He moistens his lips with his tongue. “I’m going to have to go to Aberdeen to sort things out.” He glances at the kitchen clock. “I’ll try and get a couple more hours’ sleep and then I’ll drive to the airport, catch the first flight up there. The sooner I can sort things out, the better.”

I step toward him and give him a hug. Actually, this has worked out much better for me. If Ross leaves for Aberdeen first thing in the morning, I can pack properly. I can make sure I’ve got everything I need and call a taxi when I’m ready. Now that Catherine is out of the way, I don’t have to worry anymore.

“Actually,” he says, “why don’t you come with me? We could make a weekend of it.” I go very still in his arms. “I don’t like the thought of leaving you on your own, not when you’ve so recently had another seizure.”

I take a step back and shake my head. “No, you go on your own. I’m not sure I’m up to rushing around yet.” I try to keep the desperation out of my voice. “You don’t mind, do you?”

He takes my face in his hands and looks deep into my eyes. I used to think it was so romantic when he did this, but now it seems false. Controlling. He kisses me gently on the lips.

“You don’t have to come to the nursing home if you’re not feeling up to it. We can check in to a hotel and you can stay there and pamper yourself. Order room service. We can eat out in the evening. Go somewhere nice. You’ve always wanted to see the place where I was born.”

Shit. How ironic that when I wanted to go to Aberdeen with him before, he put me off. Now, when it’s the very last thing I want to do, he’s all up for it. The thing is, if I say I’m too poorly for the journey, he may well delay going up for a couple more days. With no way of speaking to Mum and Dad until they ring me, I’ll be stuck here with him.

“I’d love to come with you, Ross, I really would. But I’ve got an antenatal appointment with the community midwife tomorrow and I don’t want to rearrange at such short notice.”

I turn away from him to pick up my glass of water, praying he won’t notice how my cheeks have started to redden at the lie.

“Oh, I didn’t know about that,” he says. He’s tugging gently at his chin when I face him again. “But they won’t mind, will they?”