He wasn’t long in rejoining her. ‘Goodness!’ she said sourly as he came in. ‘I’d expected you to stay for another nightcap or two with dear Cynthia.’

‘Could we drop the sarcasm and just get to bed? I’m exhausted.’ For once, he made no attempt to make love to her, just sighed and lay down, one arm across his eyes.

‘Is the business finished now?’ she asked, feeling a bit guilty for her sharpness when she realised how tired he looked.

‘Mine is. Nick’s needs a little more attention.’ He roused himself to look at her and say, ‘It always tires me out, negotiating, don’t know why. Perhaps because you have to be hyper-alert the whole time, if you want to win.’ He sighed and rubbed his forehead, then closed his eyes again.

She hadn’t realised that. He didn’t often confide in her. ‘How is Nick? Better?’

‘Mmm.’

Deep, even breathing told her that he was asleep. She switched off the light and hunched herself into a ball of misery. She had missed him today more than she would have believed possible before their visit to the house. And although he didn’t use endearments, he usually cuddled her before they went to sleep, even if they weren’t making love.

It was a while before she managed to get to asleep. She told herself she was a fool to be jealous of his work, but that didn’t make any difference to how she felt.

Was it always so hard being in love with someone?

Or was it only when that person didn’t love you in return?

In the morning, Ben jerked out of a heavy sleep, looking strained even before he began and Megan felt guilty about her own resentment of the previous evening. After gulping down a cup of black coffee, he looked at the time. ‘I’m afraid I’ll be gone all day again. Will you be all right?’

‘I’ll be fine. I have plenty of shopping to do, after all.’ Megan could not keep the edge from her voice, but she refrained from asking if dear Cynthia would be spending the day with him.

He looked at her then at his watch again and shook his head. ‘I’m sorry. I really am, but I must go.’

At the door he turned. ‘Look, would you buy yourself a mobile phone – and could you visit Nick this afternoon? Tell him everything’s going really well with the deal. We don’t want him worrying about anything?’

‘Yes, I’ll do that. Is it really going well?’

‘It’s touch and go at the moment, I’m afraid.’ He hesitated, blew her a kiss from the door and then hurried away.