She forced her thoughts to the possible results, praying that it wouldn’t show that Ralph had recently had sexual intercourse … Surely it wouldn’t, she thought. Not if he’d been in the water for days. ‘Yeah, I heard, but they haven’t had the report in yet.’

Paula fixed her gaze on her and for a moment Meredith thought, She knows. But then she just said, ‘Maybe it’ll show that he had some sort of terminal illness, and drowned himself rather than facing it.’

‘Maybe. Although,’ Meredith added with reluctance, ‘he seemed fine that day. He was on great form.’

‘I’ll find out on Monday, I suppose,’ Paula said thickly, looking at her phone. ‘Fun, fun, fun. Not. Oh. I’ve had a text from Jackson, checking where I am. I’d better go.’

‘I’ll walk you home.’ Meredith got to her feet.

‘No need, it’s only through the village.’ Paula stood up too, swaying slightly, knocking over her empty wine glass. Meredith managed to catch it before it rolled off the boat into the water.

‘No, really. I need some fresh air.’

Pete was sitting at his galley table with reading glasses on the end of his nose and a sheaf of paperwork in front of him. He looked up as they climbed unsteadily down off the roof. Meredith stuck her head through the doorway to tell him where they were going.

‘Staying here tonight?’

‘Do you mind?’

‘Of course not.’

‘As long as I won’t be putting the kibosh on any potential action you might have been contemplating.’

He rolled his eyes. ‘As if. Although I thought I’d invite Andrea over to supper.’

‘Well in that case I’d better—’

‘No. I want you there,’ he said firmly. ‘Please. I don’t want her to think I’m going to try it on with her.’

Meredith sighed. ‘Pete. Dude. What’s the matter with you? She’s lovely, and you fancy each other.’

‘She’s my neighbour, Mez, and she’s pregnant. It’s far too complicated, and I wouldn’t want to lead her on by letting anything happen.’

It was Meredith’s turn to roll her eyes, although she did understand. It would be terrible if they slept together and then Pete got cold feet – as he was prone to. Andrea was far too vulnerable to be messed around.

‘Well, maybe the time isn’t right now,’ she conceded dully. ‘Right. See you in a bit. Text me if you want me to pick anything up in the shop on the way back.’

‘More wine!’ he called after them.

Paula trudged through the village next to Meredith, several people stopping to hug her, tears in their eyes as they gushed condolences, which Paula accepted as gracefully as she could manage. Meredith could tell that she wanted to tell them all to sod off.