“There must be something they can do. There must be. They find out new stuff all the time. You can’t just give up trying. You have to fight.”

“And at the end, even my lungs will stop working. I’ll drown in my own spit, do you hear me? In my own spit. Do you think I want to hang around for that? I’d rather take my chances with the ocean.”

“No, I’m not having this. I’m not doing this. I swear to God, I can’t go through it. Not again.”

“This is nothing to do with you.”

“This has everything to do with me. I’m in love with you.” She laughed out loud. “Take this seriously!”

“You are such a typical man,” she said. “Thinking you’re the centre of everyone’s universe. You’re just a bit player to me, do you know that? You were a nuisance at first and then you were a nice guy to talk to, and then yesterday… ”

“Yes? Did that matter to you at all?”

“You were a lovely interlude. A change from what I was used to. I was lonely and it had been a while and I was feeling sad and then you were there and you offered. Don’t give me that look. Don’t you ever do something just on impulse? We always said we’d be gone by midwinter. We still will. Why do you care how I’m leaving?”

“Of course it makes a difference! Yesterday might not have meant anything to you but it bloody well meant something to me, do you hear? I didn’t come to you and throw my heart at your feet because I was lonely or bored or whatever else it was you said. It was because I’m in love with you. I might not be much of a human being but for what it’s worth, I’m all yours. I love you. And I wouldn’t have gone to bed with you for anything less.”

“Who are you?” Her fingers were very cold against his cheek. “Who are you really? I keep thinking I’ve got you worked out but then I lose you again.”

“What do you mean?”

Her hand slipped between his shirt buttons and stroked his chest. He swallowed.

“Please don’t. You don’t feel the same way I do so please don’t play with me.”

Her fingers slipped lower, hovering just above his waistband. “You said you’d do anything to make it up to me, for what you did. Did you mean it?”

“Of course I did.” He took her hand away. “And you don’t need to do – that – to persuade me. Tell me what you want and I’ll do it.”

“I want you to come to bed with me.”

“What?”

“Have I managed to shock you?”

What shocked him was that he was already remembering the exact feel of her skin against his when she lay on top of him, her eyes closed and her cheeks flushed.

“I’ve got no right to touch you. Not now.”