‘If it is you, Alex, doing these weird things, please stop. You’ve made your point and you’re really scaring me now.’

‘Maggie, I swear it isn’t.’ Alex walked towards me now. ‘But it all sounds horrible. A bit mad. I’m worried about you.’

‘That makes a first.’

‘I mean, if someone is after you, like you say –’

I flinched. ‘I didn’t say after me, did I?’ I hauled my bag onto my shoulder. ‘And that reminds me – please don’t send people like Costana round when I’m not expecting them, okay? I nearly had a heart-attack yesterday morning.’

‘I thought you’d be at work. And you’d better get used to it.’ He refused to look contrite. ‘Estate agents need access. I did tell you.’

‘You didn’t. And I just don’t want anyone I don’t know prowling around the flat, okay? Not at the moment.’

He shrugged. ‘I’ll make sure they warn you next time.’

Serena stuck her head round the door. ‘We’re about to eat, Allie darling,’ she purred. She was so thin I doubted a morsel ever passed her lips – unless it came back up again.

‘I’m just coming, beautiful.’

‘The croissants smell divine,’ she leered at him, all teeth and eyes. She was quite obviously starving.

‘I’ll be there in a minute.’ For a second they locked eyes. Serena surrendered first.

‘Don’t be long, darling.’ She blew him a kiss, entirely for my benefit, I was sure. As the door shut behind her, I couldn’t help myself.

‘God!’ I expostulated.

‘What?’

‘How can you, Alex? She’s so – so –’ Words failed me. ‘So very – not you.’

He looked at me steadily. ‘Needs must, Maggie, as you say.’

‘And what needs are those?’ I felt queasy again. Fingers on the door-handle, I said, ‘You know, I really thought you hated the idea of marriage.’

‘I do.’

‘So why, then –’

‘He was winding you up. You know what Dad’s like.’ Alex ran his hand back and forth through his short hair, back and forth it went. ‘I’ve got no intention of getting hitched any time soon.’

I felt a fresh rush of anger. ‘God! You bloody Baileys and your mind games.’

Rushing out of the room, I went flying over an overnight bag and a pair of workboots so big and dirty they could only belong to Alex. He followed me into the hall, tried to help me up from where I’d crumpled inelegantly. Malcolm wandered out, hands deep in his pockets.

‘Easy there, girl. Good trip?’

I smiled wanly as I clambered up.

‘You always was a klutz, I seem to remember. Nice to see you, anyway, Mag. Drop in any time.’

To stir up some sport? ‘Thanks, Malcolm,’ I muttered, my hand on the latch now, desperate to get away.

‘We’ll send you an invite, won’t we, Alexander?’

I frowned. ‘To what?’

‘To the wedding.’