Time Warp

Italian Knight Number 5 is on it's way and my way of celebrating is to remind you of the Italians that came before. Actually, IK5 was supposed to be IK3 but then these two below turned up and were all "tell our story first!" What could I do but obey the legal eagles? May I re-introduce you to Rocco Mamione and Anna Taylor...

• Who are you closest to?

Rocco

The man, the myth, the madness that is Beppe Nardiello. A close second is my Nonna, Elisabetta Mamione. Actually, Nonna and Beppe get on very well. There's a common thread. Madness.

Anna

As long as Imogen doesn't see this, because I have known her longer, but my best friend is Mimi Johnson. She's a surgeon and she reads me like only one other person ever has. And she didn't need to sleep with me to do it. No, that's not gross, Meems, chill out.

• What is your earliest memory?

Rocco

Nonna feeding me lemon cake in her kitchen in Palermo, Sicily. I can still taste that cake now and I understood my nonna's dialect. She's always been funny. Funny haha and funny crazy.  

Anna

Christmas Day. I couldn't have been more than three, I think. And my parents bought me a teddy bear and the thing was about ten times the size of me. I fell completely in love with it. So they were the ones that started the teddy bear obsession. 

• What is your biggest fear?

Rocco

That I'll make the same mistakes as my father and my family will be the ones that suffer for it.

Anna

Never having the same relationship that my parents have with each other. I don't know if anyone will love me like that.

• What are you best at?

Rocco

Ask Anna.

Anna

Ask Rocco.

• Tell us something that will shock us.

Rocco

I have never cheated on anyone. Ever. In my life. 

Anna

I know how to use guns. My daddy insisted. I wanted horse riding lessons instead. Kinda mean now I think about it.

• What do you value in a partner?

Rocco

Loyalty and trust. It can carry the both of you through anything. 

Anna

A little bit of goddamn loyalty would go a long way. And fidelity. Is it really that hard to stay faithful?

• Describe the last time you remember feeling really happy.

Rocco

Anna and I were in France. Skiing. And she said those three little words back to me. Nothing else has ever come close since. 

Anna

I went to France with Roc... my boyfriend at the time and maybe it was the grappa or the high altitude, but we told each other that we loved each other and... Yeah, well. Things never last do they?

• What is your biggest regret?

Rocco

All tied up with the woman a few offices down from my own. 

Anna

It sways between ever meeting Rocco Mamione and the decision to become a lawyer at all. 

• What is the one thing you would change about your life?

Rocco

I would have told Anna everything. Straight away. Maybe not straight away. Jesus, she was a hard nut to crack. Usually, all I do is show the tats and it's a done deal. Really? You want to look? Of course you can, bedda. You only need to ask... 

Anna

My life or me? Same thing right? I wish... I wish life allowed me to be softer. But when you are, people take advantage. Or someone builds a cake shop inside my house. One of the two would be good. 

• What item can't you live without?

Rocco

My Blackstones Criminal Practice book.

Anna

Wine. I defy you to find a solicitor who doesn't drink. A good solicitor. We need it.