Poached salmon arrived, with warm new potatoes in chives, and a delicious tomato salad of all shapes and colors — from the greenhouse, we were told by our hostess. I ate in a trance, my tummy clenching with every mouthful. It was followed by a pear sorbet of such sophisticated taste and style it took a while for anyone to determine its flavor.

“That's it! Sweet William, from the south wall," cried Belinda happily, when Christina finally identified it.

Everything was from the kitchen garden, of course. And the salmon was farmed locally. It was all desperately ethical, and I felt grubby, full of London grime. I curled my ancient trainers under the table and wished I wasn't in short dungarees. I did manage to answer all the polite questions about my practice, though, ran through my commissions, and even tried to look thrilled when Christina told me she was sure their neighbors would adore to have their children painted, although she tactfully didn't go so far as to suggest her own, for which I was grateful. Because there was no way I was staring at Hugo's offspring for hours. Everyone persisted in taking an interest until I felt so like the poor relation everyone was being kind to I wanted to scream — Actually, I'm doing the Queen and Prince Philip next! And I'm getting a knighthood!

“Damehood," Celia corrected me later, as I seethed to her in the car, finally on our way to the cottage.

“Did you not feel their pity? Their charity?" I spat. "Or is it me?"

She hesitated. "Yes, it is you. I mean, I did feel it, a bit, but I think you're overdoing it. So what if they're being kind? I'm inclined to lap up kindness these days. Take a bit more, if necessary. I thought they were sweet, actually."

I gripped the steering wheel as we bounced down the track, my knuckles white. "It's different for you," I muttered eventually. "You don't have the baggage."

"Of course it's different. All I'm saying is, now that we're here — and I hate to say it but I did warn you — but now that we are here, be smart. Play along. Don't dig your heels in, because actually, this arrangement, this inclusiveness, will help you to move on. If you get used to it here, it'll be much more natural to carry on at home. I thought Tommy and his girlfriend were nice," she said quickly, changing the subject as my face turned to stone.

Carry on at home? I took my time to reply. “She was," I managed to agree, at length. "In an upfront, no-nonsense sort of way."

"Quite. I like that."

"But he's devious. A snake," I hissed. Celia blinked. She looked alarmed. "And a smart alec. Quieter than usual, today, I admit. Usually he likes the sound of his own voice."