‘Can I have an hour or so off to meet her and see her settled in?’ she added swiftly on seeing Phil’s mouth compress. ‘And can I have the car, please?’ They were on the sun-terrace and the miracle of dawn had only just unfolded, its golden lustre showering the sea and highlighting the sparkling crystal waters cascading over the reef into the lagoon. Already a couple of pleasure boats were out and as she watched, shading her eyes from the sun’s bright glare, Clare saw a man in mask and flippers dive into the water, and in imagination she was down in a spectacular marine wonderland, gliding languidly through a constantly-changing maze of incredibly beautiful coral formations where—among the waving gorgonians and sea-fans—thousands of multicoloured tropical fish moved about, often so used to the divers that they would swim right up to their masks. ‘She’s coming here?’ For once Phil’s customary calm deserted him and Clare saw to her dismay that he was angry. She had half-expected him to be, though, and there was nothing she could do about it.
