‘What?’ he huffed, dumping himself heavily on to the bed next to me. ‘What do you want to talk about?’

I twisted round on my knees so I was facing him and laid one of the pillows across my lap.

‘My parents.’

‘Have you heard from them?’

His tone was sharp, his brow furrowed and I knew why now. I knew the real reason why my mention of them would send him into a tailspin and it had nothing to do with protecting me and my feelings.

‘No,’ I lied.

I couldn’t show my hand too soon. I needed to fully assimilate what I had discovered, and read the end of the email, before I presented him with it. For now, I simply wanted to gauge his reaction when my parents were mentioned and check the line he was taking about them.

‘I just think it would be a good idea if we discussed what to say if they did get in touch, that’s all,’ I went confidently on.

He was quiet for a second, then his explosive temper, which had been bubbling away all morning, burst out of him like blistering lava pouring out of a volcano.

‘You couldn’t just leave it alone, could you?’ he shouted. ‘I wouldn’t be surprised if you sent that fucking card on purpose!’

I had been braced for a reaction, but the sudden increase in volume made me flinch.

‘Well, I didn’t,’ I rallied, recoiling as I gripped the pillow tighter.

‘Don’t interrupt!’ he shouted, leaning across the bed, his face just inches from mine. ‘Don’t you dare interrupt.’

I didn’t dare do anything other than breathe. I had seen him angry before, but nothing like this. If he wasn’t careful, he was going to burst.

‘Why can’t you ever be satisfied with it just being us?’

Obviously, I didn’t answer.

‘I had the most amazing surprise planned for today,’ he carried on; his volume dial still set to maximum. ‘Did you know that? A massive surprise, just for you but then you came over all doe eyed in the dining hall and I thought—’

I wasn’t having that.

‘What are you talking about?’

‘Flirting with that waiter and making yourself look ridiculous.’

Oh my god! Was he really going to do that? I looked over his shoulder, imagining each and every one of the promises he’d made me flying out of the open window and dissolving into the ether.

‘And now you’re back on about your bloody parents,’ he raged on. ‘Sometimes I wonder if I really know who you are at all, Hattie!’

Given what I’d just read and was now witnessing I could say exactly the same of him.