Page 26 of The Seven Sisters

‘So you know where you’re from?’ I asked her.

‘Yes, though it doesn’t make sense just yet.’

‘What about the others? Did you tell them you know where they were born?’

‘No, but I’ve explained to them how to look up the coordinates on Google Earth. Shall I explain to you too? Or just tell you?’ Ally’s beautiful blue eyes were fixed on me.

‘At the moment, I’m simply not sure.’

‘Well, as I said, it’s very easy to look it up yourself.’

‘Then I’ll probably do that when I’m ready,’ I said firmly, feeling yet again one step behind my sister.

‘I’ll write down the details of how you pinpoint the coordinates, in case you decide you want to know. Did you have a chance to translate any of the quotes that were engraved in Greek on the armillary sphere?’

‘Yes, I have them all.’

‘Well, I’d really like to know what Pa chose for me,’ Ally said. ‘So would you tell me, please?’

‘I can’t remember exactly, but I can go back to the Pavilion and write it down for you.’

‘Thank you.’

I bit into one of the sandwiches Claudia had put in front of me, wishing for the thousandth time I could be more like Ally, who took everything in her stride, who was never afraid of anything life threw at her. The career she had chosen – full of danger and often solitary, facing waves that could knock over in an instant the fragile craft in which she sailed – was a perfect metaphor for who she was. Out of all of us, I thought she was the most comfortable in her own skin. Ally never succumbed to negative thinking; she saw any setbacks as positive life lessons, and then she moved on.

‘So it seems that between us, you and I can provide the rest of the sisters with the information they need if they wish to explore their past,’ Ally mused.

‘We can, but perhaps it’s too soon for any of us to think whether we’ll go back and follow the clues Pa has given us.’

‘Maybe so,’ Ally sighed. ‘Besides, the Cyclades race is starting and I’m going to have to leave here as soon as possible to join the crew. To be honest, Maia, after what I saw a couple of days ago, getting back on the water is going to be hard.’

‘I can imagine,’ I said. After all I’d just been thinking about her, I was surprised to sense Ally’s sudden vulnerability. ‘But you’ll be fine, I’m sure.’

‘I hope so. It’s honestly the first time I’ve had cold feet since I began racing competitively.’

‘You’ve put everything into your sailing for years, Ally, so you mustn’t let it faze you.’

‘You’re right. I’ll do my best to help us win. For him. Thanks, Maia. You know, I was thinking earlier how I’ve allowed it to dominate my life. Remember how desperate I was to become a professional flautist when I was younger? But by the time I got to music school, the sailing bug had taken over.’

‘Of course I remember,’ I smiled. ‘You’re talented at so many things, Ally, but I must admit, I miss hearing you play the flute.’

‘Funny, I’m actually beginning to realise that I miss it too. Anyway, will you be okay here by yourself?’

‘Of course I will. Please don’t worry about me. I have Ma, and my work. I’ll be fine.’

‘Well, perhaps later on in the summer, you’d like to come out on my boat for a few days? We can sail anywhere you fancy; perhaps down the Amalfi Coast. It’s so beautiful there, one of my favourite places. And maybe I’ll bring my flute on board with me,’ she said with a faint smile.

‘That’s a lovely idea. But we’ll have to see. I’m very busy with translation work at the moment.’

‘We’ve managed to get two seats on a flight to Heathrow,’ crowed CeCe, bursting onto the terrace behind us. ‘Christian is taking us to the airport in an hour.’

‘Then I might see if I can get a last-minute flight to Nice and come with you. Don’t forget to write out the quotation for me, will you, Maia?’ said Ally as she rose from the table and disappeared inside the house.

‘Everything go all right at Georg’s office?’ I asked CeCe.

‘Fine.’ CeCe nodded. ‘I take it you’ve translated the quotations?’ she asked as she pulled out a chair and sat down.

‘Yes.’