Marriage Made In Monte Calanetti. SUSAN MEIER

Comparino has been empty for years. Yet, suddenly here you are.”

      “With a letter,” she said, handing it to Nico.

      He didn’t release her gaze as he took the letter from her hands, and then he scanned it and peered at Louisa again. “Welcome to Palazzo di Comparino.”

      Daniella let out her pent-up breath.

      Louisa held his gaze. “Just like that? How do you know I didn’t fake this letter?”

      Giving the paper back to her, he said, “First, I knew the name of the solicitor handling the estate. Second, there are a couple of details in the letter that an outsider wouldn’t know. You’re legit.”

      Though Daniella would have loved to have known the details, Louisa didn’t even seem slightly curious. She tucked the sheet of paper into her jeans pocket.

      Nico handed his key to Louisa as he glanced around the kitchen. “Being empty so long, the place is in disrepair. So if there’s anything I can do to help—”

      Louisa cut him off with a curt “I’m fine.”

      Nico’s eyes narrowed. Daniella didn’t know if he was unaccustomed to his offers of assistance being ignored, or if something else was happening here, but the kitchen became awkwardly quiet.

      When Daniella’s teapot whistled, her heart jumped. Always polite, she asked, “Can I get anyone tea?”

      Watching Louisa warily, Nico said, “I’d love a cup.”

      Drat. He was staying. Darn the sense of etiquette her foster mother had drilled into her.

      “I’ll make some later,” Louisa said as she turned and walked out of the kitchen, presumably to put the letter and the key away.

      As the door swung closed behind her, Nico said, “She’s a friendly one.”

      Daniella winced. She’d like to point out to Mr. Nico Amatucci that he’d been a tad rude when he’d demanded to see the letter from the solicitor, but she held her tongue. This argument wasn’t any of her business. She had enough troubles of her own.

      “Have you known Ms. Harrison long?”

      “We just met. I saw someone mistakenly take her bag and helped because Louisa doesn’t speak Italian. Then we were on the same bus.”

      “Oh, so you hit the jackpot when you could find someone to stay with.”