'Who?'

`The man you're staring at in the mirror!' She glanced over her shoulder at Luke. `He's even better in the flesh.'

`I haven't been staring,' Kate said, but was unable to prevent a betraying flush. She fished the lemon out of the glass and sucked it thoughtfully as her eyes went back to Luke. `Actually, I think I recognise him.'

`Oh?' Serena looked at him with renewed interest. `Who is he?'

'Just someone from the village,' Kate said as casually as she could. `I haven't seen him since I was sixteen.'

`How come you never introduced me when I came to stay?' Serena demanded, pretending to be aggrieved. `I've always liked that "mad, bad and dangerous to know" type!'

Kate laughed. `I wouldn't have dared introduce anyone to Luke Hardman! He was much older than me; I hardly knew him. But I always noticed him. He was different from the other boys in the village.' She paused. `He used to make me nervous.'

`You? Nervous?' Serena looked at her friend in astonishment. `I've known you since we first went to boarding-school, Kate, and I don't think I've ever seen you nervous. You wouldn't be Kate if you weren't calm, cool and collected at all times!'

`I wasn't with Luke. He had eyes that could look right through you. I could never decide whether he frightened or fascinated me-a bit of both, I think.' Kate gave an embarrassed laugh. `I used to go all gauche and tongue-tied if he was around. All it took was a sight of him crossing the road, and my heart would start jumping around-classic adolescent stuff!' she finished, ignoring the way her heart had leapt when she had first seen Luke tonight.

Serena was grinning. `Kate, how sweet! I never knew you had a crush on anyone.'

`It wasn't a crush, exactly,' Kate said in an attempt to salvage her pride. `I didn't even like him. He was rude and unpleasant and he never cared what anyone thought of him.'