Then things had turned bad. It had begun with a tearful Ísafold calling her in the middle of the night, saying that Björn had hit her. Áróra had gone straight to Iceland, collected her sister and taken her for an interview at the domestic-abuse shelter; for the first time.

16

6

Áróra usually found Icelandic men brash, and often downright rude compared to British guys, but this one was different. There was nothing flustered about him, unlike those Icelandic men who would approach women hesitatingly but were prepared to shower them with abuse if their interest wasn’t reciprocated. This one came across with self-assurance. She sized him up in a moment: he looked fit, slim and good-looking, although there was a youthful look to his face, as the bristles of his beard were pale and sparse. A pressed shirt was tucked neatly into his trousers, and his tie was knotted tightly even though it was evening. She liked a man who took care of his appearance.

‘The same again for me,’ he said to the barman, handing him his glass. ‘And for the lady.’

She smiled and extended a hand. ‘Áróra,’ she said, triggering a look of surprise on his face.

‘You’re from Iceland?’

‘Half Icelandic,’ she smiled. ‘Or more likely, half English. I haven’t spent much time here these last few years. But I can still manage the language all right.’

‘And a sexy accent,’ he said, moving a step closer. ‘I was sure you were a visitor, either one of the luxury tourists or else a foreigner on a business trip.’

This was her opportunity to disappear, to gently reject his interest in her. But she sat still.

‘Thank you,’ she said. ‘And do you have a name?’

‘Hákon,’ he said, and they shook hands a second time. He didn’t let go right away, and she felt a clear spark of energy between them. She tried to identify the smell of his after-shave, and had to admit to herself that this was one she hadn’t encountered before. But it was a good one, fresh with a hint of spice. For a second the 17thought crossed her mind to invite him up to her room, to try him for size and see how he measured up, to find out if he could get the blood pumping in her veins, but she immediately dismissed the idea. He had to be married.

‘Are you married?’ she asked, dropping the question without thinking, and he shook his head.

‘Separated. Two and a half kids.’