‘Well, not exactly. It’s the post I applied for and it’ll do as a stepping stone, but I want to work in a rural practice eventually. It’s a good start though, and I’m pretty chuffed. It’ll look good on my CV.’ He took a sip of his drink. ‘What about you? Have you got anything in the pipeline?’

‘Not yet. I’m working on it, though. I’ve been doing a few shifts behind the bar in my local, just to keep me ticking over while I build my résumé, then I can start applying for freelance work.’

‘If you fancy writing a piece on the misadventures of a novice vet, I’m your man.’

‘No offence, but I was thinking more along the lines of history and culture, rather than blood, guts and bodily fluids.’

‘Damn. And here’s me thinking this could be my golden opportunity for fame and fortune.’

‘I could try and weave you in somewhere, I suppose; have you pop up as the local vet visiting Lady What’s-her-name in her country pile to tend to her ailing corgi …’

‘Nah. Never been that keen on corgis. One bit me on the ankle once. Vicious little bugger.’

As the evening wore on, I learned more about Jack’s home life and family. He was close to his parents, although he didn’t have much to do with his older brother. He had been engaged once, to a girl he was at school with, but they had parted amicably by mutual agreement a short while after he started his degree.

‘We both realised we wanted different things from life,’ he explained. ‘We were too young, really, and grew apart. Lauren’s a lovely girl, but quite materialistic, and a bit of a neat freak. I don’t think she’d have coped with me working late and coming home smelling of disinfectant and cat pee. And she’s not really an animal person, either. Can’t cope with pet hair at all. She used to hate sitting in the living room at the farm, in case it messed up her designer clothes.’ He looked suddenly anxious. ‘I never thought to ask – do you like animals?’

I laughed. ‘I love animals. I never had a pet of my own and always wanted to take the class gerbils home at the end of term, but my mum would never allow them in the house. I’d really like a cat or a dog, but I’ll have to wait until I’ve got my own place. Reggie’s allergic.’

‘Ah. Reggie.’ He gave me a knowing look.

‘What about her?’

‘I did remember her, actually. She’s getting a bit of a name for herself, I believe.’

I felt deflated. Another closet fan. ‘What, with her modelling, you mean?’