But now, as Abi emerged from the house with her sunglasses pushed up into her hair, a tote bag slung over her shoulder, Mark felt embarrassed, like she’d caught him out.

‘Actually, if it’s all the same with you ladies, I think I’ll give the river a miss today.’

‘You never said,’ Abi remarked, a look of mild irritation crossing her face. He tried to ignore it.

‘Yeah. I thought I’d drive over to Châtellerault. There’s that vintage car museum I was telling you about. I want to check it out. You don’t mind, do you?’

‘It’s miles away. Are you sure you want to be sitting in the car in this heat?’

‘We have air con. Besides, I like the idea of being in a museum – a cool, vaulted indoor space – rather than outside getting toasted. You know how easily I burn.’

After a second’s hesitation, she said, ‘Well, it’s your decision.’

It was the heat, he reminded himself, as he caught the dismissive note in her voice. The heat was making them both irritable. That, and the forced proximity to these people. They were perfectly nice but Valentina’s hippy-schtick was beginning to grate, and he found Guy a bit of a chore. Whenever he was alone with Abi she worried aloud about Beth. It seemed to Mark that as a couple they had little to talk about these days except their daughters – first Eva’s exams, and now Beth’s wayward direction. It was tedious. A few hours apart would be good for all of them, he told himself, the thought creeping into his head that more and more lately he wished to be alone rather than in his wife’s company.

‘Do you want a lift to the bathing spot?’

‘No, that’s all right. We’ll walk. Don’t trouble yourself.’

She said it brightly, but he caught the sting in it and Corinne did too. She was still stretching out her leg, but it was less playful now, more watchful.

‘Can I come with you?’

He hadn’t seen Eva coming out of the house, but now he turned and saw her standing there with her hand raised to shield her eyes from the sun. She was squinting at him and there was something tentative and shy about her request.

‘But I thought you were coming with us to the river?’ Corinne said. She had straightened up and was watching Eva now with a look of naked disappointment.

But Eva just breezed past without looking, saying: ‘Come on, Dad. Let’s go.’