“I’m not sure Mari would be happy for me to use the tearoom,” said Annie. “I’d have to ask her first.”

“Ask her, then,” said Maeve. “I’m not suggesting you host a Roman orgy! Mari won’t mind, she’s a good sort. Loves a book. We’d be inviting her to join if she were here.”

“How many of you are there?” asked Annie.

“Two so far,” said Gemma. She was smiling really hard, as if her friendliness could cancel out Maeve’s asperity. “Three, if you join,” she went on. “Four would be better. Maybe you know someone who might be interested?”

Annie considered the proposal. She supposed Mari wouldn’t mind. After all, how wild could a book club get? At worst she’d end up with her tearoom spring cleaned. And if winter by the sea really was going to be as arduous as people kept telling her, then maybe it would be good to have something to look forward to.

“Okay,” said Annie. “Let me check with Mari. And I’ll say a tentative yes in the meantime.” Sally’s face bloomed into Annie’s mind. “I have an idea for our fourth member too.”

Gemma clapped her hands. “Amazing!” she said. “It’s going to be so good. I’m so excited! I can get Molly to babysit, and if we do it on a Wednesday, it won’t matter if I’m late back as she doesn’t have college on Thursdays. She can sleep in the spare room, and I’ll drop her home in the morning when I drop the kids off . . .”

“Gemma!” said Maeve. “Calm down.” She said this as though addressing a dog. Podrick looked up from his place by the heater, one ear cocked, before nestling his head back down on his paws. “Her husband’s been back at sea for nearly two months now,” Maeve addressed Annie. “She doesn’t get out much.”

“It’s true,” said Gemma. “I don’t. When Esme started school in September, I didn’t know whether I was crying with relief or sadness! Sometimes I think I made a terrible mistake giving up work to be at home with the kids.”

“How old are they?” Annie asked.

“Lennox is seven, and Esme is four and a half.”

“Tough ages,” Annie sympathized. “Too big to be babies and too small to be in any way independent.”

“I catch sight of my work suits in the back of the wardrobe sometimes and I can’t believe it was me who used to wear them. I hardly remember who that woman was. It was my decision to stay at home, but I look at women who kept their careers when they had children and I feel like I’ve let the side down.”