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‘If those are your instructions, madam, I’ll draw up the necessary papers and have then within the next few days’

When the decree nisi was served, Gerald suggested they celebrate by taking a holiday Ruth agreed to the idea, just as long as they didn’t have to go anywhere near Italy

‘Let’s sail around the Greek islands,’ said Gerald ‘That way there will be less chance of bu into any of my pupils, not to mention their parents’ They flew to Athens the next day

When they sailed into the harbour at Skyros, Ruth said, ‘I’d never thought I would spendanniversary with another man’

Gerald took her in his aret Max,’ he said ‘He’s history’

‘Well, nearly,’ Ruth said ‘I was rather hoping that the divorce would have been absolute before we left Jersey’

‘Have you any idea what’s caused the hold-up?’ Gerald asked

‘Heaven knows,’ Ruth replied, ‘but whatever it is, Max will have his reasons’ She paused ‘You know, I never did get to see his office in Mayfair, or ues or friends It’s alination’

‘Or his,’ said Gerald, putting an arm around her waist ‘But don’t let’s waste anyabout Max Let’s think about Greeks, and bacchanalian orgies’

‘Is that what you teach those innocent little children in their formative years?’

‘No, it’s what they teach me,’ Gerald replied

For the next three weeks the two of the toothat too ht down By the end of their holiday Gerald was a little too red, and Ruth was dreading being reintroduced to her bathroom scales The holiday could not have been ood sailor, but because, as Ruth discovered, even during a storh

Once they were back on Jersey, Gerald drove Ruth to the house When she opened the front door she was greeted by a pile of letters She sighed They could all wait until tomorrow, she decided

Ruth spent a restless night tossing and turning After snatching a few hours’ sleep, she decided that she an to thu buff envelopea London postmark

She tore it open and extracted a docuht a sranted between the aforesaid parties: Max Donald Bennett and Ruth Ethel Bennett’