‘Oh, Mum,’ Willow enthused, ‘you’ve done a terrific job. It’s cosy and hip at the same time!’

Nell couldn’t help glowing with pleasure. ‘It was mostly Penny. She got all the fishermen’s wives doing the sanding and painting.’

‘Yes, but teal?’ Marigold enquired in tones of shock bordering on horror, ‘with primrose yellow?’ Her copious silver bracelets jangled in endorsement of this glaring error of good taste. ‘And that sofa looks like some old divan with cushions on it.’

Neither Penny nor Nell rushed to inform her that that was precisely what it was, Chelsea Harbour being rather inaccessible from the island of Kyri.

‘Our friend Moira has painted a cot specially for Naomi,’ Penny enthused, changing the subject.

‘We won’t be needing that,’ Marigold shrugged, ‘we brought our own.’

Who’s ‘we’? Nell wanted to shout. How dare you speak for my daughter in that silly fake Cotswolds drawl of yours, you stupid cow?

Marigold finally handed the baby back to Willow so that she could examine the welcome pack. ‘Wine. Good. But it isn’t even cold, and I suppose it’ll be revolting anyway. You could have left us red at least.’

Penny took one look at Nell and announced it was time they left. ‘Would you like us to order a taxi to pick you up later?’ she offered.

‘I’m tempted to come back with you and book into that little hotel on the harbour,’ Marigold threatened. ‘At least that looked convenient.’

Penny and Nell exchanged horrified glances. Before they could answer, the knocker sounded on the newly painted front door.

‘God,’ Marigold shook her head. ‘Nosy neighbours as well. No doubt it’ll be hell to get rid of them.’

Nell went down to answer the door to find that Nikos, who lived round the next headland, was on the doorstep, smiling.

‘Is Penelope with you? I have been hunting for her everywhere.’

‘Yes, she’s upstairs with our first guests, who have turned out to be my daughter Willow, her baby and her mother-in-law, Marigold. Come up and meet them.’ She dropped her voice and added, ‘We need a knight errant. You could help us get away before I kill the woman and Kyri gets on the map for all the wrong reasons!’

‘Ah, of course; I will do my best. Sadly, though, I brought my bicycle rather than a white horse.’

At the unexpected arrival not of a nosy neighbour but a charming and sophisticated gentleman, Marigold’s entire demeanour transformed from petulant older woman to helpless ingénue. It was quite a performance, as Nell remarked to Penny when they were alone later on.

‘Marigold,’ Nell said, a fake smile pinned on her face, ‘this is our good friend Nikos, who is not only mayor of Kyri but lives just round the headland from you.’