‘Natalia?’ Juho was looking at her with a hint of a smile on his face, and she had the feeling that he knew exactly what she was thinking.

‘Oh – ah, sorry … What did you say?’

‘I said, shall we do some floor work now?’

As the day wore on, Bottle Beach became more and more busy, and the air pulsated with excitement. The Full Moon Party was that night, and backpackers were arriving on Koh Phangan in droves; all the accommodation in Haad Rin was full, so people were seeking out the quieter beaches for somewhere to rest their heads. Or more probably just to dump their rucksacks – it was unlikely to be a night of much sleeping.

Natalia couldn’t get into the mood for it. The quietness of life on the beach had been balm to her troubled soul, but the idea of an all-night party with thousands of young people, off their heads on various substances, dancing in the sea to thumping techno, was more than she could stomach.

‘I think I shall skip the party,’ she said to the gang as they sat nursing their usual sunset beers.

‘Oh, no, Nat, you must come,’ came a chorus of disappointed male voices. Juho’s wasn’t among them, but he smiled.

‘Oh, I think you’re right,’ said Fliss. ‘All that sort of stuff is probably a bit loud and hectic for you, isn’t it?’

‘Yes, you are right, Fliss: I am far too old for that sort of thing.’ Natalia smiled graciously back at the girl. ‘But I am sure you will all have a wonderful time.’

Later, sitting reading on her deck, she luxuriated in the uncustomary silence. Quiet though Bottle Beach was, there was generally a handful of people up and about, sharing beers and spliffs, playing cards or singing along to guitars around makeshift bonfires. Tonight, after the mass exodus (by way of a veritable fleet of longboats), the stillness was unearthly. Natalia put her book down and let her mind drift back to Saint-Tropez – a luxury she rarely allowed herself, as once she returned to the present, the sadness became almost intolerable.

That magical night at Sénéquier, the first time Ben had kissed her; speeding over the waves towards the Île du Levant, giddy with anticipation; swimming naked in the crystalline waters off the island as the sun beat down on their golden heads; the incredible sex on the speedboat; night after night of incredible sex on her boat, as they whispered and giggled together in the darkness.

So caught up was she in her reverie that Natalia didn’t notice the light tread approaching her hut until it was almost upon her. She stifled a scream – surely, Georgiou hadn’t managed to find her here?

‘Natalia? It is I, Juho. I am sorry if I frightened you.’

‘Oh, Juho, oh, thank God.’ Natalia laughed, shakily. ‘Yes, you did scare me a little. Why aren’t you at the party?’

‘You know, it really isn’t my thing either.’ Juho looked at Natalia quizzically, and she smiled.