‘What utter nonsense you talk! Of course I haven’t left Gerald in the car! And I certainly haven’t run away from Derek. Why would I do that? And Aix was only last week.’

‘Well, I’d completely forgotten about it. Even if I hadn’t, I wouldn’t dream of telling Derek about something I assumed was perfectly innocent.’

‘Oh, it was! Perfectly innocent. I just thought … I just wondered if you’d got the wrong end of the stick, that’s all.’

Just as Thea realised that Molly had possibly come all the way to County Mayo merely to tell her there was nothing going on between her and Gerald, Petal screamed.

‘That’s it,’ said Ben. ‘Rory, Molly, one of you, take everyone away and let this poor dog have some quiet.’

He didn’t actually raise his voice, but Molly instantly picked up her bag and her car keys.

‘To the pub, then. I haven’t had anything to drink, so I’ll drive. Come along, Petal. At least they’ll have a decent bathroom. Rory, you sit in front and direct me. Toby will want to stay with Daddy, I expect. Are you coming, Thea? Hurry up, Petal.’

Petal, who had been looking round, seemed relieved to be hustled out. The cottage was obviously far too remote and primitive for comfort.

‘I’m not going,’ said Thea firmly. Glad as she was of Ben’s masterful stand, she didn’t want him being masterful with her. ‘I’m going to help with the puppies. After all, Lara knows me.’

‘The puppies will make a dreadful mess,’ Ben told her. ‘Our last bitch to whelp managed to break her waters on every piece of furniture on the ground floor and left green slime everywhere. It took ages to clear up.’

‘Mess doesn’t bother me,’ said Thea.

Ben suddenly almost smiled. ‘Nor it does. I forgot.’

Molly shuddered. ‘Well it bothers me. Come along.’

A few moments later the house was almost empty and blissfully quiet. Ben, Toby and Thea were alone.

They watched Lara in silence for a few moments as she paced about, trying to escape from what was going on inside her.

‘We’ll need some newspapers, and old sheets and stuff,’ said Ben. ‘And quickly.’

Thea, who had no real idea where to look, went to the airing cupboard and arrived just in time to hear Toby say, ‘Dad! Something black and slimy’s coming out! It’s gross!’

Thea and Ben moved swiftly to inspect Lara’s back end from whence emerged a black bag, presumably full of puppy. Ben put out his hand and lowered it gently down. Lara slumped on the ground and immediately started licking and biting at it. There was a crunch as the afterbirth reached her mouth.