Hastily I opened the last door to reveal an ornate bathroom, and shut it again. I hurried back to the staircase and crossed to the opposite corridor, a slight sweat breaking out on my top lip as the crying got louder. The first door was locked. I rattled the door handle.

‘Hello?’

I thought I heard a scuffle inside. Then silence.

‘Hello,’ I said more urgently. I thought of the wailing woman, although the crying had stopped. ‘Maya?’

I heard the rasp and flare of a match and spun round. The fair man I’d met so briefly at the petrol station was leaning on the wall behind me, watching me impassively. I was struck by the incredible ease with which he held himself.

‘Oh,’ I said stupidly. ‘You scared me.’

‘Lost, Mrs Miller?’ He chucked the match in the vase of roses beside him. ‘The party’s downstairs, I think you’ll find.’

I realised he’d just used my name. ‘I was just looking for the bathroom, actually,’ I stuttered. The champagne had definitely gone to my head.

‘Really? All the way up here?’

‘Yes, really. Like you said,’ I attempted a winning smile, ‘I got a bit lost.’

He stepped closer to me, close enough for me to feel the warmth of his body as he reached down and circled my wrist with his fingers; I pulled back. I could smell lemon again. His eyes narrowed as he contemplated me. He didn’t let go.

‘What happened to your face?’

‘It – it’s just a graze.’ I touched my cheek instinctively. I’d forgotten about James’s scratch.

His expression was impossible to read, but his fingers round my wrist tightened and he pulled me along the corridor to the first door so I stumbled in my heels.

‘What are you doing?’ I mumbled. He didn’t answer. He just leaned over me and opened the door, then turned me round.

‘I’m showing you what you were looking for.’

His hand was in the small of my back now as he pushed me forward. I tried to turn back, anxious not to be shoved into this dark room by him – but he blocked the way with his shoulder so I couldn’t pass.

‘I hope …’ my voice felt thick, ‘I hope …’

‘You hope what?’

‘I do hope you’re not threatening me.’

‘Don’t be so stupid.’ He looked at me with those blue blue eyes. ‘Why would I do that?’

We stared at each other. His eyes were blue as untroubled sky. Then slowly, very slowly, I backed into the bathroom and shut the door between us, leaning my cheek for a minute against the cool wood. The idea that he was there on the other side disturbed me intensely. I sat on the side of the bath and put my head between my knees for a while.