‘Then, before term ended, I gather her father turned up on campus, making threats against John, as well as alleging that his daughter had been taken advantage of, and demanding that she be allowed to continue the course,’ Beth went on, with an apologetic grimace.

Robyn put her head in her hands. Great. A whole soap opera played out in public. She could just imagine how the gossip had gone whipping through the corridors and around the lecture theatres. Have you heard? Oh my God, have you heard? No wonder Gabrielle had sounded so peculiar on the phone.

‘So it’s a bit messy, really,’ Beth said. To put it mildly. ‘John has been . . . his contract has not been renewed, as you know, and as far as I can tell, the situation with Naomi, in regards to the uni, is ongoing.’ She flushed suddenly, seeming to remember herself. ‘Um. Whoops. It goes without saying that this is all confidential. I probably shouldn’t have told you that last bit, but . . .’

‘It’s fine. I’m not exactly going to spread it around,’ Robyn replied dully. John, cheating. John, seducing a student. John, turfed out ignominiously. John, receiving threats from some furious, ranting dad. She wasn’t sure which of it was worse. The whole saga was so horrifically tawdry from start to finish.

‘I’m sorry,’ Beth said again, biting her lip. ‘That’s all I know, I promise.’ There was a moment of miserable silence while they both stared at their teacups, no doubt wishing to be elsewhere. ‘Are you all right?’ she asked after a few seconds. ‘I mean, I’m sure you’re not, but . . . Can I help at all? Can I do anything? If you want to talk, I’m a good listener.’

Robyn wasn’t sure anyone could help her right now, unless they had discovered how to rewind time. ‘Maybe you could murder my husband for me,’ she replied, trying to make a joke, but the words just came out sounding really angry and bitter. Then she groaned and shook her head. ‘Thank you,’ she said. ‘For being straight with me. But I guess I’ve got to work the next bit out all by myself. Somehow or other.’

Beth nodded. ‘Okay,’ she said, ‘but I’m here if you need anything.’ Her grey eyes were sincere and sympathetic. ‘And by the way, I’m pretty good with a spade. If you do decide on the murder option and need a hand digging a shallow grave or anything . . .’

Robyn made a noise that was mostly laugh, but with some element of sob. She gulped down her very nice tea, blew her nose and tried to compose herself. ‘Thank you,’ she managed to say after a moment. ‘You never know, I might just take you up on that.’