New Flame

If you knew what this month is doing to me! And it's still not over!

But I shan't complain. I haven't the time to be honest with you. Here's the delightful cover for Luca and Frankie's story - formatted and soon to be re-released. Missing a few things, though. This was one of them. The interview for the next Italian Knight is right here, and like the other re-releases will be in the back of this sparkling new version. Just so you get to know them a little bit better. Well, it would be if it wasn't like pulling teeth with one of them... What? Oh, nothing Durante! Nothing at all. (Awks). Here's Durante and Ella (Emmanuella) of IK6, Verde, Bianco, Rosso.

·         Who are you closest to?

Durante

No one. That’s the beauty of self imposed isolation. What about Massimo? He lives in another country! How is that close?

Ella

My beautiful, sweet, darling son, Rufus. He may look like his dad, but the brains, the spirit, the fire? That’s all me.

·         What’s your earliest memory?

Durante

My brother, carrying me through our family’s olive farm in Napoli. Just before he showed me a snake, and tried to put it in my arms. My mother never forgave him for it.    

Ella

We went to Hamleys. Me, my mum and my sister. My mum told me to hold onto my sister’s hand, but Angela being Angela wanted to walk by herself. I may have let her go, and she may have walked into the path of a number 19 Routemaster and she may have almost got herself run over. I don’t think my mum’s quite forgiven me for that.

·         What’s your biggest fear?

Durante

Never being allowed to atone for my sins. Ecco, Billy. Self imposed isolation or not, everyone wants to be happy. In their own way.

Ella

Rufus deserves the world. And I’m scared rigid sometimes that I won’t be able to give him everything he does deserve. That I’m not enough as one parent, let alone substitute for two.

·         What are you best at?

Durante

Patience. Yes, I said patience. Yes, I am well aware of my surname. The answer remains the same.

Ella

I can cook, pretty well. I can speak several languages. Oh, yes, fluently. Maths. Horse riding. Swimming. Socialising. Not committing murder. Forgiving. Everything really.

·         Tell us something that will shock us.

Durante

Every tourist who has visited my estate has left alive. Barely counts. They’re still alive.

Ella

I’m really not that grieved by my husband’s death. Guilt? Yes. Grief? No. I’m evil aren’t I?

·         What do you value in a partner?

Durante

Brain cells.

Ella

Normality. I need someone to ground me. I’ve had more than enough excitement for a hundred lifetimes.

·         Describe the last time you felt happy.

Durante

Happy? God knows. Content? My first year in Tuscany. For the first time, I felt I’d done something I could be proud of. And I felt content. You can feel content without smiling. I’m smiling on the inside.

Ella

Me and Roo in Sicily. Just me and my baby boy. Building sandcastles. Eating lemon cakes. Perfect. I’ve never had a better time since.

·         What’s your biggest regret?

Durante

Don’t you mean who? That answers the question in its entirety.

Ella

Shouldn’t that be who? Well, it’s a tossup between dear departed David, the late hubs. And Angela. I should have pushed her in front of that bus... But then I’d have to change my list on things I’m best at. Regrets... I’ve had a few... Oh shush, I can sing!

·         What’s the one thing you’d change about yourself?

Durante

I’ve done enough changing. You have to take me as I am.

Ella

I’d really like to be less flaky. I’m a mum. I should behave like one once in a while.

·         What item can’t you live without?

Durante

My coffee machine. It saves lives. By the hour.

Ella

My amazing bicycle! Because cycling through Lucca town is one of life’s greatest pleasures. Apart from the bum ache.