‘It looks like it.’ I can’t stop the huge grin that spreads across my face. ‘He’s amazing, Mags, honestly, he’s kind, he’s funny… he treats me like I’m special, you know?’

‘I’m sure Harry did in the beginning too.’ Mags’s tone is sour.

‘What? What’s that supposed to mean?’ I tug the hair bobble from my ponytail and throw it onto the bedside table.

‘Nothing. Just… you’re rushing into things a bit, aren’t you? This was supposed to be a job, you said. A chance to “get yourself back on your feet”.’ She makes quote marks in the air with her fingers. ‘What if it all goes wrong? You’ll be back to square one.’

‘I thought you’d be pleased by that,’ I snap, grabbing my towel and heading for the door, before Mags steps in front of it.

‘Don’t be like that, Em!’ Her tone changes, and I am surprised to see tears in her eyes. ‘After everything that happened with Harry, I’m just concerned for you, that’s all. I wouldn’t be a very good friend, would I, if I didn’t worry when you didn’t come home?’

Not wanting an argument, I sigh, conscious that I am supposed to be meeting Rupert in just over an hour, when he says he’s going to introduce me to his brother. My stomach gives a flip at the idea of being introduced to the most important people in his life. ‘No, OK, I do understand that. I’ll call in future, if that will stop you worrying. And I am sorry – you know I’m not used to having people worry about me.’

‘It’s OK. Maybe we can do something together today?’ She taps her chin, thinking. ‘We could go to Coate Water, go for a walk round the lake?’

‘No, Mags, I’m sorry.’

‘No, you’re right. It’s still a little bit chilly out there, even if the sun is out. What about shopping? We could go to that vintage place you like on the High Street.’

‘I can’t, Mags,’ I feel a twinge of guilt, ‘I’m meeting Rupert. I only came home to get showered and changed. Let’s do something in the week – I’ll take you out for dinner after work.’ And if I’m honest, if I wasn’t meeting Rupert, I still don’t think I’d want to spend the day with her. Much as I do appreciate what Mags has done for me, I can’t get used to having someone fuss over me the way she does, and twice since I started working for Rupert I’ve woken up to find her at the foot of my bed, having sleepwalked there, her shadow making my heart stop in my chest every time.