Catching him looking, she tutted under her breath and blew her nose noisily on the bra, then turned on her heel and walked to the front of the car to get back in. He could see her silhouette through the rear windscreen, knees drawn up to her chin, arms round them and shoulders high as she tried hard to hide the fact she was crying again.

He fixed the exhaust back up with the bra wire and tried the engine which, whilst far from a smooth urban purr, was at least sounding less like a tank. Pax had regained her composure and was gazing blankly out to the road ahead.

‘You’d better get your phone,’ he told her.

‘I don’t want it.’

‘For Christ’s sake, at least don’t litter the bloody thing!’

She was seriously getting on his nerves now. He climbed over the gate and tracked it down easily enough because it was ringing again. The screen was smashed. It stopped ringing as he carried it back to the car, tossing it on the rear seat.

As soon as they set off the Bluetooth reconnected and another incoming call rang around them.

Cursing under her breath, Pax unbuckled her belt and half-climbed into the back to retrieve it. ‘Press the red button on the steering wheel.’

Murderously, Luca pressed the green button.

‘Patricia?’ a deep Scottish brogue demanded. The husband sounded like Sean Connery. He could do a calm voice too.

‘I can’t turn it off,’ she growled in frustration turning back round with the phone in her hand.

‘You’re bleeding everywhere,’ Luca realised.

‘Patricia, what’s going on?’ demanded the deep voice.

The broken screen had cut her finger, scarlet drips landing on the gear shift. ‘Press the red button,’ she hissed.

‘Do not hang up on me, Patricia,’ boomed the voice, ‘my son deserves better than this!’

‘Respectfully, Muir, this is between me and Mack.’

The blood was dripping down her slim, pale wrist, Luca noticed in alarm.

‘That’s where you are wrong. We are your family. We are your son’s family, we are—’

‘Watch the tractor!’ Pax gasped, grabbing for the wheel. Luca realised, too late, that he was driving straight at an oncoming John Deer.

‘Shit!’ He pulled the steering wheel hard right. Pax was pulling it hard left.

At the last moment the tractor mounted the verge, taking out most of the hedge as it passed, driver gesticulating wildly. The puppy started barking. Pax slumped back in her seat. There was blood all over the steering wheel.

‘You could have killed us!’ Luca fumed.

‘Who is that?’ demanded the deep boom.

‘Listen, fella, I’m sorry your marriage is on the rack, so I am, but having spent just a few hours in the company of your lady wife, I have to say it’s a fucking miracle it’s lasted as long as it has. Now bring the kid home to his mum.’ He pressed the red button.

Pax turned to him, eyes wide.

‘Stop the car.’ It sounded so deathly, he thought she must be about to pass out or throw up again.