My eyes widened. ‘You haven’t.’

‘I have.’

‘When?’ I exclaimed.

‘I texted Nicky earlier in the week and she sent me…’ He paused, taking his phone from his jacket pocket and tapping the screen, ‘Melissa’s details.’ He turned the phone towards me, displaying a photograph of a fine-featured redhead, with glowing, freckled skin: just his type.

‘Wow,’ I said. ‘Tell me more.’

‘She’s a radiologist and also an exhibiting sculptor in her spare time. She enjoys playing the cello, parapenting and kick-boxing.’

I wrinkled my nose. ‘Sounds a bit ordinary.’

‘Quite. And what she’ll see in me, I’m not sure.’

‘You’re loaded,’ I pointed out.

‘True, true,’ he said acceptingly.

‘So have you arranged a date yet?’

He extended a hand and hauled me to my feet. ‘Let’s talk about it later, or we’ll be late. Oh and you look very lovely in your purple boots and fetching floral blouse, by the way.’

‘Why, thank you,’ I smiled. ‘I was wondering when it was my turn for a compliment.’

‘I know you were,’ he said, opening the front door and waving me through. ‘And now that all boxes have been ticked, let’s go.’

The bar area immediately inside the entrance to the pub was already crowded when we arrived, with people standing in small groups chatting and about half a dozen or so waiting to be served by one of three bar staff.

‘Can you see Joe or Florence?’ I asked, standing on tiptoe in an attempt to view the whole room.

Giles pivoted and then shook his head. ‘Can’t see anyone I recognise, although I suppose they may already be in there.’

I followed the nod of his head and, through open double doors, saw a second area, less densely packed than the bar but busy nevertheless. Along the far wall I could see the tops of four microphone stands and, behind those, a drum kit on a raised platform.

‘Ooh,’ I said, nudging him. ‘Exciting. Hey and you know what? Bill’s band must be OK for all these people to have bought tickets. I thought it might be just the four of us.’

‘Yes, I must say I’m rather surprised about that too. Shall we attempt to buy some drinks and then go through?’

‘I’ll get the first round,’ I said, squeezing past him and heading for the bar.

Giles followed and it wasn’t long before my order was being taken.

‘We didn’t know the band was quite so popular,’ I said to the barmaid, as she handed me half a cider and began to pull a pint for Giles.

She flicked a blonde plait over her shoulder and smiled. ‘Well, we’re lucky that it’s always quite busy on a Saturday night,’ she said. ‘But yes, the live music nights do pull in a few more punters. I’ve never heard this lot before, have you?’