‘I thought so,’ I mumbled. I was starting to feel like I wanted to just let go of all this mistrust now. I wanted some kind of oblivion. I wanted someone to hold me; to tell me it would be all right.

He pushed my hair out of my eyes. ‘You’re beautiful, Maggie, and you’re hurt.’

‘I’ll say,’ I joked. ‘My head’s still throbbing.’ I still couldn’t look at him.

‘I’m serious. You’re drowning in misery. I want to help you.’ Gently, Sebastian forced me to meet his gaze. ‘I came here to save you.’

‘Lordy,’ I mumbled. ‘My hero. Am I really that far gone?’

He bent his head to kiss me. After a minute I came up for air.

‘Do you really think I need saving?’

He didn’t answer.

Seb went home around midnight, once I’d promised to think about coming to the party. But when I woke the next morning, back in the room where I’d spent the demise of my childhood, I realised I couldn’t go. I had to get the hell out of London; I had to before I imploded.

My dad and Jenny had already left for school. I had a cup of coffee, several cigarettes, and then I drove to the office to clear my desk. I wanted to make my leaving absolutely official. There was nothing Charlie or Renee could do to me any more, I reasoned; I had to be adult about the situation.

Sally bounced into my office as soon as she saw my light go on.

‘Oh my goodness!’ she said, her freckled bosom almost heaving with the drama. ‘What were you like yesterday?’

‘I don’t know,’ I said dryly. ‘What was I like?’

‘You certainly gave ’em what for – not that they didn’t deserve it.’

‘I’m glad it was so entertaining. I meant every word. Are there any boxes out there?’ I took the picture of Pendarlin off the wall and clutched it to me. ‘I need to pack my stuff up.’

‘I’ll get Cheryl to have a look. So you’re really going then?’

But Sally had lost my attention as I switched on the computer. About ten emails down from the top was one from Alex, dated yesterday morning, and headed ‘MY BLOODY DOG’.

‘Oh my God.’ I opened it feverishly.

Maggie,

As we don’t seem to be able to have a decent conversation and your mobile appears to be dead anyway, I’m emailing you to let you know I’ve taken the dog. You’re so all over the place I think he’ll be better with me – and when I came to collect him from your dad’s he was just wandering around the front garden alone anyway.