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‘Who do you think Beauty is?’

‘Maybe she is the girl who broke his heart?’

The rest of the afternoon was spent lounging around in the cool of the boathouse, eating the picnic Christian had packed. Grace found that, far from being reserved, Christian was easy going and fun; he laughed a lot and was interested in her. He told her that Demetrios had taken him under his wing as a fourteen-year-old.

‘I think he would have liked a son, someone to pass on his knowledge to.’

‘He could share it with Ariana, women can build boats too.’

‘Of course, but Ariana is no craftswoman, she does not have the patience. She likes dancing, music, fun, boys …’

‘She likes you.’ Grace elbowed him in the ribs.

‘Ariana doesn’t know what she wants. She will not like me so much when I have a middle-aged paunch and grey hair like my father. She is young – she needs to live a little before she thinks about settling down.’

‘I can’t imagine you with a middle-aged paunch,’ Grace laughed.

He got to his feet and pulled his T-shirt over his head to reveal a deeply tanned torso, a washboard stomach and rippling abs. ‘So, Grace, we have the beach to ourselves. We would be crazy not to swim – I hope you remembered to bring a bathing suit.’

‘You’re so old-fashioned.’ She laughed, trying not to stare as he stood before her in only his swimming shorts. ‘No one says “bathing suit” in England.’

‘What should I call it then?’

‘A cossie … or a bikini.’

‘OK, I hope you have brought your bikini then. Not a “cossie” – I like the sound of a bikini better.’

His eyes teased her as she stood up. Grace was glad she had worn her bikini underneath her clothes, but she was hesitant about taking her vest and shorts off in front of him.

‘Are you a good swimmer?’

‘Pretty good.’

‘I’ll race you – over to that large rock and back again.’ He headed towards the water. ‘I’m fast, you won’t beat me.’ Diving in, he started to swim quickly, his arms cutting through the water in a front crawl.

‘Big talk! I won a bronze medal in the county championships, I’ll have you know!’ she called after him, tearing off her clothes to reveal her red bikini with a bandeau top. Once in the water, her shyness was forgotten as she sped through the cool clear sea, determined not to be beaten.

Shauna looked out at Elana Theodosis from under the brim of her fedora hat, her hair pulled up underneath it.

‘Chairiete? Boró na se voithíso?’ Elana asked.

‘Sygnómi … I’m sorry, my Greek is a little rusty.’

‘Can I help you?’ Elana said. ‘Are you lost?’ Despite twenty years passing, Demetrios’s mother hadn’t lost her striking looks. Intelligent eyes regarded Shauna with curiosity but there was no indication that she recognized her.

‘Yes, I’m afraid I am lost. I’m staying up at the villa over the hill, and was looking for the beach, but I must have taken a wrong turn.’

‘It is easy to get lost on that path, there are many twists and turns to confuse the unwary traveller.’

‘That sounds like me.’

Elana smiled. ‘I can show you a quick and easy way down to the beach, but you look a little sun-weary. Perhaps you would like something cool to drink first?’

Much as Shauna wanted to get away as quickly as possible, she did feel rather faint. ‘I really must be going, my friends will be wondering what has happened to me, but a cool drink … well, that would be very kind of you.’

‘Kindness and hospitality is our duty on Ithos. Please follow me.’

Shauna resisted the urge to point out that, last time they had met, Elana had been the very opposite of kind and hospitable. She followed in silence as the woman led the way through the olives grove to a small timber gazebo, under which there was a wooden table and chairs, set out with iced orange juice in a jug next to a couple of glasses.