‘I pay her eight pounds an hour.’ That was after the agency’s fee. ‘Though I usually round it up to ten pounds an hour because she never has change.’

‘What a hero.’

I couldn’t believe this. I felt anger rising inside me. ‘I’m not doing anything wrong, Charlie. I need a cleaner, she obviously needs work. I’m sure she’s got far worse clients than me.’

‘I don’t understand why you need a cleaner anyway. This place is tiny, you’re here all day. Can’t you do it yourself?’

I explained that I’d taken Kristi on when I’d had my operation and found doing most things difficult.

‘But you’re all right now, so you can get rid of her.’

‘I don’t want to. I’d feel bad. She needs the money.’

Charlie stood up. ‘Do you get off on it?’

‘What?’

‘Paying a young woman to degrade herself.’

I was aghast. ‘Charlie! This is insane.’

‘Or maybe she’s too ugly for you to get a kick out of it.’

We were standing close now. This was crazy, but it was also exhilarating because, even as the blood heated in my veins and Charlie jabbed a finger at me, it didn’t feel real. Were we really arguing about this? This was our first argument, and it was about a cleaner!

‘As a matter of fact,’ I said, ‘she’s really pretty. But you’re being ridiculous. She’s my cleaner, I don’t want to get rid of her, and I am not exploiting her. I’m not degrading her and I certainly don’t get a sexual thrill out of watching a woman vacuum my bedroom!’

She opened her mouth to speak again and promptly shut it. She closed her eyes too and inhaled deeply. I was pretty sure she was counting to ten beneath her breath.

‘OK,’ she said eventually. ‘I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have lost my temper. I’ve had too much wine and I’m still stressed after being followed. I just have a thing about people, women especially, being exploited.’

‘I’m not—’

‘I know, I know. I understand. It’s not you – it’s the injustice of the situation.’

‘I don’t think—’ I began, but she cut me off.

‘Can we talk about something else?’ she said. ‘Actually, can we go to bed? I’m tired, I’m a bit drunk and I don’t want to talk any more.’ She put her arms around me and kissed me. ‘Do you forgive me?’

‘Of course I do.’

She looked into my eyes. ‘I love you, Andrew. I know we’ve only been together a couple of weeks, but I . . .’ She trailed off, her expression shy. ‘I feel embarrassed.’

I put my hands on her shoulders. ‘Don’t be embarrassed. I feel the same way.’

‘But you won’t say it?’ she said with a little smile.