Most of the passengers turned out to be locals who came off the boat very swiftly, and after a minute or two Penny and Nell began to wonder if the new tenants had missed the boat. Then a young woman in huge sunglasses emerged, pushing a buggy.

‘Oh my God,’ Nell squealed, ‘it’s Willow!’

She began to run up the gangway and folded her daughter in a tight embrace. ‘Willow! Darling! Why didn’t you tell me you were coming, and why the hell did you book in the name of Williams?’

At that precise moment, a thin blonde emerged into the sunlight behind Willow. She looked like a rock chick preserved in aspic, wearing skin-tight white jeans and more silver than Cleopatra.

‘Oh sweet Jesus. It’s only bloody Marigold,’ Nell murmured, so softly only Penny could hear.

‘Well, actually . . .’ Willow sounded both embarrassed and apologetic. ‘It was Marigold who made the booking, and only told me afterwards. She thought your idea with the boathouses had real potential, and as Ollie’s off on some banking jaunt we ought to jump on a plane and take an actual look.’ She gestured round to the beach, the tamarisk trees and the bright Greek sunshine. ‘Plus, all this is pretty tempting.’

There was no mention of coming to see her, Nell noted. ‘But why didn’t you at least let me know?’ she asked.

Willow dropped her voice. ‘I’m sorry, Mum. You know what Marigold’s like. She sort of took over, and she was paying. The thing is . . .’ She hesitated, looking even more embarrassed. ‘I think Marigold reckons she might be good at doing up boathouses herself.’

Nell made herself banish the thought that she’d quite like to kill Marigold. It was wonderful to see Willow, whatever the reason she’d come. Although if bloody Marigold thought she was going to take over the boathouses, she could take a running jump.

Nell hugged her daughter. ‘Never mind, it’s just great to see you.’ She bent down to say hello to her granddaughter, who was just waking up and wondering where she was after the plane journey – and whose was the face that loomed towards her. Suddenly unnerved, she started to cry.

Marigold didn’t waste a second but swooped down and plucked her out of the buggy. ‘Naomi, poor little love, come to Mari.’ She stroked the chestnut tuft of curls on the child’s head possessively as if the baby were own. ‘Everything’s going to be all right. We’re in Greece and we’re going to stay in a lovely house right near the sea. Maybe we’ll see a mermaid!’

Nell felt like telling her they were called nereids round here, but decided it wasn’t worth it. She felt a sudden pressure on her back, and realized it was Penny offering sympathy.