‘Yes. At once. The headmistress says it does not matter that it is halfway through the year. She says I’m a smart girl and she didn’t think I should have left in the first place,’ Ariadne continued excitedly. ‘My grandmother says that is because she’s scared her school will close down if she doesn’t have enough pupils.’

‘Good old Cassandra,’ murmured Moira. ‘Always happy to put the boot in. Anyway, girls, I’m happy too because this means Takis will be looking for staff at the beach bar, and I am going to volunteer!’

They all looked at her in amazement. ‘Moira! A week ago, you were teetotal!’ pointed out Nell.

‘Not any more!’ Moira asserted. ‘Anyway, I hate that expression. It makes me think of those temperance sayings.’ She pursed her lips and adopted a theatrical posture. ‘The lips that touch liquor will never touch mine!’ she announced in a dramatic tone. ‘I just didn’t like the taste. Now I do. And with a bit of luck, I can turn the bar into a success at last!’

‘But you’re a classics don from Cambridge!’ protested Nell. ‘You can’t be a barmaid!’

‘Why the hell not? Cambridge doesn’t want me any more. Besides, I’ve always wanted to be a barmaid. All that pulling pints.’ She gave a demonstration. ‘Excellent for the biceps.’

‘I’m not sure how many pints you’ll pull in Takis’s beach bar!’ Dora shook her head. Ariadne was still standing with them, looking slightly sad.

Dora suddenly swept the girl into her arms. ‘Sorry, Ariadne, I haven’t made enough of your news. Let’s clap her, everyone, to celebrate that Ariadne is giving up the goats and the bar and going back to school!’

They all put their hands together, while Ariadne looked a little embarrassed but mostly delighted.

‘Congratulations.’ Moira patted her awkwardly. ‘Dora’s always telling us what a clever girl you are.’

Beaming now, Ariadne bounced off to the kitchen.

‘Well done,’ Penny whispered to Dora. ‘She really appreciated that.’

Dora grinned round at them all. ‘I expect the goddess moved me!’

Whether or not it was the goddess prompting her, Dora laid the clothes she was going to change into later for dinner out on the bed and slipped into jeans and her supermarket plimsolls. There was something bothering her, a little detail that had stuck in her mind about the olive grove, and she was just going to have to go there and check it out. She passed through reception and glanced at the cubby hole for the key to Xan Georgiades’ room. It wasn’t there. That meant he was either in his room now, or he always carried it with him.