‘We’ve been incredibly lucky up to now,’ Peter said to Laura as he stuck beer cans in the shade. ‘It could have been worse.’

‘Not much!’ Laura retorted, but she knew he was right. They had had some wonderful postings.

‘It’s certainly going to be a short sharp shock for Sam and Fleur,’ Peter added. ‘Aldershot doesn’t quite have the cachet of the naval base, does it?’

Laura laughed. ‘No bad thing, darling, they have had a magic three years, perhaps it’s time real life reared its ugly head. Sam’s really going to miss his sailing, though, and David and his group of friends.’

They both looked across at their children spreading rugs and towels out under the bent palms. Sam and Fleur, dreading an army quarter in England, were making the most of their last Easter holiday. They both sailed with David most weekends from the naval base or raced from Changi yacht club and Sam seemed to be spending a lot of his holiday setting up his summer crewing with some of the subalterns who were also returning to England.

‘Fleur is going to feel adrift too,’ Peter said. ‘Especially with Sam off to medical school. That little crowd seem to do an awful lot together. I must say I’ve been very lucky with my subalterns out here.’

He was watching his daughter, knowing she considered her world was going to come to an abrupt end when they left. David had another five months in Singapore and then could be posted anywhere.

Laura, following his eyes, sighed. Poor Fleur! She was far too young to interest David. He was always surrounded by pretty girls and was constantly teased about it by the other officers. ‘I think we’re going to have problems with Fleur when we get home.’

‘Oh, Laura,’ Peter said mildly.

‘Darling, Fleur has always been able to twist you round her little finger. She has such talent and is capable of working so hard when she wants to. I hope she doesn’t just throw it away.’

‘Let’s wait and see. Fleur must live her own life, darling.’

Peter knew what was bugging Laura. She was working for a degree she might never be able to use. It was likely that from Aldershot he would be posted to Northern Ireland where she would not be able to work for security reasons. For the first time he had begun to sense a resentment that seemed more and more directed at their daughter, who might casually turn her back on her own chance to excel.

He handed Laura a cool drink. ‘To this lovely day, surrounded by our friends on one of the most wonderful, unspoilt islands it is possible to imagine.’

Laura lifted her glass, met his eyes and smiled. He was right. How gently he managed to reprimand her. ‘And to our two, who I do love, you know,’ she said quietly. ‘Are you going to dive?’

‘I certainly am. I wish I could tempt you. The coral is out of this world. See you later, darling.’