‘Exactly. Like cleaning ninjas.’ Heather had smiled.

As Mrs Mortimer opened the wide front door that led to the grand hallway with the newly cleaned floor, Merrin felt her heart boom in her chest as she stared at his face.

‘Mum! I’ve been looking for you – fancy a game of tennis? It’ll be quick – I’ll thrash you and then you can get back to your roses or whatever it is you’re doing.’

‘You are so mean to your poor, aged mother!’ Mrs Mortimer gave a soft laugh.

Merrin watched as the woman put the pannier on the low front wall, next to a vast stone urn full of blue hydrangeas, and placed her gauntlets neatly next to the vase.

‘Forgot to say, my son is home for the holibobs. He is frightfully noisy, and very rude about my tennis ability, but jolly good fun!’

Merrin watched the boy walk slowly from the house. He was tall and broad and, in his pyjama bottoms and a crumpled navy linen shirt, didn’t exactly look ready for tennis, despite the wooden racket that rested over his shoulder. He had short, auburn hair and beautiful pale skin, which looked as though it had never been kissed by the sun or felt the sting of the sea. Very unlike the weather-beaten, leathery tan that graced the faces of her dad or Jarvis and Robin, who spent their time on the water or the shoreline in all seasons.

He stopped short and stared at Merrin, and she felt her face colour under his scrutiny.

‘Hi!’ He lifted his free hand in a wave, even though he was standing close.

‘Hi.’ She held his gaze, fascinated and drawn by this man, who was, she knew, a little older than her, but not much. His shirt hung from his slender frame to reveal the sharp bite of his pale shoulder blade; the small shadow beneath his clavicle held a particular fascination for her. She wanted nothing more than to reach out and run her finger over it, and curled her fingers into bunched fists to stop herself from doing just this. He blinked under her intense gaze and smiled. Mrs Mortimer made her way into the house. Not that she saw her go, but she was glad nonetheless for the chance to be alone with this boy.