Then, because neither of them wanted to get too heavy, they came up with a variety of absurdly frivolous suggestions for possible uses for a derelict castle – which probably boasted dungeons and oubliettes amongst its not-so-modern conveniences – and generally sparked each other’s imagination with impossible solutions and made themselves laugh. But though in one way they felt increasingly at ease together, very much on a wavelength over the absurdities of life, in another way there was a tension building between them. They were going away together after only the briefest acquaintance and both were desperately anxious that it should work.

The main road bypassed towns and villages, so they turned off it to find somewhere to eat and enjoyed a leisurely pub lunch, but later their mutual anxiety resurfaced and made them edgy with each other.

‘I know this route of old. I’ve been coming up here off and on all my life, but as it’s all new to you it seems such a waste that I can’t take a turn at driving so that you could enjoy the scenery more,’ said Christopher when they took to the road again. He sounded tense and it wasn’t the first time he’d said something of the sort, although Marnie kept assuring him she was perfectly happy. She couldn’t help wondering if it was in part a criticism of her driving skills, and this touched her on the raw.

‘Is it my driving that’s a problem for you or do you just hate being driven?’ she asked, in a more aggressive voice than she meant to use. ‘I know there are lots of men – especially ones who fancy themselves with fast cars – who loathe being a passenger and specially can’t stand being driven by a woman. Are you one of those?’

‘How do you know I like fast cars? We’ve never discussed it.’ Christopher had an edge to his voice too.

‘Men who are content to bumble around in old bangers when they can afford something more dashing don’t usually own Aston Martins,’ she retorted, and then hoped she hadn’t upset him by referring, even obliquely, to his disastrous smash in his high-speed car.

‘I can see you’re a perfectly competent driver and I’m extremely grateful,’ he replied stiffly, not willing to admit how much his present dependency irked him, and at the same time feeling put out with himself that he should have made it so obvious.