‘The city,’ she replied without missing a beat.

‘What, central London?’ Tommy whistled. ‘That’s expensive.’

She met his eye. ‘Yes,’ she replied. ‘I suppose it is.’

He was looking at her the way he had the first time they had met. Impressed, again, with her apparent wealth. Her eyes drifted over to Paula. The woman looked unhappy now, her husband’s awe needling at her. Tommy folded up the newspaper and drained his coffee. Anna put her hand on the paper.

‘Do you mind?’

He shook his head. ‘Feel free.’

He looked at her again, really looked, and Anna maintained eye contact. Was he looking at her suspiciously, comparing her to the woman in the newspaper? Or was it lust? His eyes darkened, and she smiled.

Lust.

Paula cleared her throat.

‘Shall we get on, then?’ she asked, standing up.

Reluctantly, Tommy dragged his gaze away from Anna.

‘See you later,’ he said.

Anna smiled and raised her hand in a wave. Paula left the table without a word.

‘You’re pissed off,’ said Tommy as they climbed the winding stairs to the deck. ‘What’s wrong now?’

Paula stopped short, glancing at the mirrored wall that ran alongside them. For a moment she studied her own face. No, definitely not pissed off. She looked hurt. She looked how she felt. How could Tommy be so blind, both to her and her true emotion? Couldn’t he see that Anna was blatantly flirting with him? Did he think Paula had missed those little looks that passed between them? How could he be so disrespectful as to behave like a simpering teenager, not even having the courtesy to do it behind her back?

They emerged from the stairs onto the top deck, a blast of icy air hitting her head-on. She gasped and pulled her hood up.

‘I’m fine,’ she said through teeth that chattered. ‘I’m just cold.’

She pushed on, moving to the side to clutch at the railing as the wind buffeted her. In an instant she was back there, in the same place she had stood a few nights ago. Carefully she walked the length of the deck, not waiting for Tommy, not looking back to see if he was behind her. Where the railing curved to the bow, she stopped. There were no unbroken railings, and it all looked so different in the daylight. She turned again, started to walk back the way she had come. Tommy was standing still, staring out over the sea. As she reached him, she came to a stop.

‘This is the gate that was open,’ he said, and he tapped it with his ungloved hand. His wedding ring clanged against it, making a small, tinny sound. ‘It’s padlocked now,’ he added, and he brought up a booted foot and kicked at the lock as if to prove his point.