“Ah, that's the million-dollar question. But it was so hard back then. And so much more complicated. We were all so young, and as you say, was it just an undergraduate thing? I know now it wasn't, but didn't know for sure back then. And was Christina gay? I thought so, at least guessed so, and, as you know, I even had a go at talking to Hugo, just before your wedding. You walked right in on us. I questioned whether he was really in love with you, and doing the right thing, but even I couldn't say — buddy, aren't you gay? Using Flora as a beard? Conveniently acquiring a wife — and let's not forget — a child? All of which is fine, don't get me wrong, if it's out in the open, but don't you need to tell her?"

I licked my lips. Swallowed hard. "No, not then. Not at that precise moment. But maybe before? When we got engaged? Presumably he knew you knew – you'd walked in on him?"

"He hadn't seen me. Neither of, them did. There was a lot of noise, and they – they both had their—backs to me."

"Yes, OK," I interrupted quickly. I got up again. Walked to the edge of the quay. I folded my arms and held myself tightly, as if I'd crack. Then I bent my head and stared down into the dark water. Swirls of colored oil from the boat's engines on the surface made it impenetrable.

“So . . .” I came back and sat down again. He kept his profile to me. I plucked a salty strand of hair from my mouth. "I mean . . . why? Why all of it? Why didn't he come out?"

"Why do you think?"

Tommy turned his head to look at me properly. Gave me a penetrating gaze. It took me a moment but then we communed silently.

"Belinda."

He shrugged. “Don't you think? Hugo's always been such a Mummy's boy. So in thrall to that powerful mother of his. And Hugo is not . . . a strong man."

"He's weak," I agreed. I swallowed. "Lovely, but weak." It had taken me a long time to finally admit it to myself. "And even had he been strong, that conversation would have been terrifying."

"Exactly. And hence why he's always lived in London. Miles away from sharp eyes, from Trewarren. Where he can have something of a secret life. And Christina can, too."

I looked out to sea, computing it all. Digesting. Suddenly I sank my head down into my hands and tugged hard at my hair. I gave a low moan. "Oh, Tommy, if only I'd known!"

“Really?"