‘Nothing, Mum. Look, I should probably get going,’ Nat said, glancing at her watch, ‘but I’ll try and see you tonight if I can get away in time, okay?’

‘Okay, darling, and thank you for my candle. It’s beautiful.’ She liked having something so fancy. Natalie was a good girl.

‘You know, Mum,’ her daughter said, pushing the chair back under the table and giving Chutney a final pat, ‘Daniel’s—’

The ringing of the front doorbell cut her off.

‘Daniel is what?’ Bess asked, folding her arms across her chest subconsciously to deflect the blows.

‘Nothing. It doesn’t matter. I’d better go.’ Nat went to open the front door and smiled at the deliveryman standing there with a large cardboard box.

‘Bye, Mum. Hopefully see you later!’ Natalie waved, as she tripped down the driveway and into her shiny little Mini.

‘Mrs Talbot?’

‘Yes?’

He handed her the box and tapped into his little hand-held computer. ‘First name?’

‘Bess.’

‘Cheers!’ He too ran back down the driveway to his waiting van.

Bess caught sight of Mr Maxwell, keys in hand and about to jump into his gleaming Audi. He looked smart in his navy suit and burgundy tie against a white shirt, while she, in contrast, was still in Natalie’s old dressing gown, her hair wet on her shoulders and the whiff of cigarette smoke on her breath. The two stared at each other for a second or two until she coughed, looked up and down the cul de sac and was about to close the front door when he suddenly set off down his driveway and made his way swiftly towards her. She felt a flicker of panic. Don’t be ridiculous! she reminded herself. It wasn’t as if anyone knew of their exchange at the Christmas drinks party, and no one other than she knew of her reaction to it.

‘Good morning, Bess,’ he said, raising his hand in a wave.

‘Morning.’ She held the neck of the dressing gown firmly together as her heart beat a little faster.

‘What a lovely day!’ he said, looking up at the sky.

She nodded. He lowered his gaze then, as if taking her in piece by piece. A flush of embarrassment spread across her face and chest.

‘It’s my birthday,’ she said, lifting the box of flowers.

‘Many happy returns.’ Again that small hint of a sexy smile that was no more than a twitch to his lips.

Her heart fluttered and her cheeks flamed all the more. She wished she were wearing the fancy wrap dress he had so admired. For the love of God, pull yourself together, Bess!

‘I hope you’re doing something scrumptious later,’ he said.

‘Erm . . .’ She pictured herself earlier, scrubbing Mario’s pee from the back of the toilet. ‘I don’t know about scrumptious!’ she giggled.

‘I have the good fortune to not be in the office today, at least not all day.’