‘Thanks – that’s a relief then,’ said Christopher, touched by the tact and sensitivity that lay behind the defensive thorn hedge she had planted round herself. He wondered what sort of adult relationships she’d had since her traumatic childhood and what had gone wrong with them – clearly something must have done, to turn such a potentially attractive young woman into someone who seemed to be so alone. ‘I’ll see you downstairs then,’ he said. ‘I just want to find Catherine before she disappears to thank her for all she’s done for me, but otherwise the day is ours, so don’t rush.’

But though the day might be theirs, they were both acutely aware of how little they really knew about each other. Each wondered if their relationship was about to take a huge leap forward; whether, without the rest of the group to act as an echo sounder, the attraction that existed between them would flourish into something much stronger, or whether, with the opportunity to be alone together, it would wither away. Both were looking for a fresh start in their lives, both wanted something more than a light-hearted holiday romance, but there were issues to be sorted out and wounds that needed to be healed. There were hopes and possibilities but no certainties. Christopher felt very aware that he was dealing with someone who’d had her trust in human beings eroded at an early age and decided he must be careful not to make any wrong moves.

Marnie had wondered if Christopher would attempt to sleep with her when they reached the Old Steading the night before. There had been a moment as they had stood on the stairs on their way to their rooms when anything might have happened, but they had both held back; too many unresolved issues hanging between them; each afraid of inflicting or receiving more hurt.

‘Goodnight, beautiful dancer,’ he had said, softly. ‘Thank you for helping me to come back to life again. Sleep very well. See you in the morning.’ Christopher had been amazed at how the evening had gone. Earlier in the week it had been Louisa who had set his pulses racing, but the sudden magnetic attraction he now felt for Marnie was something much deeper altogether.

‘Goodnight,’ she whispered. ‘Thank you too.’

After she had closed her bedroom door, she had leaned against it almost afraid to take another breath because she did not want to lose the moment. She had read somewhere that people who are drowning can have a whole life’s review in a few seconds. She almost felt as if she were drowning now and thought with surprise that it was an entirely pleasurable sensation. She had intended to go over every detail of the evening in her head, analysing each word spoken, each glance exchanged – and each, surprising step danced – but when she got into bed she had fallen asleep almost immediately.