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‘How could you do this to me?’ Her voice was ragged, almost pleading now. ‘All I’ve ever wanted is you …’ Her mascara mingled with her tears and ran down her face, leaving black streaks on her cheeks. She turned and ran out of the boathouse.

Christian ran after her, shouting, ‘Ariana, don’t be stupid, let me take you back to Ithos!’

But Ariana had flicked the rope off the docking post and jumped into the speedboat. She thew the throttle, desperate to get away from Christian and the words that had broken her heart.

Chapter 31

It had been an exhausting day at the taverna, a large party of English day-trippers had come for lunch and stayed long into the evening, eating and drinking. By the time they left, the locals had started to arrive for dinner, Greeks preferring to eat later in the evening. It was now past midnight and, apart from a few stragglers outside on the terrace lingering over their nightcaps, the place was empty.

Even at this hour, the work was never done. Grace was busy wiping tables down and tidying away the condiments when Níko tapped her on the shoulder.

‘Grace, why don’t you knock off? It has been a long day and you are on an early shift tomorrow.’

‘Are you sure?’ She wiped her hand across her weary eyes. ‘I’m happy to finish up here.’

‘I want you to get your beauty sleep, otherwise you will be yawning over the breakfast orders,’ he tutted. ‘Run along now, goodnight.’

She popped a kiss on his cheek. ‘You’re so sweet, Níko. Thank you.’

Grace didn’t bother bringing a handbag with her to the taverna, since her room was upstairs and her belongings were quite safe in there. All she carried with her was the key in her pocket. Calling kalinikta to Níko, she left through the front entrance that looked out onto the square.

It was almost empty tonight, though she could hear the cries of the fishermen as they set off on their nocturnal fishing expedition. She turned into the side street, and walked into the small courtyard behind the taverna, going up the stone steps to the door that led to the landing. There was a noise behind her, and she jumped. ‘Who’s there?’ she called, seeing someone following her up the stairs.

There was only a dim light coming from a bulb above the entrance and at first she didn’t recognize the dishevelled figure. Grace was shocked when she realized it was Ariana. Her make-up was smeared and her eyes were glazed over, as if she’d been drinking.

‘Ariana? Are you OK? What are you doing here?’

‘You bitch!’ Ariana lunged at her, but before she could reach Grace, she tripped on one of the stairs, fell forward and landing at her feet with a groan.

Grace bent down. ‘Have you hurt yourself?’

Ariana moaned again. ‘I don’t know … I feel sick.’

‘You’d better come inside.’ Grace helped Ariana up. She had to keep hold of her because the girl was wobbling on her heels and struggling to stay upright. When she put the key in the door and flicked on the light, Ariana lurched forward and threw herself on to the bed. Putting her hand across her face, she groaned again and Grace quickly poured her a glass of water from the bottle by the side of the bed.

‘Ugh, it’s warm, haven’t you got anything cold?’ she mumbled.

‘This is a lovely room, but it doesn’t stretch to a fridge. I think what you need is a cup of tea.’

On the chest of drawers, there was a tray with a kettle and some sachets of tea and coffee in a small basket. ‘Where have you been to get in this state?’ Grace asked the prone figure.

‘Mind your own business,’ Ariana slurred belligerently.

‘My mum always says that the best cure for drunkenness is lots of sweet tea,’ Grace said. ‘Ideally it should be Yorkshire Tea, but the mini-market doesn’t sell that, so Lipton’s will have to do.’ She emptied a sachet of sugar and a splash of long-life milk into the mug. ‘There’s no proper milk, I’m afraid.’

She came and sat next to Ariana on the bed. ‘Sit up and drink the tea. Honestly, you’ll feel much better in a few minutes, I promise.’

Ariana glowered at her. ‘How do you know what will make me feel better?’

‘Maybe I don’t,’ Grace conceded the point. ‘But this can’t make you feel any worse.’

Ariana sipped at the sweet liquid and grimaced. ‘It’s horrible.’

‘Keep drinking. So where have you been?’

Ariana sipped miserably at the tea. ‘With Georgiou and some of his friends. We had a beach party on the other side of the island.’

‘What were you drinking?’