Jonathan stares at him in confusion for a moment, before his face clears. ‘Oh, Jane Austen. Very good. Now, why don’t you go and see how the treacle pudding is getting on?’

I start to get to my feet automatically as Will stands and starts gathering the plates together to take out to the kitchen. Normally, this is something we do together, but this time Jonathan stops me by gently placing his hand on my arm.

‘Stay a moment, Tilly,’ he requests. ‘Will will be OK.’

It feels a bit awkward sitting there with him in silence while Will clears the table, but no sooner has he disappeared into the kitchen than Jonathan leans forward and speaks in a hushed tone.

‘Will considers you to be a good friend,’ he begins earnestly.

‘I like him too,’ I reply a little stiltedly. I’m not sure where this conversation is going, but I’m not entirely comfortable with it. The expression on Jonathan’s face leads me to believe he’s going to say a load of things I don’t think I want to hear.

‘Be careful with him, please?’

‘I’m not sure what you mean.’

‘Will is…’ he begins before tailing off. ‘Look,’ he tries again. ‘It’s not my role to interfere, but there are some things that make him a little more vulnerable than other people. I know you find that hard to believe, given the way we are with each other, but he hasn’t always had it easy, and I don’t just mean the business with his mum. You’re a good person, Tilly, and I trust you, but I’m just asking you to be a little gentle with him.’

‘We’re friends, Jonathan,’ I tell him firmly. ‘I’m not going to do anything to jeopardise that.’

‘OK. I can see I’ve said too much. Forget I mentioned it.’

* * *

Of course I can’t forget it. The weird conversation with Jonathan is now jostling for attention with the Luke problem as I make my way to work the next morning. As a result, I’m feeling tetchy and far from my best as the handover briefing begins.

‘Tilly, I don’t believe you’ve met Dr Rutherford,’ Dr Patel says, indicating a dark-haired woman that I completely failed to notice up until now. ‘She’s joined us from the A & E department at Lewes hospital and has replaced Dr Milne. I’m sure you’ll make her welcome, won’t you?’

‘Yes, absolutely,’ I reply even as my mind is scrabbling to digest the information. ‘Umm. Dr Milne…?’

‘Has decided to pursue other opportunities,’ Dr Patel tells me firmly. ‘Right. That’s the introductions over. Let’s see what idiotic injuries our patients have managed to inflict on themselves today, shall we?’