Her phone pinged as they were making their way to the dining room. James glanced at her, raised an eyebrow. They both knew who it would be without her even looking. He put a finger to his lips, and she remembered what he’d said about people being able to hear conversations.

It was indeed Matt, repeating his request for pictures of the girls, and she knew she couldn’t stall again. Her eyes scanned the dining room, which stretched down one side of the building, looking out over the gardens. High ceilings and bay windows made it feel light and airy, while screens and large potted plants had been used to break it up into more private areas. She spotted a group of four women, perhaps a bit older than her, but not much. If she used the right filter, he wouldn’t know. Maybe do a silly one with bunny ears or something. She made her way over to their table, James following.

‘Excuse me, ladies,’ she said in her best professional voice, with her brightest smile. ‘We’re doing an article about the hotel – trying to push the spa weekends – and I just wondered if you’d mind posing for a quick picture. We want to make it look natural.’ She held up her phone.

The women looked at each other and – with a few giggles – nodded their assent. Sara passed the phone to James, who rattled off some shots, then he handed it back and she took a couple of group selfies, the women laughing and playing along. Once she’d thanked them, she followed James to their table.

‘Look, I think you’re right about my phone.’ She glanced at the entrance, then back at James. ‘I’m just going to send these pictures and then I’ll leave my phone in the car. I’ll be ten minutes, okay?’

‘No problem.’ He gave her a reassuring smile. ‘Take as long as you need, then we can relax properly.’

She made her way back to the foyer, where she perched on one of the sofas while she chose a couple of pictures, applied filters and sent them. Then she followed James’s advice and tapped out messages to Matt, Fiona and Hailey, telling them it was a phone-free weekend and if they needed her to ring reception. Once that was done, she dashed out to her car and stashed her phone in the glove box, throwing it in there like it was about to spontaneously combust.

With her heart thumping, and feeling more than a little flustered, she made her way back inside, hoping that she had allayed Matt’s fears.

‘All done?’ James asked as she sat at their table.

She flashed him a smile and nodded, feeling the opposite of relaxed.