‘Julian … good to see you. Can I get you another?’ Andrew’s display of bonhomie is typical of him.

‘Thank you. Yes. Scotch.’ Julian knocks back what’s left in his glass before passing it to Andrew. ‘Good way to end such a ludicrous month, don’t you think?’

‘You mean dry January?’ I doubt Julian and Della stuck to it in Goa. ‘I can’t say I take much notice of it.’

‘You? The good doctor’s wife?’ Clearly finding himself funny, he winks at me.

‘Oh, I think you’ll find Andrew isn’t a shining example, either.’ It certainly doesn’t stop him driving, but Julian’s probably the same.

‘That’ll be our little secret!’ Seeing the gleam in Julian’s eye, bile rises in my throat. Then I see Andrew coming back with our drinks.

‘Here you are, darling.’ The endearment – for Julian’s benefit only – makes me cringe.

Taking my glass, I make my excuses and leave them together, drifting in the direction of Della, who’s the only person I’m remotely interested in talking to. Waiting while she extricates herself from Christian’s lengthy and no doubt mind-numbing monologue, I glance around the pub.

Most of the village are here. On the other side of the bar, James and Stephanie Hampton are talking to a couple of other villagers. As I catch Stephanie’s eye, a brief smile flickers across her face. It occurs to me to bring up my concerns about Hollie, but the thought is pushed to the back of my mind as Della joins me.

‘Bloody circus, isn’t it?’ She kisses me on both cheeks. ‘I swear Christian’s the most boring man on the planet. I honestly don’t know why we put ourselves through this.’

‘So that we can gloat over our successes and crow over each other’s failures. You look great, Della.’ The Calders are often away somewhere exotic and Della’s skin is freshly sun-kissed, her hair lightened. It reminds me that my own hair needs highlighting and I glance at Stephanie again, seeing she’s still deep in conversation.

‘I ought to have a tan after two weeks in Goa! Sadly, it won’t last around here in this god-awful weather. Luckily we’re off to Barbados for a fortnight soon. Are you going anywhere in the next little while?’

‘Andrew mentioned going away, but we don’t have firm plans yet.’ My words are expressionless. There’s no way I can face a holiday with Andrew, but I won’t tell him until I have to, knowing it’ll cause another fight I don’t have the energy for.

She frowns at me. ‘Are you all right?’