‘Demos arrived back on the island the day after we learned the King’s rule was ended,’ Nikos said, and she realised he’d been following her thoughts. ‘He wants it so badly he’ll do whatever it takes to get it. He’s assuming you don’t want it. Do you know why?’

‘He rang and asked.’

‘Alexandros rang you as well.’

‘Yes.’ Alexandros, the new crown Prince of Sappheiros, was trying to untangle the mess that was the succession.

‘And you told him you were confused.’

‘I was,’ she said. ‘Until Demos phoned.’

‘So you’d let Demos have it?’

‘It’s an empty title anyway. Demos will enjoy it. And how can I come home now?’ she demanded.

‘It’s not an empty title. Not if he opens the diamond mines.’

‘It doesn’t matter. It can’t matter. My life is here.’

‘It’s not much of a life if it doesn’t include crêpes. Or soufflé. Hey, look at this!’

The house speciality was arriving. The soufflé. This dish was famous. How had Nikos manoeuvred his way in here?

‘Who do you think you are?’ she demanded, and he grinned.

‘A fisherman from Argyros. A kid in a lolly shop. Wow! Shut up and eat, Thene. This food needs serious respect.’

She opened her mouth to deny it. She so did not need another sweet.

Her raspberry soufflé was exploding upward and outward, crusty, dusted with sugar, irresistible. While she thought weakly about denial, the waiter produced a jug and poured a thin, hot trickle of blood-red juice down into the soufflé. The crust burst at the centre, the soufflé swallowed the juice and Athena conceded that maybe Nikos was right. This demanded serious respect.

She shut up and ate.

Heaven. Right here on the plate. Seriously wonderful food…

Missing out on such treats was the price she paid for being where she was. If she got up at five tomorrow and jogged double her normal distance…Maybe…

‘Let it go, Thene,’ Nick said. He was wiping the inside of his bowl with his forefinger and licking in deep appreciation. ‘You had a bigger butt when you were eleven. It’s not natural.’