Georgia glares at Tess. She is not finished. ‘You are not so special, I have to tell you. Not so special that you are going to avoid the rules which have been in place here since 1931.’

‘That’s me told, I suppose.’ Tess stands up and reaches for the little grocery purse, which always has cash inside. ‘Pomegranates and pudding.’

As suddenly as Georgia’s frustration had arrived, it vanishes. ‘I don’t think you’ll be able to find a Lebanese wine, but it’s called Chateau Musar if you happen to see it. Just get a bottle of something nice. In fact, get two.’

Tess tucks the purse into her pocket. ‘I’ll take Baxter, he likes going to the shops.’

Georgia raises her hand like someone stopping traffic. ‘Actually, I’ve been hearing that dogs have gone missing recently when they are tied up outside shops.’

‘Really?’

‘Yes, it was on Facebook.’ Georgia looks down at Baxter. ‘And we don’t want that to happen to you, do we? Oh no we don’t, so I think you should stay here with me.’

‘That’s just so you can fuss over him when I’m away. He’s spoiled rotten when he’s with you.’

Georgia smiles. ‘I’m expecting a parcel today and he will protect me from the delivery driver.’

‘As if you need any protection . . .’

‘Be off with you. I have to weed the herb patch and try to stop the mint spreading even more energetically than it usually does. He can keep me company.’

*

They cook together, side by side. The routine has fallen into place quite naturally. Tess opens jars and chops vegetables, and peels garlic. Tess is the percussionist, Georgia the conductor of the orchestra.

‘Eton mess?’

Tess nods.

‘That was my thought. I went to Stan’s allotment for the fruit. It’s easy to make and I haven’t met a person who doesn’t like it, so it seems like a safe option.’ Georgia walks over to the larder. ‘You know, I think there are some bottled redcurrants in here. I found a bush growing wild in the park two summers ago and I took advantage. Free food. It would have been terrible to let the birds get away with them all.’

Tess scoops the seeds out of a particularly large butternut squash. ‘I told Fiona about the weedkiller, a while ago.’

Georgia puts the jar of redcurrants on the worktop. ‘Fiona is so utterly discreet; I promise you, she never said a word.’

‘Good practice for a lawyer, I guess.’

‘The extra person is a friend of hers, someone she thinks might be able to advise. I expect they may have some questions for you, but you aren’t in trouble.’

‘I don’t want to be made to feel like someone who is not in control. I can assure you I was very much in control of that watering can.’