My mouth is dry and my head is pounding. Hugo isn’t there when I wake up. I guess he’s already gone for breakfast. Or he’s avoiding me after the whole pill thing last night. He’ll be annoyed, but he’ll get over it. At the end of the day, he loves me – I’m pretty sure of that. I glance at the clock – it’s gone nine.

What did I arrange with Matt?

Text. I said I’d text. I haul myself out of bed and open the curtains. There’s nothing but white – the snow is so deep now on the small roof below that it’s totally blocking the window and I can hear the wind is roaring.

I hope Hugo and Simon will go skiing so I don’t have Hugo hanging around me all day, but it seems unlikely.

After I’ve had a way too hot shower I drag myself downstairs. I’m surprised to see that Matt is already here and feel myself blush. Hugo is sitting at the table apparently reading a French newspaper. He doesn’t look up, though he definitely heard me come in. I guess I’m not forgiven yet.

I sit down next to Hugo and touch him lightly on the hand. ‘Morning,’ I say.

He looks up briefly and then back down at his paper. ‘Morning.’

‘The others not up?’

‘Doesn’t look that way.’

Millie comes in. ‘Morning, Ria,’ she says. ‘What can I get you? Eggs?’

A wave of nausea passes through me even at the thought of eggs. Hugo clears his throat, still staring at his paper.

‘Um, no thanks, Millie,’ I reply. ‘Maybe pancakes?’

She nods. ‘No problem. Maple or golden syrup? Or I could make you a chocolate sauce?’

‘Maple, please. Great. Thank you.’

Hugo is still staring pointedly at his paper. As far as I know, his knowledge of French is rudimentary – mine is way better – so he can’t actually be reading it. I fiddle with my phone, feeling unusually uncomfortable in the silence. I wish Simon or Cass would get up. Or have they already been and gone? Surely not. Cass won’t have got up and gone out this early, especially not in this weather.

‘You skiing with Simon today, Hugo?’ I venture.

‘Not sure,’ he replies testily. ‘I haven’t seen Simon yet and, according to Matt here, the lifts may not be open today.’

I try not to show my disappointment. I’m not going to get my alone time with Matt if Hugo doesn’t go out.

‘Really? The weather’s that bad?’

‘Apparently so,’ he says, not looking at me. ‘Disappointing for you, I’m sure,’ he adds snidely, obviously still wildly unimpressed with the idea of me skiing with Matt today.