Beside her was Nicky. He was practically bursting with excitement. He should be in school, she thought. How could he get into the college of his choice if she kept interrupting his education?

That was only one of the arguments she’d thrown at Nikos during the tense phone calls that followed his visit. But always it had returned to the bottom line.

If she backed away from her role as Crown Princess then Demos would open all six diamond mines.

Whereas Nikos had a very different proposal-to open one mine, avoiding mess and with minimal effect on the island’s environment. Profits to go into the island’s infrastructure and the island could prosper.

Nikos had told her all of this by phone, talking of nothing but the island, making no mention of how these children had happened, how Nicky and Christa affected their future-nothing, nothing, nothing.

Apart from that one outburst in the park, he’d contained his rage.

As she’d contained hers. We’ve been civilised, she thought, and tried to feel proud of herself.

Instead she felt small. Belittled by the latent anger she heard behind Nikos’s civility. Frightened of what lay ahead.

‘How long will we stay?’ By her side at the rails, Nicky suddenly sounded as scared as she was. ‘For ever?’

‘I’ve taken a month’s leave. I’m hoping by the end of the month Nikos should be able to take over the running of the place.’

‘Running?’

‘Like…the government. If I can organise things then Nikos will be the government when I leave.’

‘Are you the government now?’

‘Technically, yes. Though my cousin has been filling in.’

‘We don’t like your cousin Demos?’

‘I’m not sure we do,’ she said. ‘Nikos says he’s greedy. But let’s just see for ourselves, shall we?’

‘Okay,’ he said and tucked his hand into hers, with the infinite trust of childhood.