‘Once you’re off the treadmill, it’s not that hard to adjust,’ he assured me. ‘It’s other people viewing from the outside who find it harder to accept.’

I can imagine that too.

We’ve walked for miles again. My knees aren’t quite sure what’s hit them. Sanjeev led us on a steep descent from the camp through chestnut forests, which was really tough going as the sun was hot and high and the forests steamed from last night’s rain, pushing the humidity up to punishing levels. The group has fallen into a comfortable pace that suits us all. We tramp across a dozen or more rickety suspension bridges swinging high above the raging waters of the Sardi Khola and I take each one with a more confident air, even though we’re dodging herds of goats and old women carrying baskets stacked high with maize like mobile haystacks—and none of them has any intention of stopping for anyone. I feel I have a touch of the Indiana Jones about me.

We follow the course of the river through ever-changing scenery. The journey here is flatter, cutting across terraced paddy fields and past the natural hives of wild bees the size of satellite dishes that cling to the side of rock overhangs, rippling with activity.

‘We’ve got a rest day tomorrow,’ Dean informs me. ‘We can slip off alone and go to my village for a while.’

I can think of nothing better than the prospect of slipping off alone. ‘I’d like that.’

‘Me too,’ he says.

There’s an awful lot of longing in my lover’s dark eyes and I feel a rush of desire. My libido has come back with a vengeance and I hadn’t realised that it had been missing. Jake and I might have had a regular and active sex life—but it was hardly frenzied or fun. And this might sound blunt, but basically I can’t wait to get at it. At last, I’ve found an infinitely better therapy than shoe shopping!

‘I have a treat in store for us tonight too,’ he whispers conspiratorially. And now I really can’t wait.

Chapter forty-six

Chapter forty-six

We camp by the river again and I sit on a rock by the rushing waters, jotting in my diary. I want to remember every moment of this trip and, so far, it’s been beyond my expectations. And far from feeling any animosity towards Jake and Neve, there’s something inside of me that wants to thank them for creating the circumstances that led to me coming here. I can hardly believe I’m saying that myself. I hope that things are working out for them and that Jake is happy. But not too happy, of course.