As I’d said, he wasn’t my usual type either, but you could always acknowledge potential in a person, couldn’t you? He may be a bit of a monolith, but I was still willing to accept that his broader, more masculine build could – especially when coupled with nice eyes and an attractive personality – prove just as irresistible as a stringy Tom Hiddleston or Eddie Redmayne. Even that bit of stubble he always sported – his facial hair apparently being too much of a challenge for any cutting edge currently known to man – was actually rather nice, in a ruggedly unselfconscious kind of way. It drew attention to his mouth, which was also…

‘I’m not,’ he said.

I started slightly. ‘Not what?’

‘Not seeing anyone.’

‘Oh!’ I clapped a relieved hand to my chest, my mood instantly lifting. ‘That’s such lovely, lovely news, Cameron.’

‘For your friend, maybe.’

‘Seriously, you don’t know what a relief that is. I feel emotional all over again,’ I said, flapping a hand in front of my eyes.

‘Again, not quite so many happy tears flowing over here.’

‘Hang on,’ I said, a potential problem suddenly occurring to me. ‘You’re not attracted to a long-term friend and on the brink of telling them, are you?’

He screwed up his face. ‘What? No.’

‘Good. And none of your female friends are attracted to you?’

‘Well, if they are, they’re keeping it to themselves.’

‘Brilliant,’ I said, raising my glass in salute.

He stared at me, saying nothing.

‘Obviously,’ I said, returning my glass to the table, ‘I don’t mean it’s brilliant that no one fancies you. I just mean that you being single, and not fancying anyone, is very good news for my friend.’

‘You know, Edie, at risk of sounding entitled,’ he said, drinking his beer, ‘if you’re planning to set me up with someone, I’d really appreciate being given some choice in the matter.’

‘Oh, God, yes, of course,’ I said. ‘But I promise that I have absolutely no intention whatsoever of introducing you to any of my female friends and, if I ever did, I would be very clear with you about everything and, of course, ask your permission first.’

‘So why all the questions?’ He put down his beer, leaned back in his chair and folded his arms.

I hesitated for a moment. But as we had already established that he and Kerry were not an item, I couldn’t see a reason not to be straight with him. I believed him to be discreet enough and caring enough not to make things awkward for Giles, and certainly not for Kerry.