She looked out of the window, watching the peacock strut on the lawn. She was yet to see him with his tail in full fan, but was more than content to watch him majestically saunter with his arrogant gait. The peahens stared in envy at his trailing skirt of teal and gold, his glossy blue body shimmering and his headdress crown that never slipped.

‘Have you got a grand room in Thornbury? I can’t imagine sleeping in a castle.’

‘I don’t exactly. I’m in an annex, but it’s still quite grand, I suppose. Not much in it, but a nice double bed and a great view of the garden through the French doors. We have peacocks!’

‘So? We have seagulls!’ Bella retaliated.

‘But peacocks are beautiful. Not that I’ve ever seen one with its tail up; I’d love to, mind.’

‘Baby seagulls are cute!’

‘A peacock doesn’t try and nick your chips.’

‘True, but when a sailor sees a seagull he knows land is close! And that’s pretty awesome,’ Bella added triumphantly. ‘Sailors like Luuk, who might use them to help find their way back to me.’

‘Bella, you are worrying me, coming over all poetical! It’s not like you. Mind you, I can talk, I’ve been reading Shakespeare.’

‘Shakespeare? As in Romeo and Juliet?’

‘Yes. What other Shakespeare is there?’ She laughed.

‘And you like it?’

‘I do, if I go slow and get into the rhythm of it. I used to think it was boring.’

‘I still do.’ Bella humphed. ‘And for the record, I’ve never felt like this before, about anyone.’

‘Wowsers! This is big news. How long is he staying?’

‘Not long enough however long it is. Ruby reckons he looks shifty, but then she suspects everyone.’

‘Sometimes with good reason.’ She thought of her sister’s dealings with her ex-fiancé. It was a painful truth. ‘Not that she’s that happy with me right now. She’s still being off.’ Merrin was wary of pulling their friend into the fray, knowing that when she and Ruby were out of sync it was Bella who felt the repercussions.

‘She’s . . . she’s busy at the fishmonger’s and goes out most nights.’

‘Bella, I know you’re trying to make me feel better, but it’s a fact. She avoids talking to me.’ It was hard to put into words, even to her best friend.

‘I think she’s painted herself into a corner, playing the part of the spiky, angry older sister for so long that she doesn’t know how to reinvent herself.’

‘I wish she’d try; we’re sisters!’

‘I know that. I think she’s actually very sensitive, and in hiding that, she can come across as a bit brusque.’