Charles was setting out Sarah’s breakfast tray when Sonia rang them at precisely nine o’clock on the Sunday morning. It had rapidly become a convention of their recent marriage that he took Sarah breakfast in bed – boiled egg, toast, fruit, tea – on Sunday mornings, the only day when she was not up first. They were in her house in the hamlet of Swinbrook in Oxfordshire, overlooking the valley of the River Windrush. He was still in his dressing gown, gazing at the slow river while waiting for the kettle to boil. The eruption of the phone jerked him out of a pleasing vacancy.

‘Hope I haven’t woken you?’

‘No, no, we’re up and about.’

‘I never ring anyone before nine in the morning or after ten in the evening.’

‘Quite right.’ He removed the kettle from the Aga before it began to whistle.

‘Have you read the latest Horley blast? It came last thing last night.’

‘No, but I saw it in draft and discussed it with him in the office yesterday evening. He was pretty excited about it.’

‘Not surprised he was working late.’

‘As were you, by the sound of it.’ She must have seen it on her secure laptop at home.

‘Funny thing is, the more I think about early retirement the harder it is to let go. I feel the opposite of demob-happy. We should talk about it. Gareth’s email, I mean.’

‘Fine. I haven’t looked at my diary for tomorrow but we should be able to fit something in.’

‘Today, I mean. I’m worried about it and I’d sooner discuss it outside the office. I feel I could be franker, somehow. I could drive over now if you’re not too busy. Paul’s at home, so he can walk the dogs.’

‘It’s quite a journey for you, isn’t it? Unless it’s really that urgent.’ She lived in Hertfordshire but he was thinking of Sarah’s reaction. Although she liked Sonia and knew how indebted Charles was to her, Sunday was the day they promised to each other; no work, no engagements.

‘It is important. Which for me inevitably makes it seem urgent. Well, there is some urgency, actually. Genuinely. Anyway, it’s a nice morning for a drive and it’s ages since I’ve driven farther than the station. But if you’ve got something else arranged . . .’

‘No, no, it’s fine. Come for lunch.’

‘Coffee. I don’t want to mess up the whole day for you both. I’ll come for coffee.’