Ben almost laughed to himself as the thought left his head. She may not have been actually driving the car, but there was no way anyone could describe Bella as being in the passenger seat. She was the one steering their lives in whatever direction she wanted them to go, of that he was quite clear. Sometimes, very occasionally, he wanted to object. To say that he didn’t want to do this or that. That he would prefer to stay in on a Saturday night and watch TV, rather than going to the theatre, but he had very quickly learned that it wasn’t worth the grief it caused.

He thought back to the time, not long after their wedding, when he had invited Matt and Freya round for an impromptu meal one Friday night. He had casually mentioned it to Bella as they’d eaten breakfast in the kitchen of their flat that morning. ‘Oh, by the way, Matt and Freya are coming round tonight. I thought we could get a takeaway.’

He was scrolling on his iPad at the time and wasn’t looking up at Bella but he sensed, rather than saw, the furious expression on her face. Looking up, he almost recoiled. Her beautiful dark eyes were blazing and her mouth was set in a grimace. ‘No, they’re not. It’s not convenient.’ It wasn’t the opening to a discussion of any kind. It was a statement that was intended to shut down any further debate.

Ben frowned. ‘But … I’ve already invited them. And they’ve accepted.’

Bella’s face took on an amused expression. ‘Well, you shouldn’t have. Not without clearing it with me first.’

Ben took a deep breath and drew himself up to his full height. ‘I’m sorry, darling. You’re right. But I’ve asked them now so they’re coming. I’ll know better next time.’

Bella looked at him for a long moment, before standing up and throwing her paper napkin on the table. She pulled her short satin robe around her and strode out of the kitchen. Ben watched her go, feeling a mixture of annoyance and worry. It was such a strange over-reaction to something that was no big deal.

Matt and Freya were always popping round for hastily arranged dinners when he was with Charlotte. He didn’t remember her ever objecting, even the time he’d forgotten to tell her altogether and she was in the shower when they arrived. She had just pulled on some sweat pants and a T-shirt and joined them at the table with her wet hair hastily scraped into a bun on top of her head.

He shrugged to himself and tried to shake off the feeling of unease. He certainly wasn’t going to cancel. It would be rude and embarrassing. And it wasn’t as if Bella had any friends she wanted to invite instead. No, he decided, she would have come round by the time they arrived. Even so, he made a mental note to make sure that he gave her a bit more notice in future.