Anyway. The point is, we’ve got a year to fill. Just the thought of it makes me feels exhilarated. We’re free! Luke has temporarily handed over his company, Brandon Communications, to his old friend Michael. We have no commitments. So we don’t need to be on some rigid schedule. We’re not tourists, we’re travellers. Also, I want to stay flexible. Maybe we’ll want to spend longer in one place . . . leave out another . . . think of somewhere completely new . . . Perhaps we should go to the Arctic. I’ve always wanted to see penguins. Or are they at the Antarctic? Could we do both? And as we sit there, I start to feel sparks of fresh excitement. We’re going to do it. We’re going to go round the world together! The truth is, I landed this whole year-long honeymoon idea on Luke out of the blue and he got swept away and it’s no wonder he’s had a wobble. But now, it’s as if we’re starting again. The two of us.

Luke pulls out a chair and I pretend to be very interested in the man playing the accordion in the band. But we bought some Murano glass,’ he points out. ‘When we were actually on Murano, yesterday. The dish. Remember?’OK.’ Luke nods, but as he sits down I can tell he’s twitchy. He opens his book, looks at his watch, then shuts it again. Because! We’re travellers! I wanted to do yoga in India . . . maybe even go to the Arctic! I wanted us to change as people.’ A month?’ I stare at him in horror. ‘We can’t have a life-changing experience in a month! I wanted us to explore South America . . . sleep in little huts . . .’

Which is true. They were Americans, over here to study. They were standing at their easels in the square, sketching a church, and they all looked really cool and one of them had the cutest little dog called Beanie.I wish I’d never married you!’ The words fly out before I can think whether I mean them or not. ‘I thought I’d married someone who can see the big picture. That’s all.’ Fine.’ I beam at him. ‘No problem. In fact, I totally agree. I just need to buy a few sets of marbled stationery and then I’m done.’ Hers is pretty expert, I have to admit. It looks exactly like the church and is all cloudy and shady. But she hasn’t got a fancy title like In Vietnam, has she? I’m about to offer to think of a cool title for her when I see Luke walking across the square. So, will you be working every day?’ Luke lifts his eyebrows. ‘Do we have to structure our holiday round your creative impulses?’ Sophie Kinsella is one of my whole time favourite rom-com authors. She is predominantly known for her Shopaholic series.

This is the only tiny difference between Luke and me. He likes reading about buildings and exhibits and history, whereas I only have to read the words ‘Built in 1755, the church was originally . . .’ and I fall asleep. (Which is quite handy on planes, as it happens.) Ha! This is fun. Next I’ll say, ‘Surely you’ve got lots of art books at home already, Luke?’ or ‘Do you really think you’ll use them?’ or ‘They both look the same to me.’

There’s an easel for sale, too. And some pads of smooth white paper that I’m already itching to draw on. I can feel a whole new exciting creative urge rising through me. Maybe I’ve got an artistic talent that I’ve never tapped into! Well, fine. I’ll just sit and have a drink and soak up St Mark’s Square. If I’m going home in two weeks’ time, I’d better enjoy every second of this honeymoon that’s left. I look around at the colonnade and the pigeons and the shiny domes, and heave a great sigh. As I take a seat at Florian’s café, my heart feels like a lump of sand in my chest, and it’s not even because I’ve seen the price of a cappuccino. Hilarious . . . hijinks worthy of classic I Love Lucy episodes . . . too good to pass up.” — USA Today For someone who claims to be an ‘art-lover’, Luke has a surprising way of showing it. You’d think he’d support his wife’s artistic endeavours. You’d think he’d be pleased. Not say, ‘Drawing? You? Really?’ Not say, ‘How much?’ Not say, ‘What about just getting a box of paints for five euros?’ He so doesn’t understand anything. Sophie Kinsella has sold over 40 million copies of her books in more than 60 countries, and she has been translated into over 40 languages.

There’s a mask shop to our left and I drag the easel towards the window, trying to hide the fact that I’m out of breath. It’s our set of twelve Murano glass goblets!’ I say. ‘You were there when we chose them! All the different colours, remember? Weren’t you concentrating?’ I stare at Luke blankly for a moment, before I suddenly remember saying that in Rome. I was so inspired by the scrummy ravioli. I walk towards it, mesmerized. I’ve always wanted an art set, ever since I was a little girl. And this one is amazing. The case is velvet-lined. The brushes are polished wood. The paint colours are fabulous. It reminds me of my Urban Decay eye palette.I can’t wait to get to the Far East,’ I add longingly. ‘I’m going to get you into yoga, too. That’ll de-stress you.’ Honestly. Does he not keep his eyes open as he walks around a city? He needs to learn to be more observant.