Ignoring his amusement, she said, ‘Look, I think we both need to acknowledge this was a crazy idea. We should never have gone ahead with it. I’ll pack my things tomorrow morning and ask Arthur if he’ll help me sort out a passage back to England.’ She swallowed. ‘I’m sure you’ll be as relieved as I to see me go but I expect you to pay the travel expenses. It’s the least you can do.’ She could feel herself shaking with relief – she’d managed to stand up for herself.

He made a little snorting noise. ‘I really have screwed up, haven’t I? Arthur told me I had. He told me I didn’t deserve you. He seems to have a bit of a crush on you himself. Singing your praises he was.’

Evie didn’t know what to say. She needed to keep on track and get things sorted once and for all. ‘We’re both intelligent enough to acknowledge that this whole thing was a foolish gamble. It’s a pity we didn’t realise that this morning. But we can arrange for an annulment once I’m back in England.’ She swallowed again, nervous, but determined. ‘I’ll see my solicitor as soon as I reach London. I will of course expect you to pay any costs involved.’

‘No.’

‘You won’t pay the costs? It’s the least you should do after what I’ve gone through.’

‘No. I don’t want to annul the marriage. I don’t want you to leave. I’m sorry we got off to a bad start but that’s not a reason to give up before we’ve even given it a go.’

‘You must have drunk more than I thought. You’re clearly still intoxicated.’

‘I’m sober as a judge.’ He held a hand out in front of her. ‘Look. Steady as a rock.’

‘I can’t imagine how that’s possible. You must be immune to alcohol.’

‘It probably has something to do with the fact that I’ve been for a swim in the sea to sober up.’

‘What?’

‘Arthur insisted. He poured black coffee down me then drove to the beach and we went swimming. Always the best way to clear your head.’

Evie found herself imagining him running down the beach in the moonlight, plunging naked into the sea, and tried to force the image from her mind. She mustn’t allow herself to weaken.

‘Will you give me another chance, Evelyn? We got off on the wrong foot but maybe we can make it work. Surely it’s worth a try?’

Stunned by his change in behaviour, she stared at him in the half-light. His hair was still damp. She wanted to stretch a hand out and touch him but she was paralysed, uncertain, wrong-footed, dismayed. Eventually she said, ‘I don’t trust you. I don’t trust you at all. Mrs Shipley-Thomas was right. You are a rude, ill-mannered man with no courtesy or consideration.’

‘Who on earth is Mrs Shipley-Thomas?’

’Never mind. You have treated me in an appalling way and should be thoroughly ashamed of yourself. I too am ashamed for letting you put me in this situation.’ She filled her lungs and expelled the air quickly. ‘This is quite literally the most horrible thing that’s happened to me since my father died. Go away and let me go to sleep.’