I go into the kitchen to make a fresh cafetière and while I wait one of Mrs Jeffers’ cats, the tabby, stalks across the garden. I bang on the glass. It treats me to a haughty glance before continuing on its way. It reminds me of Nick’s boss.

Cassie follows me. I don’t look at her, but I can feel her eyes on my profile. I pour water into the kettle, put it on the stand, then lean against the counter and drop my head.

‘Grace …’

‘I need to tell you something,’ I say.

She sighs and puts her hand on my shoulder. ‘It’s OK. I already know about Nick walking out. Lottie told Hannah.’

I turn and stare at her, aghast, the slow heat of mortification spreading from my neck to my cheeks. ‘You knew? You let me carry on with that ridiculous performance … How could you do that?’

Her face contorts in a grimace of apology. ‘Hannah only told me this morning. I didn’t want to embarrass you in front of the others.’

I put my head in my hands. ‘So who’s Hannah told?’

If they all sat there, inwardly smirking, while I babbled on about my invalid boyfriend, I don’t think I’ll be able to face any of them again.

‘Don’t worry, no one else yet – Lottie swore her to secrecy. But it’s only a matter of time. The sooner you talk to Mrs Shaw the better. I’m sure she’ll see you today if you call her.’

I rock back my head with a groan. ‘I’ll go in early this afternoon. Don’t worry about picking up Lottie today. I’ll be there.’

‘There’s something else.’

‘What?’

‘It might be nothing.’

‘Cassie,’ I say sharply, and she flinches.

‘OK, but don’t bite my head off. I wasn’t sure I should say anything. But Evan saw Nick last Thursday evening, talking to a woman.’

I shrug. ‘Nick’s always bumping into acquaintances.’

‘Yes, I know, but Evan described it as an intense conversation. He only saw her from the back and from a distance, so he has no idea who it was. Apparently, she touched him, and he jerked away like he’d been burnt.’

The shock hits me like a wall, but I hold it together, trying not to avoid my friend’s gaze.

‘How odd. Actually, he did say he bumped into someone. A woman he knew from uni.’ I blurt out the lie, smiling brightly, but hot with annoyance and shame. ‘Maybe it was an old flame, you know, for him to have reacted like that. Did Evan say anything else about her? The colour of her hair? Her height? Her body language? What was intense about it?’

‘I didn’t mean to imply anything. Really, Grace. I’m sure Nick isn’t, well, you know.’

‘I don’t know, actually,’ I say.