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anti-shock watch was surprised!’ I laughed, and he added, ‘I understand she wants you to discover a little more about the life she led before you were born.’
    I nodded.
    ‘Apparently so. But goodness knows what I’m going to find out. This is Mum we’re talking about so who knows what she got up to … lap dancing? Lion taming? Nothing would surprise me.’
    ‘Well, yes, quite. Anyway, all the travel details are taken care of.’ He paused for a second, clearly trying to find the right words. ‘Look, I want to say straight off that, although I know Rosamund has written some letters to you and I have a vague inkling regarding the details – locations and so on – I haven’t read them. It’s just none of my business and I don’t want you to think I’m interfering. All I know is that I’m simply to take you from A to B and deliver you back to Devon on the 31st of May in one piece – why are you smiling?’ I had just taken a mouthful of pudding, which I swallowed quickly.
    ‘ The 31st of May was Mum’s official birthday. She chose that date because she said it’s always a beautiful day in England on the 31st of May.’
    He laughed. ‘Official birthday?’
    ‘ Mum’s real birthday was on the 3rd of January and she hated it. She said it was the most depressing day in the whole year. Everyone unhappy to be going back to work, the rest of the winter ahead, dark nights …’ He knew where I was going so he finished the sentence for me.
    ‘ So she came up with a second birthday for her official celebration, just like the Queen.’
    ‘ Yes, just like the Queen,’ I said in a more reflective manner than intended. Pulling myself back to the present, I realised it was time to focus all my efforts into ignoring the fact that Alasdair had the most captivating blue eyes I had ever seen, and ‘dismiss him from his duties’ as Paul had said.
    ‘Listen , I’ve been thinking. It was wrong of Mum to ask you to give up your holidays just to travel with me. I can easily do this journey on my own. You must have better things to do with your time. Family to see, maybe? More exciting places to go? If you just give me all the details, I’ll be happy to carry on by myself.’
    I flashed him my best smile . Immune, he frowned and rubbed his chin.
    ‘ Hmm, I thought you might say that.’ He leant forward again. ‘You should know that I owe a great deal to your mother, she was very good to me during my time at the retreat. And regarding your concerns about taking up my leave entitlement, at the moment I’m on a short sabbatical – Rosamund’s suggestion – and I’ve had a holiday at my house in Snowdonia, and done most of the things I needed to do. I know the thought of spending the next ten days with me must seem, well, odd to say the least, but it’s what your mother wanted. Please remember that I promised a dying woman I would accompany her daughter on a journey that seemed vital to her, and I really don’t want to break that promise. So, as bizarre as it is, let’s just go with it. What do you say?’
    How on earth was I supposed to get rid of him after that? Some pudding fell off the spoon I had been balancing absently over my dish. Trying to think of a response, I moved the pudding around the dish and tried to decide what to do for the best.
    Would it really be so bad to travel around the country for a few days with this amiable and attractive (although clearly not the deciding factor) marine?
    Suddenly animated, he beamed his brightest smile, sat upright and began to delve into a pocket.
    ‘ I know!’ he exclaimed, ‘I’ll show you my military ID, so you know I’m exactly who I say I am?’
    I began to feel sorry for him and raised my hand. ‘No no – you’re a friend of Mum’s after all. It’s fine.’
    He removed his hand from his pocket.
    ‘So, we’ll stick together then?’ he asked, his expression the epitome of optimistic innocence, ‘because I’ve already planned the whole thing, and