‘I’d rather not spend any more time with her than I have to! She’s driving me crazy!’

Even a game of Scrabble the previous evening had been filled with sexual innuendoes from Cynthia. But Megan had won.

For what that was worth.

The following morning, Ben suggested they all drive down to Busselton, where there was apparently a long jetty which you could ride along in a little train and watch the fish swimming in the water beneath you.

‘No thanks! You two go.’ Megan began to wash the dishes. ‘But you can bring back some steaks for tea. We’ll have a barbecue.’ She glanced out of the window. ‘If it stays fine.’

Cynthia purred her approval and was ready to leave in record time, her blond hair gleaming softly behind a white bandeau.

Ben scowled at Megan, pausing at the door to ask, ‘Are you sure you won’t change your mind and come with us?’

‘I’m certain. You’re welcome to dance attendance on dear Cynthia. I’ll have a nice restful day. Don’t forget to take some booze with you. She probably won’t last until you get to Busselton without a tipple or two.’

‘Keep your voice down. She’ll hear you.’

‘I don’t care if she does.’

He moved towards the door. ‘You’ve been nothing but bad-tempered since we came down here and I’m getting tired of it. Quite frankly, I’ll be glad to spend a day with someone who isn’t sulking.’

‘That’s fine by me!’

But it wasn’t fine by her. When they had left, she threw herself on the bed and sobbed, then got mad at herself for being so spineless. She stood up, blew her nose several times and went to clean the kitchen, attacking it as if it were her personal enemy.

Afterwards, she went out for a walk, taking her new Australian bird book with her. But she couldn’t concentrate on it, couldn’t concentrate on anything but her own worries about her marriage.

When she was a long way from the house, it started to rain. She had been too preoccupied to study the sky, so it took her completely by surprise.

‘That’s all I needed!’ she shrieked at the grey clouds.

The rain pelted down even harder and she stuffed the book under her top.

By the time she got back, she was soaked through and her legs were plastered with mud. ‘Fine sunny country this is!’ she grumbled as she peeled off her soggy clothing and left it in the laundry trough. ‘It does nothing but rain.’

A lukewarm shower did not help much and she still felt chilled as she piled on some clothes afterwards.