In a place as small as Courmayeur, bumping into people was inevitable. Stephen had a suspicion that Ginie was deliberately putting herself in his way, yet she did it with such warmth and charm that he couldn’t help but be flattered.

He had never been particularly alive to women until he met Ginie. There had been the odd, dutiful flirtation with the sisters of friends, but Ginie wasn’t like any woman he had ever encountered. It wasn’t her beauty that he was drawn to, though she was slender, with naturally wavy dark hair and brown eyes a man could drown in. It was the fact that she was so different; she had so much character and life. She didn’t care what she said to anyone, or what she did. She was a woman who wouldn’t have any sort of conventions, whereas his family was Unitarian: high thinking, highly principled, buttoned up.

They quickly became inseparable. Her company filled him with delight and felt as easy and natural as breathing. It was as if he had known her his whole life. Though the first time he saw her tattoo, he was shocked. The creature coiled up the entire length of her leg, its heavy lines stark against her creamy skin, almost like a deformity.

‘Snakes symbolise wisdom,’ she said coolly, noting the expression on his face. He didn’t reply. ‘I suppose you’re wondering why I had it done?’

He nodded and sat down on the edge of the bed, waiting for her to speak. Her hair was tumbled on the pillow, smelling of smoke and perfume. She was a teenager, she told him – it was a dare. Rose, her best friend at boarding school, put her up to it. ‘Rose goaded me: “You’ll never have a tattoo, you’re not brave enough!” So off I went and had it done. I was expelled, of course.’

Something about the way Ginie told the story – her eyes very wide, very innocent – made Stephen doubt she was being truthful, but he didn’t care. He traced his fingers over the serpent’s arching back and continued up her thigh. He moved closer, his eyes searching her face. The rising heat between them put an end to the conversation.

Weeks later, Ginie came to him, unusually subdued. Her period was late. She was normally as regular as clockwork, she told him, which meant that she was almost certainly pregnant. She seemed to expect him to be angry. ‘I can get rid of it, if you want me to,’ she offered, not meeting his eyes.

‘Ginie, please,’ he begged. ‘Don’t say such a thing. Marry me.’

Gently, he raised her chin, forcing her to look at him and watched her expression change from dejection to incredulity and joy. He took her in his arms and held her tightly, burying his face in her hair.