‘Daniela had a wonderful time with you yesterday.’

‘Did she?’ Gina felt unexpectedly pleased to hear it. ‘She’s great company. You and your wife must be so proud of her.’

Confusion flickered across Marco’s face, and he opened his mouth to speak, but then the door burst open and Brad Redford strolled in, beaming from ear to ear.

‘I can’t believe this place. It’s incredible!’ Brad exclaimed, as he clapped Marco on the back and kissed Gina on both cheeks. ‘And don’t you two make a beautiful couple,’ he grinned.

Gina glanced up and locked eyes with Marco, a sudden jolt of electricity shooting between them. She looked away quickly, but the after-effects still lingered, her skin tingling, sparks fizzing through her bloodstream.

‘Shall we take our seats?’ Brad suggested, oblivious to the chemistry simmering in the air. ‘It’s showtime!’

‘Sure,’ Marco agreed, gesturing for Gina to go ahead.

She slipped into the middle seat, her heels sinking into the plush carpet, her dress trailing over the red velvet chairs. Marco came to sit on her left, while Brad took the right.

‘A rose between two thorns,’ he chuckled.

Then the lights went down, and Gina was grateful that no one could see her expression. With the almost-empty glass of champagne, movie star Brad Redford on one side of her and the charismatic Marco DiMaggio on the other, Gina was feeling decidedly giddy.

Lucia’s performance was faultless. Gina found herself on the edge of her seat, utterly spellbound and completely wrapped up in the music, though she felt sure that Lucia was directing her performance towards their box. It didn’t matter, La Leonessa’s joyful aria – ‘Sempre libera’ – was masterful, and her final scenes moved Gina to tears.

She wiped a finger under her eyes in case her mascara had run, and the gesture caused Marco to look across. Their gazes locked.

‘I’ve never experienced anything like that; how something so tragic can be so uplifting at the same time,’ she said, her voice filled with amazement.

Marco smiled, his eyes soft like melting chocolate. ‘Puccini knew the human soul.’

Gina thought Marco looked so sincere when he said this that she almost wanted to touch his cheek in response.

Snap out of it, he’s married!

Brad leapt to his feet in a standing ovation as Lucia moved to the centre of the stage and took her bows, revelling in the cheers and the spotlight. She was right where she belonged: an undeniable star, a true diva, in the traditional sense of the word. Gina couldn’t help but admire her – her pure, natural talent, and her evident ambition, which had propelled her to the top of her art. Gina felt safe up here, in the shadows of the box, out of reach of Lucia’s searching gaze.

‘She’s spectacular,’ Brad said, sounding awestruck, as red roses were thrown onto the stage. Lucia picked one up and posed with it, the beautiful flower nestling at her overflowing cleavage. Then she glanced around, as though she were looking for someone, and her feline eyes alighted on their box. Gina instinctively pulled back into the shadows, as Lucia blew kisses in their direction – whether aimed at Brad or Marco, Gina wasn’t sure. The heads of the audience began to swivel in their direction, following La Leonessa’s eyeline.

‘Time for me to go,’ Brad apologized, as the murmurs and pointing began, a ripple of excited chatter running through the theatre. He turned to leave the box, and Gina and Brad followed him.

‘Where are we going?’ Gina asked, as he turned away from the exit and towards an unobtrusive corridor that looked as though it was a dead end.

‘Backstage, of course,’ Brad grinned.

Gina’s stomach lurched. Backstage was the last place she wanted to go, but it was too late to make her excuses now. They walked briskly along the tight corridors; the portieres who looked after the security arrangements simply melted away when they saw Brad Redford.

‘Lucia! Brava! Stupenda! You were truly exquisite,’ Brad gushed, as he spotted La Leonessa amongst a crowd of admirers. She was on the way back to her dressing room, energy and genuine happiness radiating from her.

‘Well, Signor Redford,’ she breathed, batting her long eyelashes. ‘Did I impress you?’

‘You were … indescribable. There are no words to express how exquisite your performance was. Simply sublime.’

Lucia bowed her head, graciously accepting his compliments.

‘And you know what?’ Brad went on, smiling. ‘I think you’re right. No movie set in Venice is complete without La Leonessa.’

Lucia inhaled sharply, sheer excitement breaking through her haughty exterior. Gina understood that opera fame was a very different beast to Hollywood blockbuster fame and, for Lucia, the prospect of her face being seen on movie screens around the world was thrilling.

‘You mean …’ Lucia gasped.

‘Let’s talk tomorrow. I’ll have my people call your people,’ Brad winked, echoing Lucia’s phrase. ‘Guys, it’s been a blast, but I have a five a.m. call tomorrow and I need my beauty sleep. Catch you later, OK?’

‘I’ll come with you,’ Gina offered. ‘You can’t go by yourself, you’ll be mobbed.’

‘My bodyguard’s waiting at the back exit. You stay here and enjoy the rest of the evening,’ Brad grinned, raising his hand in a farewell gesture before turning to leave. Gina was surprised by his hasty exit and found herself wishing she’d gone with him, but now she’d missed her opportunity.

In Brad’s absence, Lucia turned her attention to Marco.

‘Signor DiMaggio, did you like what you saw?’ she asked, turning in a slow pirouette, inviting him to admire her.

‘You were a triumph,’ he smiled, though Gina noticed he kept the same polite but distant tone as he’d previously used with Lucia. Whether La Leonessa was aware of it or not, she didn’t appear to be taking no for an answer.

‘Marco – you don’t mind if I call you Marco, no? We are friends now. Tonight is my special night, and that means I get whatever I want. And I want you to take me for dinner.’

Marco laughed uncomfortably. ‘I’m sure there are far more exciting people to spend the evening with than me. Besides, I already have plans.’

Lucia narrowed her eyes, fury crossing her face. ‘Plans?’ she repeated, a look of disdain crossing her face.

‘Yes. With Gina.’

Lucia’s head whipped across, and she glared at Gina, as though seeing her properly for the first time. ‘I see.’ It was almost a snarl. Then Lucia’s voice became like honey once again. ‘It is a wonderful opportunity for us to get to know each other. Let me take you to my favourite trattoria,’ she offered enticingly.

‘I’m afraid not. Gina and I have urgent business to discuss; we’re on a tight schedule for filming.’

Lucia’s eyes were blazing as she looked from Marco to Gina, unable to believe that Marco had had the temerity to say no to her. Her lips clamped together in a tight line, and she seemed on the verge of an explosion, but then a young man carrying a large bouquet of flowers approached La Leonessa with an adoring look on his face. Lucia couldn’t resist the devoted follower, the source of her fury temporarily forgotten, and Marco leaned across to Gina.

‘Quick, let’s get out of here,’ he hissed. He grabbed Gina’s hand and pulled her along, the two of them rushing together past the security guards towards the exit, giggling and exhilarated.

Chapter 12

They ran, Gina’s hand in Marco’s as he led the way, his tall, muscular frame carving a path through the crowds. They were laughing and giddy, like mischievous children, as they clattered down the stone steps in front of the opera house.

Outside in the piazza, the cold, damp air swirling around them, it was as though the spell had been broken. Their hands fell apart and self-consciousness crept in.

‘Poor Lucia,’ Gina said, in a rare moment of sympathy for the diva.

‘I’m sure she won’t be short of admirers.’

‘She seemed keen to have your attention,’ Gina teased.

‘She’s … hard to resist, but it is possible,’ Marco remarked. ‘If one tries hard enough.’