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the answer.
    The road opened up into a large space, surrounded by thatched buildings. None of them had walls, and none seemed to be in use at the moment. I turned in a circle and looked around me, then squinted. There was movement in the distance. I studied it for a moment and realized it was men working the field.
    ‘What are you doing here?’
    I whirled round and saw a scruffy man with a young boy – still a child, yet laden down with hoes and picks. I recognized Rensink – the man who had driven the cart on my arrival. He carried only a whip.
    I squared my shoulders. ‘I’m looking around my estate. What’s it to you?’
    He looked me up and down, then smiled. I felt very uncomfortable. ‘Ah yes, the little English miss.’ I scowled. He approached me, hand outstretched, took mine and shook it. ‘I didn’t expect you to be running around the mill.’
    I nodded, unwilling to explain myself. ‘What are all these buildings?’
    He looked around and pointed each out. ‘Toolshed, mill, boiling house, cooling house, curing house. All that’s needed to turn that cane into sugar. You’d best not come here once we start the harvest – too dangerous. Now if you’ll excuse me, we have a lot of cane to weed and more jungle to clear, and those clumsy oafs keep blunting the hoes and snapping the picks.’ He stared at me until I turned and walked away. I looked back when I heard a cry and a clatter of metal. The boy had dropped his load; I’d turned just in time to see the man hit him.
    ‘Stop! Do not hit that boy!’
    Rensink laughed at me and hit the boy again, then turned his back and they walked away.
    I stared after them in frustration, then walked back to the house, but didn’t feel like going in yet. I crossed the lawns to a small path I could see leading into the trees. I would find out where that went.
    *
    I soon came out of the trees and halted at the sight before me. I stood on a cliff top and looked out on leagues of sparkling turquoise water. It was the most beautiful sight I’d ever seen. I looked behind me at the trees – why on earth had they screened this view from the house?
    Cheered, I started to walk along the cliff top and squealed in delight when I spotted a small beach below me. There was a path too; steep and not often walked, but it was a path, and I scrambled down it.
    On the sand, I removed my stockings and shoes, and revelled in the feel of warm sand between my toes. It was so fine . I walked closer to the water’s edge, lifted my skirts and paddled – the water was warm . I squealed again when a larger wave splashed me, and made my way back to the warm sand to let the sun dry my feet and gown. Life would be far from perfect here, but there were definite compensations.
    *
    I shivered and looked at the sky. Clouds were moving in to obscure the sun. Reluctantly, I donned my footwear and started the climb up the cliff. I was getting hungry anyway, it must be near lunchtime.
    I slipped once or twice, but was able to steady myself with my hands and didn’t have too much difficulty. At the top, I looked down at my gown and grimaced. White salt spots around the hem showed where the sea had caught me, and there was a small tear in the left sleeve. I’d have to sneak up to my room to change and hope Klara could fix it. Next time I came here, I would wear one of the gowns I’d brought with me.
    The path was hard to follow through the undergrowth and trees, but when I emerged I saw my sense of direction wasn’t too far out. I was at one corner of the lawn rather than the centre that I’d aimed for, but that was better; I could hug the trees and not cross the empty space in full view.
    Suddenly, I was drenched. The clouds had burst in a rainstorm the likes of which I’d never seen before, and I ran towards the house, all thoughts of concealment washed away.
    I clattered on to the veranda, shaking my dripping arms and gasped. The van Eckens stood on the covered terrace, watching me.
    Erik