Rupert hangs up, his mood not improved. It’s OK, he thinks, a short time later as he walks down the driveway to the house, Emily has her black Am Ex. They can use that to go out for dinner later, and then he’ll speak to her about booking that romantic getaway, and things can go back to how they were.

As he lets himself in, the first thing he notices is that the house is silent. Emily must be out shopping. Hopefully that will have taken her mind off rebuilding the orangery – at least she’s abandoned all talk of putting in a pool. As he pushes open the door to his study, the second thing he notices are the plans to the orangery, laid out on his desk. Frowning, he steps forward, a ring of blue pen on the plan glowing like a beacon and his stomach drops away.

He closes his eyes, fighting a wave of nausea as everything about that night comes back to him, engulfing him and he presses his hands onto the desk, leaning into them in order to stay on his feet.

‘Rupert, darling, please let’s just tell everyone tonight.’ Caro is manic, her eyes glittering in the glow of the fairy lights as people mill around, drinks in hand, all there to admire the new orangery that has cost Rupert a fortune. An orangery that Caro wanted and neither of them needed. ‘It’s a double celebration – our beautiful home and a beautiful baby.’ She lays a hand on her stomach and Rupert grips her by the wrist, pulling her to one side.

‘No, Caro, we’re not telling anybody, not tonight.’ He fixes a smile on his face as Sadie walks past with a drink in her hand, aware that he is hissing the words. ‘I thought we agreed that we haven’t even made a decision yet about what we’re going to do?’

‘I’ve made my decision,’ Caro hisses back, before she pastes on a brilliant smile as Will brushes by them. ‘Will, darling, would you mind grabbing me a drink – just a soda water for now.’ She beams at him, but her eyes glitter with tears and Rupert feels the first flicker of fear. Caro in this state is wildly unpredictable. She turns back to him. ‘How dare you be so fucking selfish?’

Rupert glances around, convinced that all their guests know there is a row going on, has been since before the party even started. ‘Caro, all I’m saying is that we need to think things through properly before we make a final decision. It’s not fair for you to call me selfish.’ He leans in closer. ‘Don’t you think you’re being a little selfish?’