Giles sighed. ‘Edie, my main concern at this moment is for you. You find yourself in a difficult situation, which is not, as you seem to think, entirely of your own making. If what your colleague told you today is true, then Ruby is guilty of Iago-like duplicity and malice which you, as someone devoid of those characteristics, failed to anticipate. She is the guilty party here. You and Ronald are victims.’

‘Whatever Ruby may have kick-started, I perpetuated,’ I said miserably, not looking up. ‘I dragged you and Kerry into this. I’m just clinging to the hope that she thought I was completely off my face at June’s, and that she hasn’t started harbouring any doubts about Ronald – I mean Cameron.’

‘I’m certain she hasn’t,’ he said reassuringly. ‘She will undoubtedly have written you off as the kind of drunk who embarrasses herself at parties and whom it is always best to ignore.’

‘Thanks, Giles. Sort of.’

‘You’re most welcome. And now,’ he said, ‘let us hope, for Kerry’s sake, that Luke’s account pans out. You must keep me posted.’

‘I will,’ I replied. ‘And if it does, I won’t waste any time in sorting everything out, or at least trying to sort everything out. I’ll be happy for Kerry if Cameron is after all a nice guy.’

Giles yawned. ‘He has always looked and sounded like the perfect male companion to me: good listener; proficient plumber; stubbly, but not unkempt.’

‘Do you think he moved to Bristol to be closer to Kerry?’

‘I assume that to be the case.’

I stood up. ‘Well, the sooner I can confirm to her that he is the man of her dreams – and not the stuff of my nightmares – the better. I’m just going to take Anthony for a quick trot around the block.’ I bent down to scoop him up, lifting my chin as I did so, in an attempt to avoid any face-licking. ‘Then I’ll message Alison.’ I shuddered involuntarily at the thought of the conversations to come.

‘Well done,’ said Giles.

I looked down at him. ‘You know you still don’t look well. In fact, you look worse than when I first walked in.’

‘Really?’ he said, sounding puzzled. ‘How strange that your cheery tale of malicious falsehoods, ruined reputations and a tortured conscience should not prove just the pick-me-up I required.’ He frowned up at me for a moment and then laughed.

I tutted. ‘I know I’m ruining your life, Giles, but you’re saving mine and that’s what counts here.’

‘Delighted to be of service,’ he said, easing himself back under the covers and closing his eyes. ‘Delighted to be of service.’

Chapter 20