“No, Dan,” Katie interjected. “It’s you who has to understand. I’m not one of those women who can be comforted with a few kind words and a little friendly hug and a pat on the top of my head. I boil up inside every time that happens. I want to grab whoever’s said it and tell them that I am bursting with anger and frustration and all I want to do is—shout at them, ‘Don’t give me your . . . kindly condolences. Give me back my husband!’ ” She sat down heavily on the edge of his bed. “You gave me, Dan, the one thing that could give me any small comfort at all, and that was physical love and physical protection. So don’t start trying to envelop me in your own guilt.”

Walking over to the window, Dan swept his hands through his hair and linked them behind his head. “Oh, Katie, I don’t know what the hell I’m meant to say about all this.”

“You don’t have to say anything.”

“But what about Patrick?”

“Patrick need never know it happened, and if it’s any small comfort to you, it won’t ever happen again.” She got up and went to stand beside him, and put a hand on his shoulder. “But I needed it, Dan. I feel . . . different this morning. I feel able to cope with what’s to come. And that’s your doing, so I thank you from the bottom of my heart for helping me.”

Dan shook his head slowly. “But it has changed everything, Katie.”

“Why?”

“Because I can’t stay up here now.”

“Why not?”

“Because I couldn’t face Patrick again.”

“Oh, come on, Dan!”

He spun round to look at her. “No, Katie, you listen this time. I am not a liar. I am physically incapable of keeping something like this under wraps. Okay, I played games with the reality of situations in the City, but the truth behind them was plain for all to see, if they bothered to work it out. If a trader saw through a deal that I was trying to push onto him, I’d just give him a wink and say something like ‘Oh well, it was worth a go.’ Don’t you see, Katie? I’ve always had to have people trusting me, otherwise I would never have been able to succeed in my job.”

Katie dropped her hand from his shoulder. “I’m sorry,” she said quietly.

“Oh, Katie, don’t feel sorry. Listen, it takes two to tango. Maybe I should pretend that I didn’t enjoy it, but that would be way too far from the truth. Yet it has changed everything.”

Katie walked slowly over to the bed and sat down again. “So what are you going to do?”