`He sounds irresistible!' said Serena. `Why don't you go over and say hello?'

'No!' said Kate, too quickly. `I mean, he wouldn't remember me.'

`I don't see why not.'

`I'm not exactly the memorable type, am I?' Kate contemplated her reflection with resignation. She had grown out of a plain and gawky adolescence into a quietly attractive girl, but she had long accepted that she was never going to be wildly beautiful. Only her unusual eyes, a deep tawny gold, gave any indication that there was more to Kate than her habitual air of cool poise suggested.

`Well, I don't know,' Serena said loyally. `You don't stand out in a crowd, but you've got the sort of face that lingers in the memory, even though you can't quite work out why. Anyway, if you remember him so well there's a good chance he remembers you too.'

Kate shook her head, amused despite herself. `I've got a better reason to remember him. What girl ever forgets her first kiss?'

'Kate!' Serena shrieked, so that everyone turned and stared at them. Even Luke glanced in their direction. Kate turned hastily so that her face was hidden from his view.

'Sshh!'

`Sorry,' Serena whispered, going to the other extreme. `Honestly, Kate, you are a dark horse! Did he really kiss you? How romantic!'

`It wasn't romantic at all,' Kate said with some astringency.

`Well, tell me what happened, then,' Serena said eagerly.

Kate sighed. She should never have mentioned that wretched kiss. Serena would insist on hearing the whole story now!

`Do you remember that hot summer after we did our 0 levels?' When Serena nodded she went on. `I went home as usual, but Veronique was in France that year and I didn't have any company. All the other kids in the village used to avoid me because I lived in the manor and went to public school, and that meant that I was a snob. Worse, my mother was French and a bit flighty!' Kate gave a wry smile. It was easy not to mind now, but at the time it had hurt.