Jill felt uneasy, looking at her. Belle had budding breasts and hips that were beginning to curve into the shape of a woman. Jill realized she was going to have to have a talk with her daughter about covering up more when it wasn’t just family. Soon. But then – even fully clothed in her plain grey school uniform or in riding jodhpurs, Belle still looked like jailbait.

‘You pushed him,’ said Belle.

‘Snitch,’ said Harlan, his smile widening to a grin as he saw Belle’s temper.

‘You did. I saw you,’ insisted Belle.

‘Oh for God’s—’ started Jill, then she jumped into the pool and caught hold of Nipper, who was panicking and out of his depth. ‘It’s OK, I’ve got you,’ she said, and hauled him to the edge.

‘I’m OK,’ he said, scrambling out, snatching up a towel and starting to rub himself dry.

‘Course he is. Aintcha, mate?’ Harlan slapped his follower on the shoulder.

‘You’re such a dick,’ said Belle.

Harlan just kept smiling.

65

Milly watched the little drama unfold in the pool and then, hiding behind her sunglasses, got back to her book. She wasn’t wearing a swimsuit, although she was uncomfortably hot in her T-shirt and jeans and would have loved nothing better than to plunge into the cool water. And she would have, if she’d been alone. But with Harlan there? No way. He called her fat arse all the time, while ogling Belle as she romped about in her too-revealing bikini.

God, it’s obscene, thought Milly as she lay there casting covert glances at her adopted brother. Harlan was growing up fast, his shoulders widening, a slender muscularity emerging on his torso. In figure-hugging swimming trunks, the bulge of his cock was all too evident. Not that Belle ever seemed to return Harlan’s interest. He was beautiful, she supposed – but cold as alabaster. Milly watched as he went over to where Belle was sitting by the edge of the pool, dangling her feet in the water, and sat down beside her.

She really is pretty as a picture, thought Milly. And Belle was fearless, too; she’d tackle anything, go anywhere, confident of a good outcome whatever she was faced with. Milly envied her that.

‘Can I sit here?’ said a voice from above her.

Startled, Milly realized that Nipper was standing over her, indicating the sunbed beside her own.

‘Sure,’ said Milly, and he sat down and stretched out. ‘Don’t take any notice of Harlan,’ she told him, laying her book aside. ‘He’s just a bastard, he can’t help it. It’s in his nature.’

Nipper turned and looked at her. ‘What’s the book?’ he asked.

Milly showed him the cover. ‘It’s boring.’