He placed a hand on either arm of his chair and heaved himself to his feet. ‘That being the case and as I have absolutely nothing of romantic interest to convey – no hidden lovers, no illicit affairs, no workplace shenanigans of any description, in fact – I shall go and return my mug to the kitchen and treat myself to a consolatory biscuit whilst I am there,’ he said, retrieving his mug from the table. ‘In the meantime, why don’t you select something the opposite of erudite for us to watch on television.’ He rolled his eyes at me and headed from the room.

I smiled and picked up the remote. ‘Well, if you insist,’ I called after him. ‘I suppose I can always save my book for the bus.’

Chapter 23

When the doorbell rang at one forty-five the next day, fifteen minutes earlier than Jason’s agreed arrival time, I was grateful that Giles had already headed out on a walk with Anthony. I knew both he and Jason well enough to be confident that they would have been civil to each other, but I also knew that, beneath the surface, they would have found an encounter difficult, especially with me in the room, and I wouldn’t have wished that on either of them.

However, after taking several deep breaths and arranging my features into an expression of polite welcome, I was disappointed to find the effort had gone to waste, as I opened the door not to Jason, but to Bodhrán Bill.

‘Afternoon,’ he said, smiling broadly, his aviator specs glinting in the sunlight. He was, I noticed, wearing the same black shirt and jeans he had worn to June’s party. An aged black leather jacket was the only add-on.

‘Oh, hello,’ I smiled.

He nodded but said nothing more.

‘Is there something I can help you with?’ I asked. ‘Are you after Giles? Because I’m afraid he’s out with Anthony.’

‘No, no, it’s you I’m here to see. I thought I must have missed you when you called round.’

I frowned, feeling totally lost. ‘But I didn’t call round.’

‘Just as well that I’m here then,’ he said. ‘To save you the trouble.’

‘The trouble of what?’

‘Of coming round.’

I maintained a smile, although I suspected it was starting to look a little strained. ‘Sorry, Bill. Why would I be coming round?’

‘Well,’ he laughed, ‘you haven’t paid me for the tickets yet.’

‘Oh, the tickets, yes,’ I said awkwardly, turning to look at the four blue oblong pieces of card lying face down on the small vestibule cupboard – exactly where I had placed them after discovering them on the doormat a week earlier.

‘The thing is,’ I said, picking them up, ‘do you remember that when you invited me along to the gig, I said I needed to know the date because I wasn’t sure that I’d be free to come?’