‘I know. But you’re not, so it’s not an issue. And before you say anything, we all know that that’s not just my opinion,’ I continued, my hands still on his shoulders. ‘It’s not like you’ve ever been stuck for a girlfriend, is it? And not a dud one amongst them. All very gorgeous.’

I smiled up at him, secure in the knowledge that there was not a word of a lie in my pep talk. He had dated some very attractive women over the years, albeit all of a very definite type.

‘They’re always English roses,’ my Aunty Isobel had sighed, during one of my last visits to her Cotswold home, before she passed away. ‘The women he’s drawn to are just so delicate, aren’t they? Wouldn’t-say-boo-to-a-goose types. I often wonder if he needs someone to challenge him, shake him up a bit, take him out of his comfort zone. What do you think, Edie?’

I hadn’t thought much at the time, being far more concerned with my aunt’s increasing frailty than with Giles’s love life, as she succumbed to the cancer which had stalked her for so long. But now, as I stood looking up at him, I gave some consideration to the subject. As far as I was aware, he hadn’t dated anyone – boo-to-a-goose types or otherwise – since moving to Bristol, and that did seem a bit odd.

He could, I supposed, be still hung up on Polly, his most recent girlfriend. They had split amicably, and remained good friends, when he had relocated from London. So it wasn’t impossible that she might be behind his apparent lack of interest in finding a new special someone.

‘How’s Polly?’ I asked.

Giles’s response was to close his eyes very slowly, as if in mild despair. ‘I’m not pining for Polly, Edie,’ he said patiently. ‘My mood is dampened only by my increasing resemblance to the man in the moon.’

Deciding not to pry further, I instead gave him a second shake. ‘Well, snap out of it, because we’re off out on the razz.’

He opened his eyes, smiling down first at me and then at Anthony. ‘I don’t think Kerry would mind if we took him along.’

Anthony looked up, as if sensing victory, before licking Giles’s face, as the latter crouched to scoop him up.

‘Oh God, Giles, that’s sooo disgusting,’ I said, making a retching noise and reaching into my bag on the end of the bannister. ‘Personal hygiene is just as important as personal appearance, you know.’ I took out a packet of wet wipes, removed one from the packet and rubbed his left cheek. ‘What will Kerry think when she kisses you hello?’