‘My pleasure.’

‘I hate eating by myself, don’t you?’

‘I quite like it.’

‘I suppose you’re one of those silent handsome types. Still waters, and all that.’

I sipped my cocktail. ‘And what type are you?’

‘Normal.’ He took another bite of toast. ‘Dependable. Women don’t seem to be drawn to that, sadly.’

I’d been purposely avoiding looking over at the foursome, but now they all stood up and started moving towards the door. Freddie and Ivy were holding hands, Brandon trailing after them with a slight limp. The expression on his face made me turn away.

‘We’re going to the Clairmont,’ Freddie said to June as they passed within earshot. ‘Take the old boy home.’

Brandon flushed helplessly. June linked her arm through his. ‘Come on, Jimski,’ she said. ‘We’ll go to the bar first.’

They left. I signalled the waiter and asked for another cocktail, desperate to drink away the scene we’d just witnessed.

‘How are things with you?’ Gregory asked. ‘How’s your sister?’

I tried to calm myself. ‘She’s having to sell the farmland.’

He looked sympathetic. ‘It was brave to try it in the first place.’

‘I don’t know if she feels brave right now.’

‘I suppose not.’

I tried to muster some conversation of my own. ‘How are you, anyway?’

‘Not too good either.’ He pushed his plate away. ‘Just one of those weeks. I know I’ve got to toughen up a bit – you can’t save everyone, and all that.’

My cocktail arrived. I drank it quickly and ordered another. ‘Who was it?’

Gregory stared at me. ‘Didn’t you know?’

‘Know what?’

He leaned forwards and took my arm. ‘It’s Martha. She died a few days ago.’

‘What?’

He closed his eyes. ‘It was pretty awful. She was completely covered in abscesses by the end, and the whole house stank of vomit.’ He opened his eyes. ‘She was obsessed with the idea that no one would come to her funeral. She kept making me promise to attend. I think she knew what was happening.’

I disentangled my arm but he didn’t seem to notice; he kept staring at me earnestly.

‘Where was Freddie?’

‘Not there.’

‘Of course he wasn’t.’

Gregory blinked nervously. ‘It can be hard, living with an addict,’ he said. ‘Freddie tried to make her as comfortable as possible.’

I laughed. ‘Is that what he told you?’

‘Why?’

‘You know, she wasn’t always an addict, doctor.’ The rage that had been simmering inside me threatened to boil over. Freddie was going to get away with it. He’d driven Martha to her death, and there would be no consequences at all for him.

‘Are you alright?’

‘Excuse me. I need to go lie down.’