They tumbled on to the duvet, both bodies burning to the other’s touch. Lips and hands explored new terrain, hungry to commit the maps of each other’s bodies to memory. Later, as they lay exhausted among the ruins of the bedding, Cordelia ran her hand gently over the planes of Lindsay’s body where she lay face down, head buried between her new lover’s small, neat breasts. Lindsay propped herself up on one elbow and licked her dry lips. She smiled and said, “I taste of you. You taste like the sea. That’s what I miss, living in the city. I grew up by the sea. My father earned his living with what he could pull out of the sea. I’ve always associated the best times in my life with the smell and taste of the sea.”

Cordelia smiled. “You saying I’m like a piece of seaweed?”

“Not exactly. Not everyone tastes like the sea. Everyone tastes different. Everyone smells different.”

“Maybe you just bring out the best in me.” They chuckled softly, and because it was the first time, they didn’t move apart, but simply fell asleep where they lay, somewhere in the middle of their conversation.

Lindsay was wakened at eight the next morning with a cup of coffee. Cordelia stood by the bed, looking better in Lindsay’s dressing gown than its owner ever did, and said, “I woke early. I always do. So I just made myself at home in a corner of your kitchen and did some work. I thought you might like a coffee.”

Lindsay could tell at once that everything was all right between them. There was no constraint, no trace of regret for either of them. It had been the right thing after all, thought Lindsay with relief. She pushed herself upright and took the coffee. Cordelia sat down on the bed as if it was something she had been doing all her life.

“Anything in the papers about Paddy?” asked Lindsay.

“Just the bare fact that she has been arrested and will appear in court this morning. I wish I could be there to give her some moral support. I wish she knew where I am and why.”

Lindsay smiled wryly. “No doubt she won’t be in the least surprised to hear how things are between us. I suppose I should be feeling guilty that we’ve been enjoying ourselves while she’s locked up.”