“No, you’re not.” Euan dragged another chair close. Heat burned her cheeks and she looked down. Her unbrushed hair fell across her face and through the strands she could see a dirty mark down the front of her windcheater. I must look a wreck, she thought and bit her lip.

“Here.” Flynn put a cup beside her and began to move away.

“Stay, Flynn. You’re a part of this,” Euan said.

“It’s nothing to do with me.”

“Yes it is. Sit down.”

Flynn hesitated then slowly lowered himself to a chair.

Euan turned to her. “First, I must apologise for last night,” he said. “I think you inadvertently overheard a conversation between Anna and myself that would have upset you.”

Keely wanted to protest but, as always, she could feel the heat spreading down her neck. She rubbed at the mark on her windcheater.

“I don’t know how much you heard but I am guessing the part involving the rumours about you. Flynn and I have to take responsibility for that.”

“What!” Flynn jumped to his feet.

Keely took a quick look from Euan to Flynn. Euan’s face was calm but Flynn’s was taut with anger.

“Don’t drag me into this.” He gripped the back of his chair.

“We’re both responsible for the rumours about Keely.”

“That’s ridiculous. I haven’t spoken to anyone about her, except to tell Anna you had someone staying.”

“It’s not what we’ve said. You know what this place is like. It’s what we haven’t said. I brought Keely here and didn’t introduce her to Hugh or any of the workers. Not that she was well enough but they’d have seen her about the place. Add to that you moving into the studio and I guess it’s made for a good story.”

“It doesn’t matter,” Keely mumbled.

“Yes, it does. I don’t care what they say about me but it’s not fair on you.” Euan waved a hand at Flynn. “Sit down again.”

Keely could see the rigid outline of Flynn’s jaw. He was so like Euan.

“Please,” Euan said softly this time.

Flynn walked slowly around the chair and sat down on the edge of it.

“Hear me out, both of you.” He turned to Keely again. “I think you should stay until you’re fully recovered.”

“I’m—”

He put up a hand. “I know you say you are but I don’t believe you. The fall you had last night was a bit of a setback. Better that you rest a few more days, perhaps see the local doctor and get the all clear, then you can leave. One of us will drive you back to Perth if that’s where you want to go.”