'Isn't there?'

Milo grinned. He wasn't going to be able to get out of this one so he thought he might as well be honest. 'I might be seeing her again,' he said.

'Good,' Tiana said. 'I'll let you know what I think of her when you bring her home.'

Spending a whole day with Stella when she should have been with Milo was the last thing Alice wanted to do but how else was she going to stop her sister from becoming overly suspicious? She just had to hope that Stella would soon grow bored of spending time with her and would run back to the villa, allowing Alice to return to see Milo.

Alice was all too aware of the passing of time. She wasn't going to be on Kethos for much longer and she wanted to spend as much time as possible with Milo. She'd never met anyone like him and, although they'd only spent a few hours together, she felt as if they had a real connection.

The two sisters left their villa just after noon which was ridiculously early by Stella's standards.

'This had better be good,' Stella said, looking up and down the road as they left the villa. It was the first time she'd set foot outside the gates since they'd arrived.

'Of course it will be good. Kethos Town is beautiful,' Alice said.

'Well, I don't really care if it's beautiful or not. Are there any decent shops?'

'I don't think there are that many shops,' Alice said, 'but I'm sure there'll be lots to do.'

'Lots to do without shops?' Stella said incredulously.

It was then that the young lad on the bicycle from the day before passed them and, just as he'd done previously, he did a double take.

'Honestly!' Stella said in mock aggravation. 'He's way too young to be eyeing up somebody like me!' She flicked her blonde hair over her shoulder and her gait developed an exaggerated swing. Alice rolled her eyes. This was going to be a very long day.

Alice had been right about the number of shops in Kethos Town. There were a few that catered purely for the tourists, selling swimming costumes, suntan lotion, hats and postcards, but there was one little boutique that looked promising and Stella spotted it straight away. It was at the far end of the harbour and, to get to it, they had to walk by the row of men fishing along the harbour wall.

At first, Alice didn't think anything of it but, as each one turned round, their fishing forgotten as their eyes focused solely on Alice, she began to realise that something was wrong although she really did try to believe that it was Stella they were all looking at. That's what Stella obviously thought too because a coquettish smile suddenly filled her face and she sucked in her tummy and thrust her chest forward.

The boutique was tiny but packed with promising clothing from cool blues to vibrant oranges. There was colour everywhere and Alice instantly felt dowdy in her cream blouse and brown skirt. Why hadn't she ever noticed how plain she looked? Well, she had, of course, but it had never bothered her enough to do anything about it but suddenly here and now she wanted to change everything about the way she dressed. She wanted to be bright and colourful like a butterfly rather than a moth. She wanted fabric to whisper over her body rather than submerge it. In short, she wanted to be beautiful.

She caught sight of her reflection in one of the shop's mirrors and noticed the definite sparkle in her eyes. Now was the time. Now was the time to change.

'What do you think?' Stella asked Alice as she held up a beautiful violet-coloured dress.

For a split second, Alice was tempted to tell her what she really thought that Stella was thoroughly spoilt and didn't need to buy another item of clothing for at least ten years but she held her tongue and nodded instead.

'It's lovely,' she told her.

'Hmmmmm,' Stella said, pulling a face. 'I don't know.' She twirled the dress around on its hanger and then placed it back on the rail and Alice's hands flew towards it.

'What are you doing?' Stella asked.

'I might try it on,' Alice said.

Stella looked dumfounded. 'Are you sure it's your kind of thing?'

'Stella you're always complaining that I look dowdy and that my clothes are never right. So aren't you the least bit pleased that I'm showing an interest now?'

Stella looked far from pleased as Alice took the dress and headed towards the changing room. Maybe it was because she'd never had to fear Alice as a rival before; she'd grown used to having all the attention for herself.

Alice smiled to herself as she disrobed and put the dress on. It looked gorgeous and she felt beautiful wearing it. She drew back the changing room curtain and stepped out for Stella to inspect her.

'What do you think?' she dared to ask.

For a brief second, Stella looked stunned but then she shook her head. 'It's not you,' she said.

'I know,' Alice said. 'But it could be.'

'Put it back. It's just wrong.'

Alice flinched and hesitated for a moment and then something awful happened the new Alice was vanquished by the old one and she put the dress back.

'I'm going to get this one,' Stella announced, reaching for a glitzy gold gown that skimmed the knees and revealed plenty of cleavage. She didn't even try it on. It wouldn't matter if it didn't fit or didn't suit her. It would just go to the back of the wardrobe and be replaced by a dozen other new dresses.

They left the shop half an hour later with three carrier bags full of new things for Stella. Alice was carrying two of them and wondering how on earth her sister was going to fit the new clothes into her already stuffed-to-the-brim suitcase. But Stella's addiction to new clothes wasn't what was bothering Alice as she took a surreptitious look at her watch. It was lunchtime and Stella was showing no signs of the boredom which Alice had been counting on. She was never going to get to the Villa Argenti at this rate, was she?

'I'm hungry,' Stella declared.

Alice nodded and they entered a small taverna and chose a table overlooking the harbour.

'I don't think I like Greek food,' Stella said as she gave the menu the once-over.

'Just try some. It's fresh and wonderful. You can't spend all week eating cereal bars,' Alice said.

'I don't see why not. At least you know what's in them.'

'Yes, sugar and additives and all sorts of horrors,' Alice said.

'Oh, don't start, Alice! You can be such a bore.'

The waiter came over and Alice gave him their order in her broken Greek. He smiled at her.

'You are English?' he asked. He was in his late fifties but he still had a twinkle in his eyes.

'Yes,' Alice said, 'and my Greek is not very good.'

'Ah! It is excellent!' he said. 'And you are a very beautiful woman if you don't mind me saying!'

He turned to leave and Alice could feel herself blushing.

'What was all that about?' Stella said. 'He didn't even notice me!'

'No,' Alice said, taking a sip of water from the glass on the table.

When the food arrived, Stella poked at it with a reluctant knife. 'It's not fish, is it?' she asked.

'No, it's not fish,' Alice said, knowing that Stella wouldn't touch it if she knew what it really was.

'Because I don't want to eat anything from the sea.'

'We're on an island, Stella. Ninety per cent of the food is going to be from the sea.' Alice watched as Stella took a forkful of food to her mouth and chewed. She was the only person Alice knew who could chew with her nose all screwed up.

'Do you like it?' Alice asked.

'I'm not sure,' Stella said as she took another mouthful.

Alice grinned. It was actually fried kalamarakia squid. It was something Milo said she couldn't possibly leave Kethos without trying and it really was rather delicious if you didn't think too much about legs and tentacles and such.

They managed to get through another course of Greek food without Stella throwing too much of a strop and then Alice paid which was only fair, Stella pointed out because, of course, she was getting a free holiday.

They took a walk along the harbour wall. The sea was a dark sapphire and there was a cool breeze coming from it that had Alice reaching for a trusty cardigan from her handbag.

'Oh, Alice! You're not going to wear that, are you?' Stella said.

'Why not? It's chilly,' Alice said as they turned into a winding alleyway that was so narrow, they had to walk one behind the other.

'It's absolutely hideous,' Stella said, pulling at a lumpy grey sleeve. 'Just look at it.'

'I'll have to get a new one,' Alice said, shaking her sister's hand from her and walking briskly ahead.

'Yes, and I know exactly what you'll buy a new grey one!'

'Look!' Alice stopped so suddenly that Stella crashed right into her. 'You're not happy when I wear my old clothes and you're not happy when I try on new ones either! Make up your mind, Stella!'

Stella's mouth dropped open at the outburst but she didn't get time to say anything because Alice had marched onwards. They spent the next couple of hours drifting around the backstreets. Alice admired the simple beauty of the architecture and took photos whilst Stella complained about her shoes and examined her burgeoning blisters.

It was the middle of the afternoon when they entered a tiny square surrounded by pretty white houses with shutters and doors open to the sunshine. In the far right corner were four workmen who were cutting lengths of wood, their sleeves rolled up. As soon as Alice and Stella entered the square, they downed tools and just stood staring. At first, Stella smiled. She always assumed that all male attention was directed at her but, as Alice walked ahead, it became obvious whom they were looking at.

'Oh my God!' Stella exclaimed. 'They're looking at you!'

'What?' Alice turned around.

'Those men they're all staring at you! What are you doing?'

'What do you mean, what am I doing? I'm just walking.'

'Well, you must be doing something!' Stella grabbed her by the shoulders and stared at her face before scanning her up and down.

'Stella I'm not doing anything!'

'Greek men are weird! They must go for dowdy women or something,' Stella shouted after her as she walked away.

They left the little square and walked up a flight of steps which wound their way up a hill, finally coming out at a walkway which overlooked the whole of Kethos Town.

Alice put the shopping bags down at her feet and gazed out at the view before them. 'It's so beautiful,' she said. 'Isn't it beautiful?'

Stella gave a great yawn.

'You look tired,' Alice said, trying not to look at her watch.

'I'm exhausted!' Stella said. 'You know, I think we should get back to the villa and catch a few rays before evening.'

Alice nodded. 'Good idea.'

'Come on, then.'

'Oh, I thought you meant you.'

'Who else is going to carry my bags? I can't manage on my own,' Stella said, her face suddenly very long and pitiful.

'Of course you can,' Alice said. 'Anyway, I want to stay in town a bit longer.'

Stella didn't look happy. 'There's something wrong with you, Alice.'

'What do you mean?'

'I mean, you're not right. You're up to something and I don't like it.'

'I have absolutely no idea what you're talking about,' Alice said. 'I'm not up to anything. Now, stop worrying and go home.' She picked up the two carrier bags she'd been in charge of and handed them to a shocked Stella. 'I'll see you later.'

Her sister made a huge show of struggling with her three bags and Alice shook her head, waiting until she was completely out of sight with no possibility of her returning. She then ran all the way back to the little boutique and bought the violet dress that she'd tried on that morning. She also bought a dress in cream, threaded with gold and even treated herself to a new handbag that was dainty and pretty and then she ran towards the bus stop.

She couldn't remember what time the last bus left but, when she got to the stop, she saw that she was too late. The last bus had gone and wouldn't have got her to the Villa Argenti in time anyway so Alice ran to the one place in town where she knew she could find a taxi.

The driver was absurdly careful on the mountain roads and Alice was desperate to tell him to take a few more chances and put his foot down. He also spent more time staring at her in the rear-view mirror than he did looking at the road, which was most unnerving.

She kept looking at her watch. They weren't going to make it, were they? She'd told Milo she'd be there and she hadn't shown up. What was he going to think of her?

Finally, they took the turn to the villa but, when they reached the end of the long driveway, Alice saw that the gates were closed. Milo had gone home for the day and she didn't even know where that home was.

Chapter 14.

Milo had started the day with a spring in his step. He'd dropped Tiana off at school and kissed her smartly on the forehead even though he knew she hated such displays in front of all her friends but, this morning, he couldn't help himself and she didn't seem to mind.

'You're going to see her again today, aren't you?' Tiana asked.

'I might,' he told her.

Tiana had laughed and he'd definitely seen a little spring in her step too as she'd walked into the playground.