‘Don’t you dare apologise,’ he chastised halfheartedly. ‘And her ladyship hasn’t once called out in the night since I’ve been on duty, so you might want to have a chat to her about it when you get home. All that wanting the lamp switched on and needing the loo and stuff is a ruse, I reckon. Designed to get you at it … to make a fuss of her.’

Grace fell silent for a moment, taking in what Jamie was telling her. So Bernie really had been fibbing in that case. Grace knew it, but part of her couldn’t believe it for sure, until now.

‘But why would she do that?’

‘I don’t know, and I’m not about to waste time wondering what goes on in her head. And nor should you, sweetheart. Not when you are in bella Italia.’

‘Hmm. Has Bernie been in touch?’ Grace ventured.

‘Oh, yes, that madam called the house phone and then had the temerity to tell me off when I answered … for “letting you run off to Italy at the drop of a hat”.’ And Grace could just see him doing quote signs in the air with his fingers before rolling his eyes.

‘I’m sorry, Jamie,’ she groaned inwardly.

‘Oh purlease, honey, stop apologising. I soon put her right. Bernadette Quinn doesn’t rattle my cage. And she should know that from the time she tried to lock me in the shed when we were kids.’

‘Ah, yes I remember that. Her face was a picture when you found that loose panel and escaped, only to tip a bucket of freezing cold water all over her new Sarah Jessica Parker-style perm, complete with the oversized pink bow on top,’ she laughed.

‘Yes, hilarious – howled for hours she did!’ he replied, laughing too at their shared memory.

‘And sorry about Phil turning up … he phoned me, and—’

‘Ugh,’ Jamie responded dramatically. ‘What did you ever see in that caveman? He said you were dumped so I’m presuming it’s OK to slag him off now?’ He paused and Grace could hear him drawing breath as he checked.

‘Ah, yes. Sorry if he was rude to you,’ she swiftly confirmed.

‘Grace, the guy could barely string a sentence together properly, and as for his silly alpha-male posturing when he managed to galvanise his two brain cells into action and work out that I’m gay … well, it serves him right that he tripped over his own feet when he stormed off down the street. Face-planted the pavement, he did. Trust me, he won’t be knocking on your door any time soon.’

‘Why, what did you say to him?’ Grace resisted the urge to giggle.