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standing in the doorway, legs astride, anger apparent in every inch of him. ‘Get away from Minella! And haven’t I told you before not to come here.’
    Vasco stumbled to his feet, but he was not intimidated. His eyes glittered even more and she could tell they were old antagonists.
    ‘I come because Benita sent me,’ he said. ‘Never would I come here otherwise. Never!’ He spat on the ground to demonstrate his aversion. ‘She wished me to tell you that her father, my grandfather, is ill and she cannot leave him.’
    ‘Thank you. Is that all?’ The sarcasm was so heavy in Sam’s tone it made Minella jumpy. Whatever was the matter with the two of them? Surely Sam was old enough to know better.
    ‘No,’ said Vasco. ‘I do not like the senhora staying with you. I wish to take her to my aunt’s house.’
    ‘You won’t take Minella anywhere, now or ever. I didn’t choose to have her as a guest, but she’s here and it’s where she’ll stay.’
    ‘I do not trust you.’
    ‘Trust! You talk about trust!’ He took a threatening step towards the younger man. ‘I don’t know why I’m even bothering to talk to you. Get out!’
    Minella stood up, her legs so shaky it could only be nerves that were making them worse.
    ‘Will you both stop it!’ she cried. ‘Whatever grievances you have against each other, please don’t use me to aggravate them. I would rather go back to Dr Porva’s and spend the night in his surgery. Anything would be better than this.’
    Vasco was contrite. ‘ O senhora , I am sorry. It is just that I shall worry about you, you understand.’
    ‘Thank you,’ said Minella, sincerely. ‘Now perhaps it would be wise if you leave.’
    ‘For you I will do anything.’ He took her hand and lifted it to his lips, and if the tension had not been so great she would have wanted to laugh. No one had ever treated her with such gallantry.
    ‘Don’t touch her!’ Sam snapped.
    Vasco slowly backed away, an insolent smile on his face. ‘Until we meet again,’ he said, and disappeared swiftly into the shadows.
    The silence after he had gone could have been cut with a knife. Sam’s bad temper simmered and he glared at her as if it was all her fault.
    ‘You were very rude to him,’ she ventured, unable to stand the silence any longer.
    ‘That boy is trouble,’ said Sam. ‘Keep away from him.’
    The order was issued so abruptly and with such slighting coldness that Minella’s own patience evaporated and she turned on him.
    ‘Why should I?’ she demanded. ‘How do I know you are any better than he is? I’ve only Just met the pair of you, and I’m beginning to wish I hadn’t. What sort of place is this? A desert island where the arrival of a woman is so extraordinary all the men start tearing each other to pieces. It’s ridiculous!’
    His shoulder muscles slackened and he permitted a smile to ease the tightness of his mouth, though it didn’t reach his eyes.
    ‘Don’t kid yourself, Sparrow. There are far more important things to think about than women. Believe me, I know.’
    Somewhere in the house the phone started ringing. It had an antiquated sound quite different from the telephone at home, but its insistence was the same. He ignored it for a moment, still considering the issue he had raised, and she felt there was more behind the words than she would ever know. Then he went inside and the bell stopped ringing.
    She wanted to go back to bed, but hadn’t the strength to put one foot before the other, so she stood where she was, staring out at the lake. The moon climbed higher and silvered the garden and the water beyond it. It seemed as if another storm had passed.
    Minella could hear the murmur of his voice in the distance, but it dropped so low she couldn’t distinguish it from the dreamy sounds all around. Sam Stafford had been hurt in the past—hurt badly. That must be why he lived in seclusion and hated visitors, particularly females. Unless he had something to hide, and