«Crazy bitch! You can't dictate her life like this.»

«But it's my life. And you know she doesn't belong to you. You saw the effect Mullen had on her, and her on him.» She smiled, distant with recollection. «Just like me and my Vanstone. He sneaked back to Charmaine from his parish, you know. Only he did it on a regular trader.»

«It's different this time,» he snarled. «This time, I'm here. She loves me, I know she does.»

Tiarella started to put her hand out towards him, then drew back. «Oh, Eason, I never meant for you to get hurt. What the hell is someone like you doing falling in love anyway?»

«Someone like me?»

«Yes. I thought you were perfect when you turned up at the harbour. A thug on the run; selfish and iron-hearted. Why couldn't you treat her the way you treated everyone else in your life?»

He glared at her, helpless against her sympathy, then ran from the laboratory.

«Don't touch her!» Tiarella shouted after him. «I mean it. You leave her alone.»

• • •

Eason didn't need the warning. It was obvious within hours that he'd lost. Althaea and Mullen were so besotted with each other it was scary. The one person he'd ever loved was gloriously happy, and anything he did to stop that happiness would make her hate him for ever.

He didn't know whether to call it destiny or history.

They went to bed together on the second night, the two of them bounding up the stairs after supper. Althaea was in front, carefree and eager.

He watched them go, remembering that night after the funeral, the wretched difference. Tiarella was watching him, her face showing compassion.

«If it means anything, I am sorry,» she said.

«Right.» He rose and went out into the gloaming. Rousseau's stock of despicable home-brew was where he'd left it.

Althaea found him the next morning, sitting on the jetty, looking down at the water. A few scraps of the dinghy's timbers were still wedged between the coral spikes.

She settled down beside him, her face anxious. «Are you all right?»

«Sure. I'm just amazed Ross survived as long as he did. That stuff really is dangerous.»

«Eason. Mullen and I are going to get married.»

«Tough decision, was it?»

«Don't. Please.»

«OK. I'm happy for you.»

«No, you're not.»

«What the hell else can I say?»

She stared out across the ocean. «I'm almost frightened of myself, the way I'm behaving. I know how stupid this is, I've only known him for two days. But I feel it's right. Is it?»

«Know what I think?»

«Tell me.»

«I think that your body is the focus for your mind on this journey. It's guided you home through an awful lot of fog, and now it's time to make a safe landing.»

«Thank you, Eason.»

He put a finger under her chin, and turned her head to face him. «I want to know one thing. And I want you to be completely honest. Did you ever love me?»