt too that her hostess had no wish to see anybody before she was dressed.
She had been very attractive when she was young and now she resented, although she did not often say so, that she was growing older.
Paola therefore knew that she was quite safe in slipping out of the villa to go to the Cathedral and she would be able to give the ring to the Marchese if he came as she had asked him to do.
She would be back in the villa long before the Contessa realised that she was missing.
Thinking it would be a mistake to go looking too smart, she had chosen a simple white gown and instead of one of her a
