‘Late at night? From someone who gave every impression of being drunk?’

‘I wasn’t drunk.’

‘It was reported that you smelled of alcohol.’

‘Godssakes, Maddy, a man can have a glass of wine with his supper, can’t he?’

Ignoring him, Madeleine goes on, ‘Because, if alcohol is the culprit, there’s help out there. You’d have to step down from your role as Dean and take a sabbatical, but we’ll do everything we can to support you. I doubt I could swing full pay, though.’

‘We?’ he says.

‘The University. The Board of Governors. You know how highly they think of you and I have always, always supported you…’ she tails off.

He feels himself stiffen. ‘I suppose the Board of Governors knows how lucky they are to have me. Second most cited pure mathematics PhD of 2003. They remember that when it suits them.’

‘Really, Chris, there’s no need for this. You’re talking to me, Maddy, not the Vice Chancellor now.’

‘Don’t bring ancient history into this, it’s unbecoming. In any case, I haven’t got a drinking problem so this discussion isn’t going anywhere.’

Madeleine stands. ‘Perhaps we should continue this tomorrow after all.’

He feels himself going to the door, blocking her way. ‘Oh no you don’t. You came here to say something, so say it! Spit it out! I’m losing it, is that it? I’m a mess. My behaviour is inappropriate. God help any of us if we dare to be inappropriate.’

‘I think it’s best if I go now, Chris.’

‘Oh no, no, no. Not before you’ve got it all off your chest. Which, by the way, I always considered very disappointing. My friends used to call you Maddy Flatty.’ His voice comes back to him as a series of sludgy, strangulated sounds, like a recording played at the wrong speed. He thinks, what the hell am I doing?

Madeleine is ice cold. ‘Now you’re just embarrassing yourself.’

Yes, he thinks, I am in the process of making what will possibly become the second biggest mistake of my life. Pull yourself together, Cullen. Maddy is your ally. He steels himself and in a single breath, says, ‘Oh God, that was an unforgivably stupid thing to say, absolutely idiotic. I apologise unreservedly.’

‘Hmm.’ Madeleine eyes him askance. ‘Very well then,’ she says eventually, sitting back down.

He reaches for her hands but stops himself mid-air. He knows her well enough to understand that any attempt at coming closer will be rebuffed. There will be some kind of retaliation for his earlier remark. He lowers his voice to a whisper. ‘Between you and me Veronica is driving me nuts with this pregnancy obsession.’