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home until after half past seven.’
    ‘He must have an important position,’ Rosanna encouraged.
    Carlotta ignored her sister’s comment. ‘I make supper and then I go to bed. I feel so tired at the moment.’
    ‘Why?’
    ‘Because I’m having a baby,’ Carlotta replied wearily. ‘You will soon be a zia – Auntie Rosanna.’
    ‘Oh, congratulations!’ Rosanna leant over and kissed her sister on the cheek. ‘Are you happy?’
    ‘Yes, of course I’m happy,’ Carlotta replied morosely.
    ‘Giulio must be very pleased that he’s to be a papa.’
    ‘Yes, of course he is. So, how are things at home?’
    Rosanna shrugged. ‘Papa’s drinking a lot of brandy and being bad-tempered and always shouting at me and Luca. Mamma is tired all the time and keeps having to lie down.’
    ‘So not much is different then, Rosanna.’ Carlotta managed a smile.
    ‘Except I think Mamma and Papa miss you.’
    ‘And I miss them, I . . .’ Tears came into Carlotta’s eyes. ‘Sorry, it’s being pregnant. It makes me emotional. Luca still has no girlfriend then?’
    ‘No. But he has no time to have one. He’s in the kitchen at eight in the morning and he doesn’t finish until very late.’
    ‘I don’t understand why he puts up with it. Papa’s so rude to him and pays him so little. If I were Luca, I’d go away and start a new life somewhere else.’
    Rosanna was horrified. ‘You don’t think Luca will leave, do you?’
    ‘No, Rosanna. Luckily for you, and unfortunately for him, I don’t think he will,’ Carlotta replied slowly. ‘Our brother’s a very special man. I hope one day he finds the happiness he deserves.’
    At the end of May, Carlotta gave birth to a baby girl. Rosanna went to the hospital to see her new niece.
    ‘Oh, she’s so beautiful, and so tiny. May I hold her?’ asked Rosanna.
    Carlotta nodded. ‘Of course. Here.’
    Rosanna took the baby from her sister and cradled her in her arms. She stared into the baby’s dark eyes.
    ‘She doesn’t look like you, Carlotta.’
    ‘Oh. Who do you think she does look like? Giulio? Mamma? Papa?’
    Rosanna studied the baby. ‘I don’t know. Have you thought of a name?’
    ‘Yes. She will be called Ella Maria.’
    ‘It’s a lovely name. You are so clever, Carlotta.’
    ‘Yes, isn’t she?’
    The two sisters turned as Giulio came into the room.
    ‘How are you, cara ?’ Giulio kissed his wife.
    ‘I’m well, Giulio.’
    ‘Good.’ Giulio sat down on the edge of the bed and reached for his wife’s hand.
    Carlotta moved her arm swiftly away. ‘Why don’t you give your daughter a cuddle?’ she suggested.
    ‘Of course.’ Giulio stood up and, as she passed the baby to him, Rosanna saw the hurt in his dark eyes.
    Once her visitors had left, Carlotta lay back and stared at the ceiling. What she had done had been the right thing, she was sure of it. She had a successful husband, a lovely daughter, and had managed to avoid bringing disgrace on herself and her family.
    Carlotta turned her head and looked down into the cradle. Ella’s dark eyes were wide open, her perfect white skin in contrast to the shock of black hair on the top of her head.
    She knew she would have to live with her deceit for the rest of her life.

The Metropolitan Opera House, New York
So, Nico, you have read how I first met Roberto Rossini and how the seeds of the future were sown. At the time that Carlotta married Giulio, I was very young and naive, unaware of much that was happening around me.
For the next five years, I worked hard at my singing. I joined the church choir, which gave me the excuse to practise at home as much as I could. I enjoyed my lessons with Luigi Vincenzi and, as I matured, so did my passion for opera. I had no doubt in my mind what I wanted to do when I grew up.
Throughout that time, it was as though I lived a double life. I knew I’d have to one day tell Mamma and Papa of my secret, but I only hoped the right moment would present itself. And I couldn’t