Douglas drew her downwards, and she found herself lying on the bare concrete floor as they moved in unprecedented harmony. She entwined her fingers with his. Instinctively, she wrapped her legs around his back, feeling the rough linen of his shorts – he was still full clothed while she was completely naked. All Evie knew was that she didn’t want him to stop. She drew him closer, deeper, wanting it to go on for ever, to be doing what they were doing, to feel the sensation she was feeling, the ripples of pleasure running through her body. Looking up she sought his eyes.

Douglas drew back his head and looked down at her. ‘Give me a son, Evie. I want a son.’ With a cry he was done and rolled off her onto the floor. They lay side-by-side panting while Evie tried to gather her thoughts.

It was not what she’d hoped to hear. What happened next was not what she’d hoped would happen either. Douglas got up, adjusted the front of his shorts, ran his hand through his hair and moved to the doorway. ‘You’d better get dressed. I’ll wait in the car.’

Stunned, Evie lay on the concrete floor for several moments, staring at the closed door of the hut. She gathered up her clothes and put them on, trying to suppress the tears that were already rising. Whether they were tears of sorrow or anger she was unsure – probably a mixture of both. She bit her lip. Don’t let him see you cry, Evie. Don’t give him the satisfaction of knowing he’s hurt you. She brushed the cobwebs off her dress and opened the door.

He started the engine as soon as she emerged from the hut. She climbed in beside him, trying to read his face, but he was staring straight ahead. Speaking in his usual clipped tone, he said, ‘I apologise. That was wrong of me.’

Her heart lightened a little, waiting for him to explain why he’d left her lying on the floor in disarray.

‘I don’t know what came over me. I think it was Susan Hyde-Underwood so evidently pregnant. Seeing Reggie preening with pride that’s he’s soon to be a father. Hearing him say they’re both certain it’s going to be a boy. I kept thinking that could be you. My son inside you. I just had to act. It was a kind of madness. I’m sorry.’

‘I liked it.’ Her voice was barely a whisper. ‘I liked what you did. I liked the way it was so sudden and unplanned.’ She gave a little sob, her efforts at control failing her. ‘For a moment I thought you might actually care for me.’ She swallowed, fighting back the tears and realised she was shaking. ‘But I was wrong about that, wasn’t I? You weren’t excited by me. You were excited by the thought of having a son. How do you imagine that makes me feel?’ As she said the words, she wanted to retract them, wishing she hadn’t told him how much he’d hurt her.