‘He is! Although of course we’re only really friends at the moment.’ Helena found a tablet for the dishwasher and switched it on.

‘Although it might lead to something else?’

‘You never know!’ said Helena with a teasing smile.

‘Starting off as friends is always a good thing – even if it doesn’t develop into something more,’ she added quickly, seeing that Helena was going to protest about it being ‘early days’ and ‘too soon to tell’. But as she said it, Gilly wondered if she and Leo were just friends? She thought not – not from her point of view anyway.

‘What else have you got to worry about?’ said Gilly, wishing Helena would just tell her why she was being twitchy.

‘Oh, you know! All the work I need to do before World of Wool. Nothing you can help with, Mum.’ She looked around the kitchen. ‘Are we having cheese first and then pudding? Or what?’

‘Both at the same time,’ said Gilly. ‘I can never decide which is better so it’s easier to let people decide for themselves.’ She smiled at her daughter. ‘I like your Jago’s appetite!’

Helena laughed. ‘I knew you would! I didn’t say anything to him but if I had wanted him to make an extra good impression I’d have told him to accept second helpings of everything.’

‘Why didn’t you tell him?’

Helena shrugged. ‘Didn’t think I’d need to!’ She paused, possibly searching for the right thing to say. ‘Mum, you know I like to clear up a bit before I go? But today I need to get off fairly speedily. Will you be OK? Will Leo help?’

‘I’m glad you like him,’ said Gilly, although she knew that Helena hadn’t said that.

She wasn’t entirely surprised that Helena was ambivalent about Leo, which was why she hadn’t really wanted to introduce him so soon. Leo was the first man she’d gone out with since her divorce. It was bound to be a shock for Helena. Cressida and Martin seemed quite relaxed about it, but it was different for them, she supposed. Martin had left home, more or less, before the divorce. He’d had a couple of years working abroad before he came home and went to university. He hadn’t seen her pain in quite the same way that Helena had. She sighed. Maybe it was asking too much for Helena to like any new man she might meet as much as she did. But perhaps Leo would grow on her.

Chapter Ten

‘So, if you don’t mind my asking,’ said Jago, ‘what’s the matter?’ He had a collection of foil-wrapped parcels on his lap, given to him by Gilly as he got into the car.

Helena slowed down a little. ‘Sorry. I’m just a bit upset.’

‘I can see that, but why? Leo was OK, wasn’t he? Not my type, obviously but—’