Molly quickly unpacked her clothes, hanging the dresses in a cavernous wardrobe whose door creaked ominously when she opened it, and placing the rest into the top drawer of a bureau. In a neat folder on a small table, she found information about the hotel and spa and a list of salon treatments available. Amelia had told her she should book some in advance, but she hadn’t bothered. If she couldn’t get an appointment, she was happy enough to relax in the steam room or sauna after a few laps of the pool.

A glance at her watch told her it was three o’clock. She should have asked which room Amelia and Tristan were in, but if she knew her friend she wouldn’t be hanging about and was probably already lying on a massage table. And Tristan, no doubt would be on his way to the golf course.

A quiver of annoyance and resentment shot through her that Jack had refused to come, followed by a shiver of hurt feelings that he hadn’t wanted to spend time with her. Wasn’t that what it came down to? She pressed trembling lips together, her good mood of only seconds before extinguished. Unable to find any enthusiasm for the spa, she picked up her handbag and went down to the lobby. She was almost there when she heard her name called and turned to see Amelia coming down the stairs behind her.

‘Molly! Perfect timing, I was thinking about having a G and T, now you can join me.’

‘I thought you’d be in the spa,’ Molly said, smiling at her friend as she came alongside.

‘I’ve a facial booked for five, darling, so plenty of time for a drink and a catch-up first. Where’s Jack?’

‘Unfortunately, he’s got too much on so couldn’t make it,’ Molly said, having decided on the journey down that this was the best lie to tell. She saw expressions of disappointment and annoyance vie for a place on Amelia’s face and wondered why. Maybe disappointed that Jack wasn’t going to be there for her to flirt with and annoyed with having to entertain Molly. Whatever the reason, she was suddenly sorry she’d agreed to come.

As soon as they were seated in the lounge, a tall, exceedingly handsome young waiter bustled over to take their order. Amelia’s eyes widened and she put on her best flirtatious manner as she asked for a G and T for them both. ‘Plenty of ice, darling,’ she said to him, her voice pitched low and husky. ‘I’m feeling rather hot.’

‘You’re old enough to be his mother,’ Molly said bluntly when the waiter had gone.

‘You’re too fixated on age, Mol,’ Amelia said, unoffended, her eyes following the young man across the room before turning back to her. ‘If he’s interested where’s the harm?’