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Up above, through the smoky glass of the bridge, she could see Demetrios and Captain Elias poring over their charts.

He looked up momentarily and Shauna thought he could see her. But instead of giving her a wave he turned away. Her heart sank. Chantelle was right: she’d been a fool to think there was anything in his kiss.

The following morning, Jeremy tackled her as she was tidying the linen stores.

‘Shauna, are you taking those to the master suite? Can you give this telex to Demetrios, he wanted it as soon as it came through – it’s urgent. He’s also asked for coffee, so make yourself useful.’

The last thing Shauna wanted was to see Demetrios, having convinced herself that he no longer wanted anything to do with her after having fun at her expense. Nevertheless, she couldn’t keep the butterflies from fluttering in her stomach as she approached his suite.

She knocked but there was no answer. Thinking he was probably having his shower, she left the telex on his desk with the tray of coffee but as she was about to leave the bathroom door opened and Demetrios stepped through from his cabin, a towel wrapped around his hips, both hands towelling his hair. ‘Ah, is that the message I was expecting? I need that coffee, too. Could you pour for me? I’m running a little late.’ He tossed down the towel and sat down on the sofa, completely unselfconscious about his bare chest. Shauna dropped her eyes and focused on pouring him a cup before walking over to hand it to him.

‘Sit down. I don’t want you towering over me, it gives you an unfair advantage.’

‘You aren’t dressed.’

‘You’re being rather prudish. Surely, you’ve seen a man’s chest before?’ He sounded irritable and cross.

‘Maybe I’ll just leave you to it. I’m sure we both have plenty of work to do.’

‘Are you always such a calm, collected beauty?’ he snapped icily. He stared at her, resentful and arrogant.

Taken aback by the fierceness in his words, she froze. She might be unworldly and unsophisticated and from a humble background, but she deserved some respect. She lifted her chin. ‘I’m an employee. I can’t fight back, as you well know, but I can tell you that I think you’re being rude. If I’m not required here, I will leave.’ She turned on her heel and marched to the door, her heart beating a little faster, roused by the unexpected conflict.

‘Stop! Wait.’ He lurched to his feet and intercepted her, standing between her and the door handle.

She looked up at him, defiantly refusing to be intimidated.

His face softened and he smiled at her, his brown eyes full of warmth and regret. ‘I owe you an apology. I’m sorry. You’re quite right, perhaps I got out of the wrong side of the bed, as you would put it.’

Shauna nodded stiffly, still determined to leave the room.

‘Please, Shauna, come and sit down with me.’

She felt herself relent. ‘I’d rather you were dressed first.’

It was his turn to raise an eyebrow. When he saw her mouth firming into an implacable line, he laughed.

‘As you wish, Miss Prim. We must have standards.’

She bristled at the description; it made her sound staid, dull and boring and everything that her mother wanted her to be, when she wanted to be anything but that. More than ever, she wanted to be one of those tempestuous and beautiful women that he was so taken up with, the ones who wore Chanel and had Bollinger and sex for breakfast.

When he returned, it was in a pale green linen shirt and navy cotton shorts. ‘Better?’ He enquired, his mouth twisting in barely contained amusement. ‘Do you want anything to eat? There’s plenty there.’

‘I had breakfast with the crew. At half-past six.’

‘Touché,’ he said, lifting his coffee cup in salute. ‘What would you say if I told you I’d not slept well?’

‘I’m sorry to hear that.’ She paused before adding, ‘I always sleep exceptionally well.’

‘Do you?’ He eyed her. ‘There is nothing that keeps you awake at night?’

Shauna felt as if he were pulling her into a dangerous force field.

‘Surely you have everything you want?’

‘You’d think so, but sometimes even those who seem to have everything don’t have the one thing they truly need.’

‘And what are you missing?’