He stood looking down at her and grinning for a few long seconds and then said, ‘Well, shall we find that pub then? It looked good and as we don’t know what on earth the food is going to be like in the cafeteria, it might be the last decent meal we have for a few days.’

Unless we slip out and eat away from the students, Laura thought, and then felt instantly guilty.

‘I feel we should eat with the students as much as possible. A lot of teaching and learning can go on in casual situations. They can feel more able to ask questions one to one, while you’re jostling trays, than in a room full of other people.’

‘You’re displaying a very caring attitude,’ she said as they walked along together, not touching apart from when she bumped into him by mistake from time to time. She felt ambivalent, wanting him to be caring on the one hand, but on the other, hoping he’d be keen to bunk off to the pub with her.

‘You shouldn’t be surprised. You know I go into schools regularly. I admit I prefer students to be under eleven, but I can cope with older ones.’

‘You didn’t seem quite so conscientious when we first started working together.’ She frowned a little as she thought of his dismissive attitude to some of the manuscripts, how she’d had to nudge him into considering them seriously.

‘I’ve turned over a new leaf,’ he said, sounding a little smug. ‘You should be proud of me.’

‘Proud of you – why?’

‘Oh, nothing in particular, just my general virtue. Now,’ he went on, pushing open the pub door, ‘what would you like? A pint of whiskey with a beer chaser?’

‘A white wine spritzer please. We have to work tomorrow!’

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Twelve

He walked her back to her accommodation, to her very door, after their meal out. ‘There you are, sweetheart, safe and sound. We’ll meet for breakfast, to make sure we’re all sorted, and then expect the hordes to arrive at ten. Is that right?’

‘It is.’

‘Good. Nighty-night, then. See you at nine.’ And he strode off to his rooms.

Laura was very happy, despite feeling slightly disappointed he hadn’t even given her a goodnight peck on the cheek. The evening had been a wonderful combination of them just chatting – about everything – books mainly, but also films, music, politics, the state of the planet and the course, and there’d be other opportunities for a moment alone.