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Not sure quite where to send it, she’d asked Donatella.

‘He’s back here next week. I shall see that he gets it.’

Donatella was meticulous, Stella knew. She had been so helpful, a little too helpful at times, but she knew the area like the back of her hand and had good contacts for the permits.

‘So—’ she’d put the letter in her file ‘—good luck with the baby. It must be a little disappointing that you won’t see the final result.’

‘Sorry?’

‘You will be on maternity leave when the film is made.’

‘Oh, no.’ Stella had shaken her head. ‘I’ll definitely be back.’

And today she was.

‘You’ll be on the ground floor, the servants’ quarters—’ Daisy carried on explaining the change of plan ‘—your nanny will be there.’ She gave Stella a smile. ‘We all know we’d never have got the palazzo without you. You deserve this.’

They truly thought they were doing her a massive favour.

And if she were any other new mum returning to work far earlier than she wanted to, she would be thrilled. Daisy was correct; she would be right on location, able to dash to set, or wherever, if a problem arose, even at night. Sir Charles had arranged a nanny, Gina, who Stella had met towards the end of her pregnancy. Having a nanny really was an incredible perk, though a necessary one if Scene Seekers were to keep to the letter of the contract.

‘Have there been any problems with the owner?’ Stella asked, trying to keep her voice light as they came to the barrier for the private road.

‘Not a peep,’ Daisy said. ‘All communications are through the estate manager, much to the housekeeper’s chagrin.’

‘Governante,’ Stella corrected, because Signora Maria was so much more than a housekeeper. She knew every candelabra, every stitch of linen, and yes, at first, she had been offended when Gabe had immediately hired outsiders to oversee the preparations for the film production. Eduardo had been most put out too, fretting as Stella catalogued the items. But they’d seen the care being taken and had slowly come around. By the time she’d left they were even a touch excited for the production to start.

‘The team’s meeting tonight at seven,’ Daisy said. ‘Last walk through…’

‘Sure,’ Stella said, a little more boldly than she felt.

It would be her first time away from Sophia.

She’d been in endless online meetings and done way more than the allotted KIT days—Keeping in Touch days—in her maternity leave. And the filming had been underway in the town, but tomorrow they started at Palazzo Rinaldi.

The next few days were going to be intense and if she wanted to hold onto her career, then this really had to work.

‘Maybe it’s better I’m here. I can’t imagine if Damon were to hear Sophia crying at night.’

‘He’s in his own property,’ Daisy said. ‘Just keep your head down with him. He’s always like this with anyone he considers too new. You’ve done a brilliant job. I think Damon’s put out that Rinaldi wouldn’t budge.’ She laughed. ‘He wouldn’t even take Damon’s phone calls.’

‘Gosh!’ Stella laughed but it faded as they pulled in at the palazzo, and Transport told her they’d collect her at six forty-five.

Yes, she knew she had to tell him as her luggage was delivered to the ground floor and she arrived with Sophia at the servants’ entrance.

Signora Maria let her in. ‘Congratulations!’ She smiled. ‘I heard you had a little girl.’

‘Sophia.’ Stella smiled back. ‘She’s twelve weeks today.’

‘We haven’t had a baby in the palazzo for a very long time.’ She peered into the baby carrier and her voice faded away. ‘Oh…’

‘Yes, the blonde hair was a surprise,’ Stella said.

‘This way, please.’ Signora Maria led her through, but the conversation had turned a little formal. ‘We have put you in the East Wing, so you shall have some privacy. This is your bathroom, Nanny has her own…and just down the hallway is your suite.’

There was also a small kitchenette she would share with the nanny, who, Stella had been told, had arrived.

She took a key from her apron and opened up a large wooden door and Stella, holding Sophia in the infant carrier, stepped in.