Like: was this just a tactful way to get rid of her? And if so, why? They’d been getting on so well. She’d been… hoping.

She went over the previous day in her mind and could see no reason for him to make excuses, none at all. He had seemed to enjoy her company as much as she’d enjoyed his. The New York trip must be genuine, then. He’d said he had calls to make when he left her.

If he’d had second thoughts about seeing her again, she wished he’d tell her straight out. This uncertainty was dreadful.

But he had made a point of taking her mobile number.

She couldn’t be bothered with breakfast, just took her time about getting showered and dressed. It hardly mattered what she wore now, did it?

What was she going to do with the day? She pulled a chair over to the window and sat staring out across the gardens, her thoughts still in a turmoil.

She was a fool to be so disappointed! After all, she hardly knew Ben Saunders. And he’d certainly given her little reason to pin any hopes on seeing him again. She should just forget about him and get on with her life.

She didn’t dive into relationships with people. It was one of her cardinal rules in life. She took her time, waiting till she knew them before allowing herself to care about them. She knew that put some people off, but that was how she had always been.

She froze for a moment as she realised that wasn’t true. She’d only been like that since she’d lost her parents. Before, she’d been a happy, impulsive child. But when you knew how much you could lose, you were more wary of letting yourself care. It was only natural.

But with Ben things had felt different. None of those awkward silences she’d experienced with other men, no struggling for something to talk about. She felt as comfortable sitting quietly with him as she did when they were chatting. He was every woman’s dream – not only attractive, but fun to be with, and kind, too. At least, he’d seemed kind.

She really shouldn’t get her hopes up. He probably wouldn’t call.

When she noticed she was pleating the material of her skirt in her agitation, she smoothed it out again, wishing she could smooth out her tangled feelings as easily. She was sure she was attracted to him, very sure of that. But not at all sure of anything else.