So upset was she that she even considered getting off the boat and staying out all evening, just to emphasise her independence, but that urge was short-lived. It would gain her nothing to behave irrationally. Besides, there might just be some reasonable explanation, at least on Ben’s part. She hoped there was, though she couldn’t think of one at the moment.

What was plain was that Cynthia was making every effort to re-engage his attention.

What wasn’t plain to Megan was what he really wanted.

As she thought about it, she frowned and tried to picture the pair of them, realising suddenly that there had been nothing lover-like in his expression or body language as he sat in the mall. It was Cynthia who’d been leaning forward and pawing him.

Was that just her own wishful thinking? No, now that she was feeling calmer, she didn’t think so. Oh, dear, had her anger blinded her?

In any case, it was time to get back to the hotel. She had made her point by now. If there was a point. She felt so confused she didn’t know any more.

The return journey up the river seemed to take for ever and the sky had clouded over again. The scenery was beautiful, with large homes set among grey-green gum trees on the low slopes overlooking the river. The occasional boat went chugging past, bobbing round the wide curves of water in a leisurely way. In other circumstances she would have been delighted with it all, but it was a relief when the trip was over. She wasn’t in the mood to appreciate scenery today.

She walked slowly back along the foreshore towards the hotel and when she got close, she sat down on one of the benches by the river and admitted to herself that she was reluctant to face Ben. Ignoring the cold wind that promised more rain, ignoring the fact that dusk was falling fast, she stared across the water and admitted it.

She’d over-reacted.

I am jealous, she decided. Ben was right about that. Only she loved him so much.

But what sort of love was this where she couldn’t even tell him how she felt, couldn’t even complain about him having lunch with another woman? Sniffing away a tear, she blew her nose determinedly. She must be totally stupid to have got herself into this.

She stared blindly at the expanse of water and sighed. No, she wasn’t stupid. How could she not have fallen in love with him? It was more than a physical thing, for her at least. She remembered how happy they’d been together in Singapore, how much fun they’d had, how she’d enjoyed simple things like chatting to him or just walking along hand in hand.

Misery swept through her. Their delicate situation had gone from bad to worse since their arrival in Perth.