‘There are six thousand Greek islands, and only eighty staff in the Department of Cultural Antiquities. It puts de Gaulle and his comment about not being able to rule a country with two hundred and forty-six cheeses somewhat in the shade, doesn’t it?’

‘But how do you smuggle six-foot statues?’ Moira persisted.

‘I’m afraid to say, the curator says they break them up. Then, often, they hand most of it to a collector except a vital part they hold back – often the head – and demand more money for it.’

‘Now that,’ Moira raised her glass and finished it in one gulp, ‘is not acceptable!’

Conscious of how much they still had to do, Penny and Nell got up early the next morning, even sacrificing Cassandra’s cakes, and went straight to the boathouses on the rather rickety bikes they’d been lent by Takis. Fortunately the bakery next door was open and they were able to pick up a coffee and a bougatsa, which turned out to be a delicious Greek pastry filled with custard.

‘This should keep us going,’ Nell grinned as they got out their paintbrushes. They had finished the first two boathouses and were starting on the third, with the invaluable help of Demetria. Demetria was enjoying herself so much that she and her husband had decided to open a B&B of their own.

‘Now I see how you ladies do it,’ she grinned. ‘Turning a load of old junk into antiques. Very clever.’

By the end of the day the upstairs room was almost finished, and they just needed an attractive headboard. ‘We need Moira to paint us another one,’ Penny said. ‘How about that old door with the curved panelling?’ she suggested, pointing to a recent donation.

They tried slipping it behind the bed. Somehow it worked brilliantly, the dark stain of the wood showing up perfectly against the crisp white bedding Penny had put on just to try out.

‘Penny, you really are amazing,’ Nell congratulated her. ‘I wouldn’t mind sleeping in that myself!’

Penny grinned. How different it was here, where people made her feel good about herself, from how she felt at home.

At just that moment Nikos put his head round the door, looking slightly disconcerted to find both Nell and Demetria there as well.

Demetria took pity on him. ‘And what can we do for you, Mr Mayor?’

‘I’m sailing over to Ximonos, the small island round the bay, to drop something off tomorrow and I wondered if you’d like to come, Penelope? The farmer over there said he had some small pieces – paintings and such – you might find useful for your redecoration project.’

Penny could see Demetria and Nell exchange a smile and pretend to be busy fiddling with the door while secretly watching her response.

‘That sounds great,’ she replied, trying to sound brisk and businesslike. ‘What time?’

‘About nine? It’s not too busy in the harbour then.’