ALL SHE THOUGHT about was leaving for England. There was nowhere else to go. America, of course, but America was big and brash and she was neither. She was a sweet, dreamy innocent, so America would not suit her at all. At least that’s what Hugh said, and Hugh knew everything about her.

Professor Mackay had introduced them at the university staff club one Friday afternoon. Hugh, meet Jean. Jean, meet Hugh. What is everyone drinking? Hugh had bowed and kissed her hand and told her what a pleasure it was to meet her. She had spent the evening staring into his navy-blue eyes and then invited him back to her flat for dinner. In 1975 it was not unusual for men to sleep with girls half their age on the first meeting. In university circles, as far as she could tell, it was common.