‘Not at all, I just…’ How could she say that she had a feeling when she met Estelle, that no matter how striking the girl was, Liv just knew, deep down, that she and Finn were not quite the right fit? No doubt, there was room for a great mutual attraction. She was certainly gorgeous and he was… well, handsome in an old-fashioned, Mr Darcy sort of way. She wanted to ask him who M was. She imagined some sophisticated, stylishly thin, honey-haired beauty – possibly French – who would sweep along the corridors of the hospital in a cloud of heavy perfume and make heads turn wherever she went.

‘So, you’re a nurse? Here?’

‘Yes. I was meant to be going home for Christmas, but just when I met you, all that changed and so, here I am.’

‘You put off your Christmas plans for me?’ He looked shocked.

‘No.’ Liv began to laugh.

‘You could have lied, said you were already on your way?’ He was teasing her.

‘Don’t. The thought actually did cross my mind, but then, I thought, I can still celebrate Christmas in a week’s time.’ She looked down at her left hand now, thinking of the romantic proposal she was missing out on.

‘There’s something else, isn’t there?’

‘Oh, it’s nothing.’ She shook her head.

‘Go on, I won’t tell anyone.’ He was still smiling at her.

‘It’s daft, but I thought…’ She began to smile now too. ‘I was convinced that my boyfriend was going to propose to me this Christmas…’ She knew that, compared to Finn’s position of almost being killed in a bike crash, it was nothing: a marriage proposal could happen any time. ‘He’s a jewellery maker, you see, and I spotted a ring in his workshop. I’m certain he’s made it for me; it’s everything I could have wished for and…’ She wasn’t even sure why she was telling this complete stranger something she hadn’t dared to breathe to another living soul. ‘I know it doesn’t sound like much of a big deal, but he’s not exactly the romantic type. He’s never made a grand gesture in his life.’

‘That’s a pity.’

‘Pardon?’

‘Well, every woman deserves an occasional grand gesture.’

‘You’re making fun of me.’

‘Maybe, a little.’ But he looked a little sad now. ‘Hey, I’m sure that when you two meet up again, he’ll pull out all the stops for you. And think of it, how many women get the ring of their dreams handmade by their future husbands?’