‘Stanley Lucas. You probably saw him at that godawful dinner Lottie dragged you along to. Local businessman and well-connected fixer. But you haven’t answered my question. Why shouldn’t we be seen out together?’
She could give him any reason she liked but she decided on the truth. ‘The girls get jealous. Valletta isn’t a great place for us to be out and about together.’
He frowned. ‘Let them be jealous.’
She sighed as if to a child. ‘I have to live with them.’
‘Ah.’
‘And they can be mean.’
‘All right. We’ll be secret lovers!’
She narrowed her eyes. ‘Aren’t you rather assuming something?’
‘I thought—’
‘You thought?’
‘I thought … I thought we were going to Lottie’s.’
She shook her head. ‘I saidmaybe.’
He had the grace to redden. ‘Oh … Of course … I’m so sorry. If you don’t want to. I wouldn’t want you to think … well we can do something else. Of course we can.’
She smiled, enjoying seeing him squirm.
‘Do you have something particular in mind?’
‘How about you show me more of the island, just as you promised when I first met you.’
‘Absolutely. We’ll take a picnic.’
‘I’d love a paddle in the sea.’
She waited in the car while he bought the ingredients for their picnic and then he drove them northwest from the city. As they neared a small village he said, ‘We can drive down to Riviera Bay from just beyond here.’
‘Riviera?’
‘Don’t get your hopes up, it’s nothing like the French Riviera. Just small and rural, but very lovely. The locals call it Gh-ajn Tuffieh-a. It’s Maltese for ‘Apple’s Eye’ and it’s my favourite beach.’
‘I’m sure it will be lovely.’
‘I’ve heard they are closing the road soon and then there will only be steps down to the beach,’ he said.
Once he’d driven the dangerous slippery road towards the beach she got out of the car and stood gazing at the panoramic view of the deeply curving bay and the turquoise sea. Completely alone, they were surrounded by clay slopes and high cliffs on either side of the bay.
He unwrapped some of the food he’d bought and on a small rug he placed g?bejnietwhich he said was sheep’s cheese,zalzetta coriander-infused sausage, plus rustic bread, olive oil, anchovies, and a bottle of wine.
‘Race you to the water,’ he said when they had eaten, and he began to run.
She kicked off her shoes and followed him, running unevenly across the fine reddish sand, then paddling in the clear water, loving the bright colours of the shells and pebbles. After a few minutes she looked up to see him watching her.
‘Like it?’
She looked around at the stunning beauty. ‘I love it.’
‘Are you a strong swimmer?’
