‘Because that moment was important to me. I was ashamed. Ashamed that all we wanted to do was seduce you. Ashamed maybe even more that I was so ignorant of my own culture! I was a working-class kid. My father was a labourer. I wasn’t interested in mythology or history, so I never listened at school. I just wanted to leave and get a job and have money in my pocket. But I was an ignorant pig, and suddenly, because of you, I knew it! So I created a new identity. I studied and went to university and turned into Nikos, and eventually I came here.’

‘And became the mayor,’ Nell congratulated, smiling.

‘What did you study?’ Penny asked.

Nikos produced a dazzling smile. ‘Classical civilization. What else?’

‘Well, you’ll certainly get on with Moira,’ Nell commented.

‘Another Greek name,’ he replied.

‘I thought it was Irish.’

‘The Moira were the fates. The ones who decide how long your life should be, and choose the moment of your death.’

‘Terrific,’ Nell said wryly. ‘I’m not sure I’d trust our Moira with that.’

‘And you are Helen, whose irresistible beauty was the cause of the Trojan War,’ he told Nell. ‘And Penelope . . .’ He turned to Penny, his eyes fixing on her face. ‘Penelope was the wife of Odysseus, who waited ten years for him to return.’

‘Don’t remind me,’ commented Penny, with more bitterness in her voice than Nell had ever heard. ‘I’m the long-suffering wife who always does the right thing.’

‘Ah, but our other friend is definitely not Greek,’ Nell said.

‘What is her name?’

‘Dora.’

‘But is that not short for Pandora?’

Penny nodded.

‘Then she was the first human woman. Zeus gave her a box or urn and told her not to open it, but she did, and released all the evil into the world!’

‘It’s Eve and the apple all over again!’ Nell protested angrily, shaking her head at the unfairness of it. ‘Women are always blamed for everything bad. Anyway, our Dora’s more likely to keep makeup in the box.’

One of the fishermen let out a joyous shout.

‘He has finished!’ explained Demetria. ‘And so have Pavlos and Petros, and Andros and Manoli!’

‘Goodness,’ Nell grinned. ‘I think maybe we’d better have lunch.’ She and Demetria began to spread the food out on trestle tables on the beach.

By unspoken agreement, Penny and Nikos stayed behind.

‘I would like to ask you about your life,’ Nikos stared at her intently. ‘Do you have a husband?’

Penny nodded.

‘And are you happy with him?’

Penny had no choice but to face the reality of her own heart.

‘No.’

‘But you are still together?’

She nodded, and he pushed for no further explanation. ‘And you have children?’