‘She didn’t until yesterday. I told her as she was leaving.’

‘Why was Jane in Bath?’

He closes his eyes, takes what seems a long time to open them again. Is he thinking about how to answer this? ‘Because of me. She was still – powerful to me. As you are.’ He shakes his head, slowly. ‘It’s upsetting to Eliza, but I never lied to her about my feelings.’

‘Jane was here because of you, and you, because of me?’

‘Yes.’

‘Why couldn’t you just leave me alone?’

‘Because I needed to know you were okay. Deep down, I’d always known that no matter how desolate you were, you’d never kill yourself – your impulse to live is too strong. But I needed it confirmed. I needed to tell you how sorry I was, though I worried that if you found out I was in Bath you’d disappear again. That’s why I hesitated – I didn’t want to lose the chance to be near you, to watch over you like a guardian angel. God, Holly – don’t look at me that way. I thought, maybe someday, circumstances would let me be with you again.’

I shake my head. ‘How can you imagine even for a moment that would be possible?’

‘I’m trying to be a better man.’

‘Was it the photograph of my grandmother with Princess Anne that led you here?’

‘Yes.’

‘You visited her care home. You frightened her.’

He nods. ‘I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to. I left quickly. I was glad to learn she wasn’t dead, incidentally.’

‘By the river on Saturday night – you could have killed the man I was with.’

‘I was upset when I saw you with him. I didn’t mean to hit him, I was just trying to shock you apart.’

‘You were a bowler, Zac. You knew exactly what you were doing.’

‘All right, yes. I lost control. Is he your boyfriend?’

‘None of your business. It’s attempted murder. To add to the actual murder. Great way to demonstrate how much you’ve changed. Was the robin meant to do that, too?’

‘What robin?’

‘The dead one you left on my doorstep on Thursday.’

‘I didn’t do that. I’m concerned to know who did.’

‘I don’t need or want your concern. And I don’t believe you. I don’t believe anything you say. It was creepy as fuck.’

There is the hint of his familiar ironic smile. ‘Since when do you swear so much, Holly?’

‘Since you. If I tell the police you were responsible for George’s head injury—’

‘George?’ Clearly he is the same obsessive, controlling, jealous Zac I remember. ‘His name is George?’

‘It doesn’t matter what his name is. It matters that you assaulted him. Will you deny it?’

‘No. I’ll plead guilty to that or anything relating to you that you want to report.’