I shrugged, desperately trying to think of a reason why someone would need that long off work, but Lesley’s phone rang then and when she’d finished with the call it seemed she’d accepted what I had said. “Right, I think we might have something that we could consider you for. Are you sure it’s only temporary work you’re looking for?”

“Yes. I’m planning to move in a few months and I’m not sure where I’m going to,” I said. “I don’t want to tie myself down just yet.”

Her eyes narrowed and I could see her wondering whether it was going to be worth investing her time in me.

“Of course,” I added quickly, “I’m staying in this region, so I hope to keep working with you for longer than that. It’s just that I’ll be buying a house and want to work nearby, so I’ll find a permanent job after that.”

I had no intention of staying in this area once my house was sold. I’d be off. I thought of my friends from university who lived in Edinburgh, others in Devon. One lived in the South of France, another worked for the British embassy in Iceland. Suddenly my heart lifted. I would be free to go wherever I wanted to. I had a sudden flashback to something Tom said after a holiday we took. He’d told me he was busy but that I should book something. He said he was happy to go anywhere. I booked us a trip to Italy, to a little place near Sorrento. I thought he’d enjoyed himself, thought we’d had a good time, but right at the end, on the flight back, he said, “You never quite manage to choose the right place, do you?” My stomach fluttered with panic at the memory. What if I moved somewhere new and hated it?

My phone started to ring then, deep in my bag. I flushed, knowing I should have turned it off before I spoke to Lesley. “I’m so sorry. I’ll just ignore that.”

“Don’t worry, I was just going to make some more coffee,” she said. “Take it if you want.”

I took my phone out of my bag and saw that it was from a withheld number. I thought it must be a company, calling about a job application, so I answered the call.

“Hello? Ruby Dean speaking.” At first I couldn’t hear what he said. “Sorry? Can you say that again?”

“I’m going to do whatever I like to you,” a man’s voice said. “And you’re going to beg me for more.”

CHAPTER 36

Ruby

I pressed the End Call button quickly and switched my phone off, shoving it into my bag. My cheeks were burning and Lesley commented when she came back over, carrying two mugs of coffee.

“Everything all right?”