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It felt as if they were setting off on a big adventure when the yacht finally nosed out of its berth accompanied by the Port Hercules harbour pilots in their zippy little speedboats, buzzing around like small aquatic flies. Excitement thrummed through her veins in tandem with the low throb of the engines as Shauna stood on the starboard side of the boat ready to haul in her assigned fender. She was doubling as a deckhand and in her smart uniform she couldn’t help feeling rather important as a crowd gathered to watch the St Helena’s departure.

As soon as the harbour pilots buzzed off, abandoning the St Helena to the open sea, the crew dispersed to their usual rostered jobs. There was no sign of Demetrios and she couldn’t decide whether that was a good or a bad thing. Last night at the Grimaldi palace had been heavenly, a glimpse into another world which she knew she might never see again, but it had strengthened her resolve that one day she would be somebody.

Despite the hard work, Shauna discovered that she loved the rhythm of life at sea. The ship had a completely different feel to when they’d been in port. Somehow, the yacht seemed to come into its own as it cut its way across the Mediterranean. Over the following days, the sea proved an ever-changing chameleon. Some days it was calm and still; on others, the waves would be gently whipped by the wind. It was a far cry from ferry crossings on the turbulent Irish Sea; here the waves had a hypnotic quality, while the sky was always a cloudless azure blue.

Their route took them via Corsica, where they stayed for one night. Even in that short time, she found herself enchanted by the lively town of Bonifacio. Demetrios had left the yacht for dinner with some business associates, leaving the crew free to amuse themselves for a few hours. The marina was a hive of activity and the other crew members were eager to sample all it had to offer, but Shauna had set her heart on making the long climb up the hill to the thirteenth-century citadel. Having agreed to meet up with the others for drinks later, she set off, enjoying the solitude and marvelling at the unrivalled view out across the harbour.

When she joined up with the crew in the bar where they were drinking beer and cheap wine, it brought it home to her that she was just passing through. She liked the other crew members, but she wasn’t quite one of them – even if that was how Demetrios saw her. It felt as though she must have imagined the night at the palace with Demetrios and their fairy-tale kiss, but then she remembered the way he’d looked at her and felt a jolt of pleasure. She found herself wondering what he was doing right now. Since that night, she was certain he’d been avoiding her. He no longer spent each day passing backwards and forwards, making his presence felt, exchanging cheerful banter with the crew and getting involved in day-to-day life on the St Helena. These days, he made his way up to the bridge first thing in the morning and stayed there, taking his dinner with the captain and the senior officers in the evening. She thought he must be regretting their night together, and she told herself that was what happened when girls like her got mixed up with men like Demetrios. Rich people didn’t have feelings.

The next day, Shauna saw even less of Demetrios. Jeremy explained that there was a change to their plans and they weren’t going to be stopping at either Malta or Crete on the way to Ithos as originally planned.

‘Demetrios has decided he wants to get back to Ithos.’ Jeremy pushed a hand through his hair. ‘It’s turned everything upside down. Funny, because it’s not like him at all.’

‘In what way?’ she asked.

‘Don’t get me wrong, Demetrios is demanding and expects everything his way, but he’s not usually capricious. Not like this. Changing the plan at the last minute is not like him at all. And on top of that he’s told me that he’s acting as chief mate on this journey, assisting the captain.’

Which explained why, when Demetrios did appear, it was on the bridge, directing the voyage with the captain. He looked so absorbed in what he was doing that she commented on it to Chantelle as she helped her prepare the crew’s lunch.

‘Well, they are a shipping family. Yes, they are concerned with commerce, but the family have their roots in sailing and his father will want Demetrios to learn about ship life from top to bottom. How can one know about the challenges of running a shipping company without the insider knowledge of how a boat is handled?’

‘Do you know why he’s suddenly in such a hurry to get back to Ithos?’

‘Probably something to do with the business. The family divide their time between Athens and Ithos. You’ll like it there – it’s very beautiful and unspoiled.’

‘So I’ve been told.’ Shauna paused, wondering how to broach the next subject. In the end, she gave up and just blurted it out: ‘Tell me about Sofía Constantis.’

‘Oh, so you have had the pleasure of meeting the tigress?’

‘She was at the Grimaldi party. I can’t say she was too friendly.’

Chantelle laughed. ‘She never is. Sofía’s father is determined that she and Demetrios will marry, bringing two of Greece’s shipping dynasties under one roof. If it is good for her father, it will be good for Sofía too – Demetrios is quite the catch!’

‘Is that what Demetrios wants?’

‘No one knows what he wants, not even Demetrios!’ Chantelle turned the marinated chicken over the open coals – they smelled delicious and Shauna’s tummy rumbled. ‘He’s very good at fending off over-enthusiastic lady friends, but Sofía is different – he won’t have it all his own way there. Mama Theodosis will have been scheming behind the scenes too. Never cross a Greek mother!’

‘I’ll try not to,’ Shauna responded.

‘Papa Theodosis is the head honcho on paper, but Elana wears the pants. She always gets what she wants.’

Shauna was silent, thinking about the forces bearing down on Demetrios and wondering what it must be like for a young man with dreams to know that he wasn’t free to pursue them.

Chantelle seemed to read her thoughts. ‘Demetrios isn’t always so diligent about working for the family business.’ She gave Shauna a sideways glance. ‘I hear you’ve been helping him.’

Shauna shrugged. ‘Is that what everyone is saying?’ She hated the idea that the rest of the crew might be gossiping about her. ‘It’s nothing really … It’s nice to use my brain occasionally.’

‘No one thinks anything. You’re far too … Don’t take offence, but you’re the innocent, sweet type and we all know Demetrios’s tastes run to sultry, tempestuous brunettes, like Normandie. Anyway, Demetrios knows his own mind and won’t be pushed into anything, but he also knows that his family want what’s best for the business. In an uncertain world, there is strength in numbers.’

Shauna bit her lip.

‘Hey,’ said Chantelle, ‘why the frowning face? You’re not getting romantic ideas about Demetrios, are you?’

‘Of course not,’ Shauna said. ‘That would be ridiculous!’

Chantelle looked at her kindly. ‘Listen, chérie, you wouldn’t be the first to get attached to Demetrios, he has that knack of making everyone feel a bit special. But that way only heartbreak lies, I promise you.’

‘You’ve got the wrong idea completely,’ Shauna said quickly, taking her plate of Greek salad and skewered chicken to sit alone, thoughtfully eating it on the deck.