“But it’s good for business and I like to have an arm to lean on.” Maggie’s charity events had often been a good platform for keeping his wine on the sought-after list.

“I know, but not this time. Surely you’ve got a pair of arms who’d happily take up your offer. What was that I read about a senator?”

“Absolutely nothing but gossip, mon cher frère.” She gathered up their plates. “I’ll make us some coffee.”

Euan couldn’t help but grin as she swept out the door. He’d heard a whisper before he went away that she had been seeing a federal politician of some sort. Maggie had never married but there had been several special men in her life over the years. The last one had actually moved in but he’d died quite suddenly a year later. Maggie had been quiet for a long time after that. Euan hoped she had found someone to share her life with. She was only a year older than he, and was still a very attractive woman. He particularly liked the way she kept her hair long and always wore it up in a graceful style. He couldn’t imagine her without long hair.

He took the last of his wine out onto the balcony. It was a balmy night. The lights of the city sparkled across the water in front of him and, higher up, he could see the blinking lights of a plane, disappearing north.

It made him think of the young woman he’d met on the flight from Adelaide. He wondered how she was getting on.

“What about you?” Maggie interrupted his thoughts, bringing out her freshly made coffee and placing it on the table. “Did you find someone nice to entertain you while you were away?”

“It’s not as easy as it used to be.”

“Don’t tell me you’re admitting to ageing.”

“Perhaps I’m getting wiser.”

Maggie’s laugh tinkled in the warm air. “That would be something to behold.” She raised her coffee cup to his. “Here’s to love. We’ve had our moments. May there be something more left in the pot for both of us.”

Euan raised his cup. His head filled with memories of the smiling, auburn-haired woman he’d left behind in Sydney. He hadn’t told anyone about Dianna yet. He avoided his sister’s searching look and drank.

* * *

“Keely. I’ve been texting you.” Marty’s voice sounded a long way off through the press of bodies on the balcony overlooking the street.

Keely turned around but the crowd seemed to sway and the pain that had niggled at her stomach all night jabbed harder. She was hot. That’s why she’d come out onto the balcony, searching for some cooling air – but it hadn’t helped. The thump, thump from the band boomed out around them.