Megan sank down on the couch, but her fury gradually turned into embarrassment at the things she had said about Cynthia. Temper and yes, jealousy, had made her behave like a spoilt brat, no dignity, just what he had said – a shrew.

It was bad tactics, too, no way to keep him out of that woman’s clutches. That was much more important.

Only you shouldn’t need to consider tactics when speaking to your own husband.

She dashed away a tear. She would not cry! Another tear followed, so she blew her nose vigorously and began to walk round the room, breathing in and out very loudly, and stopping a couple of time to pummel the cushions on the couch. Very satisfying, that.

‘Oh, hell, I suppose I’ll have to apologise,’ she said aloud after a while. She couldn’t fool herself that she had behaved anything but abominably.

‘He shouldn’t have invited her, but I shouldn’t have spoken like that, shouldn’t have accused him of flaunting his mistress in front of my nose. Even if he is. Which he isn’t. At least, I don’t think he is.’

But she wasn’t even sure of that; she was just sure she didn’t want to do anything else that might alienate him, especially now. At the block, she had felt they were really starting to get close, then the minute they returned to Perth, he’d changed abruptly.

Even if what he was doing was stressful, he shouldn’t shut her out like that. And she didn’t enjoy living with a Jekyll and Hyde of a husband. She needed stability, certainty. She had done ever since her parents died, perhaps more than other people did. She acknowledged that.

But what did he need emotionally?

Anything at all?

The telephone rang. She sat staring at it, and only when it had rung five times did she reach out and pick it up. ‘Hello?’ Even in her own ears, her voice sounded sulky.

‘Ben here. Darling, I’ve just bumped into Cynthia in the lobby. Why don’t you come down and join us for drinks? Please, Megan!’

Bitterness flooded through her. The first time he had ever called her ‘Darling’ and it was, quite clearly, for that woman’s benefit. She opened her mouth to say no, then she heard Cynthia’s drawling voice in the background and took a deep breath instead. She wasn’t going to let that sneaky bitch walk away with her husband! No way. ‘How delightful of you to think of me!’ she said coolly. ‘I’ll be about ten minutes. I haven’t changed yet.’

‘Thanks, love. I know you’re tired and we’d agreed to eat in our room, but Cynthia was on her own.’