She shook her head, curls springing from their combs. “We’ve quarreled before, and he’ll go to ground for a day or so; but he’s never done this. We’ve been seeing each other for eight or nine months now. I’d say it’s out of character. But I seem not to know him. Perhaps he realizes I’m in turmoil this time, and he’s taken off.”

Alex looked at her pensively, unsure of her true feelings for Calvin. “Listen, I’m badly parked and late for work; but I’m worried about you. If you need me to stay, I’ll explain I have an emergency. Even I can make house calls occasionally.”

She met his eyes—clear green, unlike the hazel of his brother’s—and couldn’t help smiling. They had an inexhaustible strength that she’d called on more than once.

“Alex, I’ll survive. You get to the hospital. I’ll phone if I hear. But thanks for appearing. I needed you.”

“We’ll speak later. I’m at Imperial tonight, and seeing Lucy for supper after; but call if you need me. Drink some water. Alcohol’s dehydrating and a terrible depressant, and I’m not sure what the wine chased down…?” He suspected her of popping or snorting something—was looking surreptitiously for evidence on the coffee table—but she avoided the invitation to level with him, and he avoided the lecture. “Cook something for breakfast, then go to bed. You forgot to do that last night.” He gave her a hug and started to go, then turned back. “We’ll take you for dinner tomorrow night. Are you free?”

“Of course—unless I hear from Calvin.”

“Either way. I’ll bring Lucy and we’ll go somewhere special. She’d love to see you, and I should talk to him. If you’ve not heard by then, we’ll reassess. I’ll ring before, but we’ll come around seven.”

He insisted. An hour after Will arrived on his doorstep after the breakup last May, Alex had visited Siân. She could be unstable on her own, and he had found her in black despair, although he never shared this knowledge with Will. Today she looked even worse than on that night. He had a lot to juggle, but he’d have to keep an eye on her. She was feeling duped, and seemed worryingly near the edge.