‘You sure?’

‘For goodness’ sake, it’s just somewhere to sleep. You might take up a certain amount of space, but luckily I’m quite petite. Other than that, I’m pretty sure I can resist you.’

In the candlelight, I could see Jack give me a look I couldn’t decipher. ‘I’m pretty sure you can too. You always did, apart from that one moment at the fête.’

‘Yes, well, that was more to do with the amount of alcohol I’d ingested, rather than a sudden realisation I couldn’t live without you. Sorry about that.’

‘I’m sure I’ll get over it eventually.’

‘I’m sure you will. Right, Clive. Come on, lie down. You’ve got what you wanted. Everyone’s here and we need some sleep. We don’t get to lie about all day like you do.’ He did as I asked and settled himself tidily into the bed, dragging Hot Dog closer with a paw.

‘Good boy,’ I said, ruffling his head. ‘Now you go back to sleep, OK? You’re safe now and we’re here, so there’s nothing to worry about.’ Clive nuzzled my hand in response and then plopped his head down.

‘For someone who’s never had, and doesn’t want, a dog, you’re doing a decent impression of being very good at it.’

‘Don’t start,’ I said, blowing out one candle and placing the other on the side table next to me before pulling back the quilt. For a second, I hesitated.

‘It’s just a bed.’ His deep voice repeated my own words.

‘You’re such a smart-arse,’ I replied. He, and I, were right. It was. And if it made Clive feel more comfortable, then I could make do.

Jack let out a small, deep chuckle before turning on his side away from me. I got in and did the same so that we were back to back with a decent sized gap between us. I debated momentarily about stuffing one of the decorative cushions from the sofa between us but that seemed like overkill.

‘You’d better not snore.’

‘I was just thinking the same,’ he fired back, although I could hear the smile in the dark.

I now regretted not having the extra cushion to hand so that I could have bopped him with it.

The dawn broke in epic golden beauty, streaked with red and purple, vibrant and breathtaking, as though last night’s storm had washed the sky clean, allowing its colours to be revealed in their full glory. With as little movement as possible, in order not to disturb a still sleeping Jack and Clive, I extricated myself from the bed. Jack appeared not to have moved from the position he’d settled into before I’d blown out the candle a few hours previously, and thankfully hadn’t snored.

I moved to the glass doors and took a moment to bask in the glory of the nature that met my eyes. Man could create beautiful things, but nature always had the upper hand.