He accepted this offer ungraciously. Marigold fetched him one from the honesty bar plus a glass of wine for herself, somehow forgetting to pay for them.

‘What I chiefly need –’ Colin’s grey appearance was getting even greyer, through extreme tiredness and disbelief that Penny had dared to refuse him – ‘is a bloody hotel room, and the stupid chap at reception says they’re full.’

‘Don’t worry about that. You can stay with me. I have plenty of room.’

Tucked away in her nook, Nell almost got the giggles at the prospect of Marigold slipping into Colin’s room at the dead of night as she’d tried to do with Nikos. From what Penny said, he probably wouldn’t notice.

‘That’s kind of you.’ He remembered his manners. ‘Colin Anderson, nice to meet you. Anyway, my wife, the stupid cow, refuses to come home. Says she’s staying here with that Greek chap.’

‘Nikos. He’s supposed to be the mayor here, so surely he shouldn’t go round stealing people’s wives.’

‘Not that I’ll notice,’ Colin continued, not even registering her comments. ‘She was a bloody useless wife anyway.’

Nell had to check herself from running out and hitting him on the head with his own beer bottle.

‘How long are you staying?’ Marigold undid another button on her kaftan.

‘Going home tomorrow.’ He looked her over for a moment, weighing up any similarity she might have to Penny. ‘Why don’t you come?’ he invited, leering slightly. ‘I have a spare ticket, if you’re interested. Shouldn’t be too hard to change the details. 11.45 tomorrow night. From Athens.’

Marigold thought for a moment. It was time she went back, and there was something about the wild and spontaneous nature of this idea that appealed to her. She wasn’t at all sure about Colin, but she was even more fed up with Ted, and she quite liked the idea of walking off with Penny’s husband. Nikos was far too attractive for plain Penny Anderson and he’d soon see there were prettier fishes in the sea than her.

Besides, she could always dump him at Gatwick. And it sounded as if he was offering a free seat.

She favoured him with one of her most terrifyingly seductive smiles. Colin, calculating how much money her offer of a bed would save him, failed to notice.

Marigold stood up. ‘Let’s get going, then. I’ll find a cab.’

As soon as they’d departed, Nell scooted back to the others. ‘I can’t wait to tell Willow,’ she giggled. ‘Penny, the most wonderful news. The frightful Marigold has just scooped up Charmless Colin and taken him home!’

‘Oh my God, talk about two people deserving each other!’ Penny collapsed with laughter. ‘I couldn’t be happier for them! A thought occurred to her. ‘Oh dear; poor Wendy and Tom.’