‘I didn’t know you were going to have the appointment before me, but it’s so nice to see you,’ Bunty improvised, trying to play for time in order to delay him. ‘Have you had a lovely session with Catherine?’

She eyed Christopher hopefully, willing him to disclose more about himself. Bunty might be irritatingly nosy, he thought, but there was something innocent about her that made it hard to be actually offended. She reminded him of a greedy little dog, begging for titbits.

‘Lovely,’ he echoed, smiling at her but not throwing her any juicy morsels all the same. He was relieved to see that Catherine had deftly turned the manuscript of Inside Knowledge over so that neither the title nor his name could be read by Bunty’s gimlet eyes.

‘You must be enjoying being here so much. It’s all so interesting and stimulating, such lovely people, especially after . . . um . . .’ Bunty beamed encouragingly.

‘Oh, I am,’ said Christopher. ‘Especially, of course, the food.’

‘The food?’

‘After the diet of bread and water,’ said Christopher gravely, raising an eyebrow at her. ‘It’s such a welcome change.’

Catherine tried not to laugh and Bunty had the grace to look a little disconcerted.

‘I mustn’t encroach on your tutorial time,’ said Christopher. ‘Thanks so much again, Catherine. See you both later,’ and he went down the steep stairs, conscious of having enjoyed himself greatly.

He went out of the front door and stood for a moment on the arched steps over the moated flowerbeds. He could see Marnie still sitting under the big tree on the white bench where they had talked earlier. She had a notebook on her knee but she wasn’t writing in it, just gazing dreamily at the view. She looked lost in thought. He walked over to join her.

‘Hello there,’ he said, coming up behind her. She gave a little start and turned round.

‘Oh gee, you made me jump! I was miles away. So how was the tutorial? I hoped you’d come out this way – I’ve been wanting to hear how you got on.’

‘Better than I dared hope,’ he told her, sitting down beside her, surprised and pleased that she should be there, waiting for him. ‘I can’t believe it. Catherine has actually read all of my book – and she likes it! She was really very enthusiastic – I’m on a high.’

‘You didn’t say you’d written a whole book. That’s awesome! Tell me about it. What kind of a book? Are we talking academic research, a slim vol of high-minded Miltonian sonnets or a bodice-ripping blockbuster?’

He laughed. ‘It’s just a thriller. I’ve always been a fan of whodunits.’

‘Me too. Did you write it all when you were in prison?’

‘Yes. It was my salvation. Probably saved my sanity.’

‘Did you scribble away in longhand or did you have access to computers?’