‘So what about your own house? Couldn’t you spend your time on that, and leave me and Amy alone?’

He shook his head. ‘I only work on my house between working on proper jobs.’

‘So my studio’s not going to be a holiday home?’ Helena and Amy, neighbours and old friends, had spent a lot of time raging that their studios were likely to be turned into holiday lets or second homes.

Jago shook his head. ‘Nope. All my projects are for families who want homes. Or – to be fair – single people as well. But they have to have a commitment to the area. Now please start – I’m longing to know if you like it.’

Helena felt a bit nonplussed as she took a bite of sandwich. She needed time to process this. All property developers were evil, everyone knew that. Why was this one not conforming to type? ‘Oh God!’ she said after a couple of chews. ‘This sandwich really is delicious!’

‘Told you!’ Jago bit into his own version. ‘I haven’t lost it. I used to work in a sandwich bar.’

‘I guessed as much.’

‘Would you like a beer with that?’

Helena shook her head. ‘No thanks. Another cup of tea would be great though.’ She might have to go and see her mother anyway when she’d finished her throw, just to pass on all the details she’d discovered about the man who was making her homeless. She didn’t ever drink and drive. It was such a shame Amy was away – she’d find it even more fascinating.

She sipped her tea when it came and carried on eating. Eventually, when she wiped her mouth with the back of her hand in case there were traces of mayonnaise around it, she said, ‘What’s the kitten’s name?’

‘Dobson,’ said Jago.

‘Oh? Like the book?’

‘That’s right.’ His expression became more intense, as if she suddenly interested him. ‘Not many people would have made that connection.’

Helena shrugged. ‘My mum told me about it. Zuleika Dobson, I mean. Zuleika was one of the names she thought of for me. She likes literary associations.’ She looked at her watch. ‘I’d better get back. I was in the middle of finishing a throw when you knocked on my door.’ She paused. ‘It was a really great sandwich.’

He smiled, his teeth white in his generally sand-coloured face. ‘I’m glad you enjoyed it.’

As Helena walked back to her studio and her work she wondered whether, if Amy had been asked to rescue the kitten, her friend would have managed to get more out of Jago in return than a sandwich. Amy was good at getting what she wanted from men and would have said Helena didn’t have enough practice.