Rosie returned to the Anchor just before the Town Hall clock struck one in the morning. She unclipped the leash from Monty’s collar and wearily kicked off her high-heeled shoes before padding up the short flight of rickety stairs to her rooms, frowning at the darkness, certain that Ron would have been waiting for her. And yet there was no sign that he’d been here at all, which came as a bit of a shock.

Having closed the blackout curtains before she’d left, she switched on the light and hunted for a note – but there was nothing more than the hessian bag of the day’s takings on the dresser. She wondered if he was playing some sort of cruel game with her to get his own back. It was unlike him, but if he was, then she really didn’t have the time or patience to play along. She took off her coat and scarf, shook the damp from them and left them draped on the back of the armchair before going into the kitchen to make a pot of tea.

Monty hurried after her and began to push his empty bowl towards her with his nose.

‘You’ve already eaten very well this evening,’ she chided softly, reaching for his special biscuits. ‘But you’ve been a good boy all day, so I suppose you’ve earned an extra treat.’

Monty made quick work of the biscuits before noisily lapping at his water, and then sprawling on the couch for a snooze.

Rosie smiled wryly. She envied him, for there was a great deal to do before she could snatch an hour or two’s sleep and be prepared for what would surely prove to be yet another exhausting and emotional day.

She made the tea and went into her bedroom, still puzzling over Ron’s absence and lack of communication. She’d been so certain that he’d come into the pub tonight, for he’d promised to help out, knowing her usual two barmaids were off sick. If this was his idea of a game then it had backfired, for she’d expected better of him and was singularly unimpressed.

Taking her case from the top of the wardrobe, she began to pack everything she might need for her time away, and as she folded her best suit and silk blouse and hunted out her good patent leather shoes, she felt the weight of sadness settle in her heart for what might have been.

With her suitcase packed and ready at the bottom of the stairs, she finished the cup of tea, slipped on her sturdy shoes and thick coat, and had a last cigarette as she waited for Monty to stop messing about in the garden. He seemed agitated and wary, constantly darting towards the outside lav and then jumping away with little yips and yaps.