This time she fails to hide her disappointment. She’s genuinely looking forward to seeing him, to being in this bed with him. The two of them here together, in his flat, is exactly what she needs right now. It’s a new stage in their relationship, the first time she’s been in London with him, and she can’t wait to celebrate that. She’s moved on from her old life, the village, Jake, and she’s going to put her fears behind her – no more stressing about the dead man on the beach, about Cara, about Rob’s double.

‘What are your plans after seeing Dr Varma?’ he asks.

‘I thought I might pop out to visit a gallery,’ she says. ‘It’s been a while.’

‘Nice.’

‘Then come back, run a deep bath, light a few candles. Get myself ready.’ She pauses. ‘I can’t wait to see you.’

‘Me too.’ He hesitates before continuing, his voice less confident. ‘I bought you a few clothes. They’re in the wardrobe. See you later – I’ve got to go.’

He hangs up.

She lies there for a few seconds, smiling to herself, and then slips off the bed, pulling open the cupboard door like an excited child on Christmas Day. It’s full of new clothes, all her size and just her look. Bohemian summer dresses from Ghost, Rubina slides from Paul Smith, linen kaftan-neck tops from Toast. There’s some nightwear too – thin cotton pyjamas from the White Company. Rob knows her so well. She should ring him back to thank him, but he sounded busy.

After going through all the clothes and setting out each item on the bed, she lies down beside them, holding the photo frame, and starts to cry. Happy tears but also sad ones. Jake bought her White Company pyjamas in their last days together, but she gave them back, told him to get a refund and spend the money on fixing the boat’s leaking windows. They were broke, but it was still unkind of her. He knew she loved the pyjamas, couldn’t understand her reaction. She gets the orange dress out of her bag and hangs it in the wardrobe.

Something catches her eye as she places the frame back on the bedside table. Another photo is hidden behind the first, one corner just visible. Rob with a different woman? Does he change the photos depending on who’s staying in his flat? She tells herself to relax as she slides the photo up. It’s of Rob when he was much younger, on an exotic-looking beach. Could it be Thailand? There are palm trees, small islands on the horizon. He isn’t smiling at the camera.