‘That doesn’t make it any easier. It’s cruel, Beverley. It’s bullying. Nothing more, nothing less.’

‘George, you’re not … you’re not crying, are you?’

He shook his head and wiped his eyes, surprised to find that he was. ‘It hurts, that’s all. It really fucking hurts. These people have no decency.’

Beverley breathed in heavily through her nose. ‘You don’t think that you bear some responsibility for all of this, though, do you? You are the common denominator, after all.’

George shrugged. He was too tired to argue. ‘I don’t know,’ he said. ‘Perhaps I’m just getting too old to be let loose on the world. Everything I say seems to offend someone. When all I’m actually trying to do is help.’

‘But you’re helping the wrong way.’

He smiled. ‘Someone else said that to me a while ago.’

‘Who?’

‘Oh, just someone at the Beeb.’ He thought about this for a moment and then his face took on a look of horror. ‘Oh shit,’ he said.

‘What’s wrong?’ asked Beverley.

‘What time is it?’

She glanced at her watch. ‘Nearly half past ten,’ she said.

‘Damn.’

‘All the blood has drained from your face.’

‘I was supposed to make a phone call, that’s all. Before close of play. It went completely out of my mind.’

‘Something important?’

‘Someone important.’

‘Who?’

George looked at his wife and considered his answer carefully.

‘Nobody,’ he said.

They both turned around as they heard the sound of the front door opening and Elizabeth walked into the living room.

‘And what’s the matter with you?’ asked George.

‘I broke up with Wilkes.’

George kept his features entirely still. ‘How terrible,’ he said. ‘He seemed like a keeper. I am distraught.’

‘Oh, darling,’ said Beverley, standing up, giving her a hug and pouring her a glass of wine. ‘It really is for the best. How did he take it? Was he terribly upset?’

‘Absolutely devastated,’ said Elizabeth. ‘He turned on the waterworks, of course. It was like Niagara Falls pouring down his cheeks.’

‘Well, it’s a bit of a wash, at least.’

‘But I held firm. I told him that my mind was made up and we shouldn’t be sorry that it was over; instead, we should be happy that it happened.’

‘Darling, that’s beautiful. Did you come up with it?’

‘No, I think it was Dr Seuss.’

‘Well, good for you anyway.’

‘I’ve washed my hands of him, Mother. Both literally and metaphorically.’

‘You did the right thing,’ agreed Beverley. ‘As it happens, I’ve sworn off men for the time being too. All they do is deceive you.’

‘What do you mean, you’ve sworn off men?’ asked Elizabeth, turning to her mother with a frown on her face. ‘You’re married!’

‘Tell me about it,’ said Beverley, rolling her eyes. ‘And just look how much trouble your father is causing.’