‘No. He was pretty pissed off when I said I was staying out.’

‘What did he say?’ Brenda said.

‘That my priorities are wrong – hanging out with you lot instead of him.’

‘He should have come.’

‘He should.’ Alice hesitated. This felt like a betrayal. ‘And he ended with a “fuck you”.’

Brenda frowned. ‘There’s no need for that. That’s just fucking rude.’

‘I know. He gets a bit overwrought.’

‘Violent?’

‘No,’ Alice said. ‘He’s never like that. Ned’s not a nasty person. He’s very sensitive. Over-sensitive, really. It makes him emotional.’

‘Still a pain if you have to deal with it,’ Brenda said.

‘I know. But he’s OK.’

‘How long are you here for?’ Brenda said.

‘Three more nights.’

‘Then you go home?’

‘Back to Nottingham. I share a house with two friends, Nellie and Madeline. They’re on a trip in Australia, as it happens. I was planning to go, but Ned talked me out of it.’

Talked was not quite the right word. He had badgered her about it until she gave up on the idea.

This is our last chance to spend a summer together before we get jobs and settle down. Then it’ll be normal life – marriage, kids, two weeks away in summer. He’d grinned. That’ll be great, but this is the last opportunity to really be together before it happens.

It sounded to her like there was plenty of time to be together later, which was all the more reason to go away with Nellie and Mads. She had pointed this out, but then he had told her he had plans, specific plans for her and him. It was supposed to have been a surprise, but that was ruined now.

A week in the Lake District.

And if she went away she would spoil it.

In the end it wasn’t worth it, so she had waved Nellie and Mads goodbye, and packed up her hiking boots.

‘You live in Nottingham?’ Brenda asked.

‘I’ve recently finished at uni there. The lease on my flat runs out in a few weeks actually, so I’ll have to move my stuff out.’

‘Where will you go?’

Alice shrugged. ‘Get a place with Ned somewhere, probably. He’s got a job in London in accounting. I want to be a journalist, so I can do that anywhere.’

They were approaching the hostel.

‘Maybe I’ll see you tomorrow,’ Brenda said.

‘We’re walking to Grasmere over some mountain Ned knows,’ Alice said. ‘So we can visit Wordsworth’s house and grave.’

‘Sounds fun. I’ll be mooching around the lounge getting over my hangover,’ Brenda said. ‘Then I was thinking of taking the boat down to Bowness. Find a pub for lunch.’

‘Jesus,’ Alice replied. ‘Sounds like heaven.’

‘Well, enjoy your day. And maybe we’ll catch up when you get back. Goodnight.’