The swell in Ari Atoll was pleasantly calm, the MS Aquarion lay like a plank on the Indian Ocean and she had no trouble making it to the on-board bar in her ten-centimetre heels.

‘Gin and tonic, please,’ she said to the barman of the small but elegant cruise ship which had room for just under a thousand passengers. One of them, a man with unbelievably deep eyes, who was holding a beer, gave her a smile that did not fail to do the trick.

‘Please allow me,’ said the good-looking German, who she hadn’t let out of her sight since they’d left Sri Lanka.

‘That’s very kind of you, Herr…’

‘Schiwy,’ the man told her his name, which of course Elena already knew. ‘But please call me Tom.’

She smiled and said the name she’d used to check in for this trip.

‘Tell Julia I’ll make amends for my mistake!’

‘So, what brings you on board?’

‘Whew.’ He pretended to wipe sweat from his brow. ‘It’s a long story.’

‘We’ve got a long journey ahead of us,’ Elena said, with an even friendlier smile and brushing, as if by accident, Tom’s hand on the bar with the tip of her finger.

‘Okay, well, if you want to hear the short version: I’m running away.’

‘From love, perhaps?’

He nodded smugly. ‘If you like, yes. Can you imagine a situation where both a mother and daughter fall in love with you at the same time?’

Elena winked coquettishly. ‘With you, Tom, yes.’

He made a dismissive gesture. ‘Yes, yes, I know it sounds funny, but believe me, it’s absolute hell. Two jealous creatures, who are also related. One wanted literally to kill herself for love, and she’d have done it too, if I hadn’t warned her mother in time.’ He gave a lecherous grin. Evidently he thought that this frivolous story would enhance his attractiveness.

‘And so you booked this trip to flee from those wild women?’ Elena asked innocently.

‘No, no, this was just a slice of luck in the midst of adversity. I won the trip in a silly online card game. I mean, I often get mail telling me I’m the hundred thousandth visitor to some website or other, but this time it was actually true. The tickets were delivered to me directly.’ He was grinning from ear to ear. ‘They arrived right on cue.’

‘Just like you, Tom.’ Elena took his hand and squeezed it gently. ‘So, lucky at cards, are you?’

‘And in love… Well, I just have fun,’ he grinned back.

‘Sounds good,’ Elena said, getting down from her bar stool.

‘How about…?’ She nodded in the direction of the lifts. ‘I know my way around here fairly well. Do you fancy a tour behind the scenes of the ship?’