‘Good then,’ he says, checking his watch and standing to show her out. He feels recklessly exuberant now, almost grateful. Out of the woods, though perhaps not yet the forest. He’ll have to continue to keep an eye. She’s clever this one, and unlike most nineteen year olds, methodical. Patiently exacting. ‘You know what?’ Her head snaps up at the question. ‘You already have my work mobile. I’m going to give you my new personal mobile number. Just in case you need to speak to me. About anything. Day or night.’ He watches a delicate, girlish smile appear on her face. ‘How’s that?’

Chapter 26

Cullen

Cullen is just finishing Veronica’s dinner of langoustines when the doorbell rings.

‘Oh blow,’ Veronica says. ‘I was hoping that we could spend the rest of the evening getting frisky. Whoever it is, can’t you get rid of them?’

‘I’ll do my best,’ Cullen says, praying not to find the goon at the door wanting money. He’d managed to stave him off with his last few hundred but it was only a matter of time before he’d be back again. At least now, finally, he has a plan.

He moves into the hallway and sees a slender shadow through the etched glass. A woman? He checks his watch. Late.

His heart falls at the sight of the Vice Chancellor, Madeleine Ince.

‘Chris, I’m sorry it’s so late, I’ve just come from some awful fundraiser dinner. Can I have a word or two?’

‘Of course. Please come in,’ he says, graciously, waving her into the living room. A remarkably attractive woman, he thinks, even now. Maddy had loved him more than he’d loved her all those years ago when they were involved, before either of them ever came to Avon. But he sometimes wonders what it would have been like to have married Maddy rather than Veronica.

‘I’ll just tell Veronica you’re here,’ he says. ‘Can I get you a coffee? Glass of wine?’

‘A whisky if you have any.’

‘Of course,’ he says. Another point in Maddy’s favour. Veronica only ever drinks wine.

Leaving her sitting on the sofa, he hurries back into the kitchen.

Veronica is not happy about the visitor. ‘Oh God, can’t you tell her you’ll see her in the morning?’

‘No. She’s my boss in case you’d forgotten.’ He’s never told Veronica that he and Madeleine had a thing together. She wouldn’t like it, not through any sense of jealousy or possessiveness, but for the simple fact that Maddy is now his boss and Veronica is a traditionalist, in this respect as in many others.

They walk back down the hallway together, Cullen carrying a little tray on which is balanced a small ice bucket and a jug of water.

‘Madeleine, what a pleasure,’ Veronica says, clasping her hands around the Vice Chancellor’s.