‘You’ve got two eggs, one and a half tomatoes, and half a loaf of bread,’ persisted Susan, determined to keep Thea’s mind on the job.

Thea wanted to creep back to her bath. ‘I don’t suppose Molly will want a cooked breakfast,’ she began.

‘Rory will,’ said Susan.

Ben turned to Thea. ‘Can you drive Rory’s Land Rover?’

‘I expect so.’ But she wasn’t keen. If it were a matter of life and death she wouldn’t have hesitated, but not if it were just a matter of eggs and cornflakes. Oh, and freshly squeezed orange juice for Petal.

‘OK,’ said Ben, seeing her lack of enthusiasm. ‘We’ll walk to the pub and fetch Molly’s car. Then you can come with us and show me where the shops are.’

Thea felt unreasonably excited at the prospect of abandoning her sleeping, uninvited guests. Perhaps running away from people was becoming a habit. ‘Susan, just tell anyone who appears that we’ve gone to buy breakfast,’ she said gaily.

‘You’d better buy lunch while you’re there,’ Susan told her. ‘It’s getting on for one o’clock already.’

The air was damp and chill on Thea’s cheeks, refreshing and invigorating. It felt wonderful to be outdoors, in the light and air. The sun was a silver disc behind the clouds reflecting silver on the water. It was like moonlight but without the darkness. The islands rose from the sea like benign sea monsters getting the sun on their backs.

She gazed at the view for a few moments while Ben found the keys and then got Toby settled in the back of the car. ‘It is a lovely spot,’ she said happily as Ben adjusted the front seat for his long legs.

‘Yes.’

‘Very inspiring for an artist, don’t you think?’

Ben shrugged. ‘I have yet to see the artist’s work so I can’t comment on his source of inspiration.’

Thea wanted to click her teeth, roll her eyes and say, ‘Oo, la di da!’ like Petal and her chums did, in similar situations. Perhaps Ben wasn’t a morning person.

Toby sat silent in the back. To Thea, who had no experience of children, he seemed quiet and thoughtful for one so young. She glanced round to look at him, but he seemed quite happy, looking out of the window.

Toby wasn’t the only one to be quiet during the drive into town. Thea wanted to enjoy this moment of peace, knowing there would be none when they got back, and Ben was probably tired. He must be a little anxious in case this expedition was for nothing. He’d rearranged his entire holiday. If Rory hadn’t fulfilled his potential it would be a dreadful waste of his and Toby’s time.