I saw James’s eyes flick down to my thigh, then back to my eyes, the flash of lust obvious. He leant in to kiss my cheek, the most unchaste cheek kiss I’d ever received. Between that and his lusty look, my nethers were on high alert.

“You’re breathtaking,” he whispered in that honey-gravel voice. I surprised myself by keeping my cool and leaning into the kiss.

“Thank you,” I half-whispered back.

Keeping my hand in his, James led us up two steps, through what looked like someone’s front door, and into the gallery. The first room was filled with people, many sipping bubbles or drinking a bright red cocktail from martini glasses. There was a general hubbub echoing off the wooden floorboards, but no distinctively loud voices.

Until I heard a loud, throaty laugh coming from the next room.

“That’s Valentina,” said James. Valentina! My girl crush from the museum! “Come with me,” he added as he manoeuvred us through the artsy crowd with ease. He stopped to take a flute of bubbles from a passing waiter, handed it to me, then took one for himself, all while holding my hand. When we stepped through the doorway into the next room, there she was.

As soon as she laid eyes on me and James, she excused herself from the woman she was talking to and made a beeline for us. Or rather, for me. “Sarah!” she called enthusiastically, as she kissed me on both cheeks. “You look divine!”

I smiled back at her brightly, “Thank you, and so do you.” She did, trust me.

You know those women who can pull off tight leather pants and a flimsy, almost see-through blouse and look totally incredible and not at all like a tragic fashion victim? That was Valentina. Her hair fell down her back in a slick sheet, like Cher circa 1975, only blonde. I was in love.

She turned to James and gave him a quick kiss. “Marcus is in there.” She pointed to the next room. “He can’t get away from Sir Percy. Can you please rescue him, bello?”

James looked at me questioningly. “Go, I’ll be fine. Anyway, I want to meet Marcus, so you’d better go get him.” He disappeared into the crowd and then it was just me and Valentina, who was staring at my shoes.

“Mi amore, where did you get those?” she asked. I pointed a toe and turned my ankle from side to side.

“You like them?” I asked, knowing the answer. If two women both love shoes, it’s enough to build a friendship on.

“They are simply gorgeous,” she said, still staring.

“Shoe Embassy in Camden.”

“Oh, I love that place, but I haven’t been in so long. I must get back there.”

“They were the last pair. I was super lucky they were in my size.”

“Fantastico.”

James appeared at my side. He looked down at my shoes, as Valentina was doing, then up at me. “Great shoes.” His eyes twinkled with good humour.