Olivia reached the top of the climb from the secluded cove and strode along the sandy path cut into the cliffs — only wide enough for a single person — taking deep breaths of coastal air as she walked, tasting the salt. The sun wasn’t out yet, but there was still warmth to the early summer air, the white clouds a blank canvas overhead. Sunshine or not, though, being outside never got old — since she’d come back to royal duties in the capital, she’d spent far too much time indoors. She was headed east on the coastal path today, with the promise of a pub on the beach at the halfway point, where she planned a well-earned drink before the two-hour walk back.

Today felt even more daring, because she’d left her phone back at the house on purpose. If her mother knew, she’d kill her. Heck, if Malcolm knew, he’d kill her, too. A prominent member of the royal family wasn’t allowed to just go wandering along clifftops, where the slightest gust of wind could plunge her into the sea — but what they didn’t know wouldn’t hurt them. Plus, with Charlie’s jeans, baseball cap and sunglasses, nobody was ever going to recognise her. She’d bought a bottle of water in the supermarket earlier and had attempted a slight West Country twang. She wasn’t altogether sure she’d pulled it off. Olivia’s best friend from her army days had relations in this part of the world and had tried to teach her how to say certain phrases, but accents weren’t her strong point.

She had a banana and a chocolate bar in her backpack, but her stomach hadn’t rumbled yet — and that was all thanks to Rosie, Gina and their delicious breakfasts. They were so filling; she hadn’t eaten lunch any day this week, and occasionally had skipped dinner, too. Not only was Rosie’s food amazing, the service wasn’t bad, either.

Olivia didn’t know what it was, but there was something about Rosie she was drawn to. Sure, she was attractive, there was no getting away from that — her hair the colour of dappled sunshine, her electric blue eyes that lingered on Olivia for just a few beats longer than they should. Plus, she had curves in all the right places, and her arms were pleasingly defined from hours of working in her cafe.

However, on top of those physical attributes, Rosie radiated a positivity and a resilience beyond her years — when she was close by, Olivia found it hard to drag her gaze away. She was sure Rosie had caught her looking a few times, but she was trying to be covert about it. The thing was, Rosie couldn’t be more than 30, yet she was running her own business and just getting on with life. Olivia knew many 30 year olds, and none of them were doing that — at least, not any she was friends with now.

Even now, just thinking about her, Olivia’s pulse ticked up a few beats and her blood raced that little bit faster. She stumbled on the rocky path and almost tripped and fell but saved herself at the last minute. She took a moment to steady herself. Okay, perhaps she shouldn’t think about Rosie until she was on more level ground.

Was Rosie a lesbian, too? There were no obvious signs, but then again, Olivia didn’t want to stereotype — she’d met many women in the army whom she’d sworn were lesbians, only for them to then introduce her to their husbands. Where Rosie was concerned, it was just an inkling she had. Or perhaps it was wishful thinking?

However, even as she thought that, she shook her head. What did it matter if Rosie was gay or not? It didn’t matter at all. Olivia was just passing through, so nothing could happen. Plus, she was engaged to be married — at least that was the story her family were telling the world — even though she and Jemima weren’t in a relationship in any way at all. Jemima was history, but history just kept on repeating, that was the problem in Olivia’s life. Just ask Alexandra. If nothing changed, Olivia would be forced to live her own version of Groundhog Day forever.

Rosie, however, wasn’t part of her history, and that was the other thing Olivia liked about her. Rosie was a clean slate, she was unknown — and Olivia’s only thought whenever she saw her was how much she’d like to change that, and fast.

She kicked the ground as the sandy path began to slope, meandering down to the beach, the rocky terrain green with moss to her right, the rocks and ocean beyond stretching out to her left, grey and white with mellow waves, as if the sea was dozing. She wasn’t going to let her predicament get her down today. Rather, she was going to enjoy the rest of the afternoon, safe in the knowledge that nobody knew who she was or where she was.

When she arrived at the pub 20 minutes later, the lunchtime crowd were clearing out, so she took her white wine spritzer onto the massive pine deck built on the sand. She pushed her sunglasses firmly onto her face, angling her head as the sun finally peeked out from behind the clouds. The deck had around 30 tables on it, and the local seagulls weren’t being shy about swooping in to help themselves to the remains of lunch. Seeing as some of the creatures were almost as big as her sister’s cat, Olivia was glad she wasn’t eating.

She’d only been sitting there two minutes when she heard a throat being cleared nearby. When she turned her head, there was Rosie.

Olivia immediately stood up to greet her, then had no idea what to do with her arms. That was the other thing that happened in Rosie’s presence: a fine sheen of nervousness broke out all over her skin, momentarily making her lose all control of her limbs and senses. It both unnerved her and thrilled her all at the same time. It hadn’t happened since Ellie.

“Long time no see,” Olivia said, finally managing to get some words out.

Rosie checked the phone she was holding in her left hand. “What’s it been? Three hours?”

“Maybe three and a half.”

Rosie gave her a look. “Sounds like you’ve been counting.”

To cover the blush she could feel rising in her cheeks, Olivia held out her hand and motioned for Rosie to sit down.

She did so, putting her phone on the table, quickly followed by her drink.

“What are you on?” Olivia pointed at the reddish-brown liquid in a half-pint glass with a stem.

“Cider. Local Cornish speciality.” Rosie nodded at her drink. “Not quite your white wine spritzer.” She grinned. “Next time, I’ll buy you one.”

Olivia smiled: there was going to be a next time. “I’d like that,” she said.

Freed from the confines of the cafe, Rosie looked different somehow — more defined, sharper, relaxed. As if when Olivia stared at her, Rosie had been auto-enhanced. On this deck, Rosie was no longer ‘Rosie the cafe owner’; she was simply Rosie. If there had been any barriers between them — cafe owner and customer — they were now completely down.

Rosie snagged her sunglasses from her handbag and put them on, before leaning back with a sigh. “It’s so lovely to get a shot of vitamin D, especially after today.” She swept a hand through her thick locks and Olivia followed it, taking in her smooth fingers, her short nails. Perhaps her thinking wasn’t quite so wishful.

“What’s happened since I left? I thought you’d still be at the cafe.”

Rosie shook her head. “I was. Then my ex showed up and there are only so many times I can tell her I’m not interested.” There was a pregnant pause as Rosie realised what she’d said, but she avoided eye contact, ploughing on. “So, when my sister Paige showed up after school and said she’d help Hilary finish up, I thought I’d take the chance to grab a bit of fresh air, you know?”

Olivia nodded: she knew only too well. She also knew she was sucking in her cheeks to try to keep herself from smiling too broadly at the fact that Rosie had confirmed her ex was a woman. Olivia’s inkling had proved correct: Rosie liked women. Olivia’s heart boomed, but she kept it together.

“What about you?”

Olivia took a sip of her wine as a stalling tactic. She’d love to tell Rosie her woes, how she was being forced into a marriage she didn’t want with a woman she didn’t love; how Rosie was the most intriguing woman she’d met in a very long time.

But she couldn’t.

So she didn’t.

“Just making the most of my time here.” Olivia took in a lungful of the salt-whipped air and gazed out across the golden sands to the waiting sea. Now the sun was out, the water was a layer of greens and blues, its foam leaving a lace pattern on the sands as it ambled in and out. “I just love being by the sea, it makes me feel calm.” That was true — being near Rosie was having the same effect, too.

“Far less hectic than London I’m sure.”

Olivia thought of her mother, Jemima, her father. And then she closed her eyes. Not today.

“Way calmer,” she agreed. “It also reminds me of happy childhood memories of being by the sea with my parents up in Scotland — I think that was the first time I realised as a kid that travelling outside your normal situation makes you a different person, which is what gave me the travel bug. Although the air in Scotland is different to here — so clean, it makes you feel healthier just being alive. And Scotland makes Otter Bay look hectic. Up there, there are only a few sheep and cows to contend with.”

“No seagulls the size of a horse?” Rosie said, as three of them swept onto a nearby table, swiping a chip from a toddler’s hand. The boy promptly burst into tears.

“None of them.” Olivia paused. “It’s also lovely being here and getting away from family and relationship pressures. I’ve got an ex wanting more from me than I want to give at the moment, and it’s not making life easy. She’s persistent, and the kicker is my family are in her corner.”

At Olivia’s admission, Rosie lifted her gaze to meet Olivia’s and something shifted low in Olivia’s belly. A rumble of something long forgotten. A feeling, a longing, a want. Her neck muscles stiffened as emotion trampled through her like a thoroughbred whose reins she was trying to keep hold of. It felt like something had shifted, but that was stupid. Because, even if Rosie had no intention of going back to her ex, Olivia’s situation was very different.

“At least your family like your ex,” Rosie said, before shaking her head. “I mean, Amy’s not terrible, but she’s just a bit too much sometimes. And she needs to get the message. I’ve tried subtlety, but everyone in the village just thinks we’ll end up together, seeing as we’re the only two lesbians who live here.” Rosie gave a resigned smile. “That’s the trouble living in a small town — the choices aren’t dazzling, and Otter Bay is not a favourite lesbian holiday destination.”

“It is from where I’m sitting,” Olivia replied, a sudden confidence flooding her. “And for what it’s worth, if you’re on the market, the lesbians don’t know what they’re missing.”

Once the words were out, Olivia didn’t know where to look, or even where they’d come from. When had she turned into such a smooth talker? After a few beats, she risked a look at Rosie, but, far from looking put out, Olivia only spied warmth in her eyes.

“Thank you,” Rosie replied, leaning forward and putting a hand on Olivia’s arm. “Whether you meant it or not, I needed that today.”

Rosie’s touch sent Olivia’s pulse into orbit. She was glad Rosie’s ex had come in today, because the domino effect had led Rosie to this pub and to her. “Let’s just say this lesbian is glad she ran into you.” She held Rosie’s gaze. “You’ve brightened my first week here to no end, and I hope you stick around for the next.”

Rosie gave her a crooked smile. “I’m not going anywhere.”

Olivia held up her drink. “Then here’s to us and week two.”