‘It’s awful,’ said Irene. ‘You feel such a self-conscious fool. And you know at once if you don’t like them in that way, which of course you never do, so you have to sit through an evening knowing that there are these expectations – it’s like buying a house.’

‘What!’ Neil laughed incredulously. ‘A house?’

‘It is. It’s like when you visit a house and you can tell as soon as you pull up outside it that it’s not for you, but you have to go through all the motions of being interested – in fact, the more you don’t want it, the more you have to pretend that you do, going from room to room complimenting them on their sash windows or their kitchen units or airing cupboard or whatever.’

‘First time I’ve been compared to an undesirable property,’ said Mickey. He pulled the bottle towards him and poured himself a splash more wine.

‘You know what I mean though.’

‘We should go. I booked that restaurant for eight and it’s a good ten minutes’ walk from here.’

‘Did you fall in love with your house?’

‘That’s not really what I was talking about.’

‘No, but did you?’ Mickey drank what was left in Luke’s glass and leant towards her pugnaciously.

‘It was the best we could do at the time.’

‘So sometimes you just have to take what’s on offer.’

‘With houses, maybe.’

‘Not with people?’

‘No.’

‘Come on,’ said Lorrie, standing up. ‘Enough of this. I’ll wash Kath’s face and then we’ll be off.’

They walked along the towpath. Irene hung back to walk with Mickey.

‘Are you all right?’

‘Why shouldn’t I be?’

‘You just seem a bit – angry about something.’

‘I’m OK. I just don’t like being made a fool of.’

‘I already told you that nothing …’

‘It’s none of my business what you choose to get up to. But when you said to me it was the wrong time for you, I thought you were telling the truth.’

‘I was telling the truth.’ She tucked an arm through his. ‘Let’s go and have our meal and then play poker.’

‘Don’t fucking patronize me.’

‘OK.’ She pulled her arm free again and quickened her stride. ‘Like you said, it’s not really any of your business.’

‘So you are?’

‘Leave it, Mickey.’

‘I’m the gooseberry now? Perfect.’

‘Don’t be an idiot.’

He muttered something under his breath.

‘What’s that?’

‘Nothing.’

‘I thought …’

‘Nothing,’ he repeated.

‘OK. The others are waiting for us.’

They hung back at the restaurant door. The tips of their fingers brushed. He trailed a finger down her arm and she shivered in the warmth.

‘Get a move on!’ called Mickey, who arranged it so that Irene and Luke were at opposite ends of the table.