‘Of course you are. Although I’m not sure I can forgive you the cheesy chat-up line from earlier.’

‘No, I agree,’ he said. ‘That was unforgivable. I don’t blame you on that front. Nerves get the better of me sometimes.’

‘I think you’re probably best just being yourself.’

‘I’ll remember that.’

‘So, I’m guessing by the fact that you were trying out chat-up lines on Lily that there’s no special someone in your life at the moment?’ said Jack. ‘What about that girl you messaged me about?’

‘Turns out she wasn’t the love of my life after all.’

‘You did declare that after only two days of knowing her.’

‘I’m passionate. What can I say?’

‘That’s one word for it.’

Edward gave his brother a side-eye glance and took a sip of champagne. ‘I take it you’ve had the pleasure of meeting my parents?’

‘Oh yes.’

‘Mother pointed out I didn’t have to bring my landlady as my date and that she had plenty more suitable women up her sleeve,’ said Jack.

Edward looked mortified and I grinned, giving a small headshake.

‘I told you she won’t give up. She went positively purple with apoplexy when you wrote and told her you were married. Seriously, all the staff took cover – as did I! Of course, once the news of the divorce came through, she was going around telling everybody that she’d known it wouldn’t last and that it was only a matter of time before you saw sense.’

Jack gave a long, deep sigh and leaned towards the bar, conversing with the barman as he got another drink.

‘Do you get this pressure too?’ I asked.

‘Me? No, not really. I’m only the second son, so I don’t really count, unless he gets bumped off, and then there will be a rush to get me up the aisle as fast as possible.’ He nodded his head towards where Jack was laughing with the barman over something, distracted from our conversation.

‘How do you feel about that?’

‘Which bit?’

‘Either. Both.’

‘I don’t really think about it. I used to be quite jealous of Jack with all the luck he had with women flinging themselves at him, but I also felt a bit sorry for him. His life was never quite his own. You shouldn’t have to flee to the other side of the world to get away from your own parents. I don’t think he really wanted to go, but it was always meet lady this, or I’ve arranged for you to have dinner with lady that. I can see that he felt he had no other choice.’

‘You missed him, didn’t you?’

‘Dreadfully. But, for God’s sake, don’t tell him. His ego is big enough as it is.’

‘Don’t tell him this, either, but I think his ego has shrunk a bit in his time away.’

‘What are you two gossiping about?’

‘Believe me, nothing very interesting,’ Edward quipped, flashing a conspiratorial look at me. ‘How’s the business going?’