Toby had a whale of a time. It was possible he’d never cooked using raw, basic ingredients before, thought Thea, although he had told her that he could use the microwave. ‘Microwaves are a safe way for children to cook,’ she said, ‘but sometimes it’s fun to do things from scratch.’

She had cleared the table, swathed Toby and herself in aprons and got out the flour. Very soon the cooks, the work surfaces and the floor were covered with a fine dusting of self-raising. ‘If you put an egg in the mixture it makes it a bit richer.’ She handed Toby an egg.

‘I’ve never cracked one before,’ he said anxiously.

‘Haven’t you? It’s not difficult. Here, do it in this little bowl, it’s a bit easier. Whoops, that one’s a miss, I’m afraid.’ She scooped the raw egg which had gone over the edge of the bowl back in. ‘Have another go. Right, now bung in some olive oil.’ She handed Toby the bottle.

‘How much shall I put in?’ Toby was beginning to relax.

‘Just a couple of glugs. That’s right.’

It was fortunate that Toby was as enthusiastic a washer-upper as he was a cook. Thea set him to it while she scraped the table. ‘We can cook the pizzas when we’ve got a bit of space, so just wash that bowl.’

‘This is such fun!’ said Toby, splashing water on the floor almost as fast Thea could wipe it up again.

‘Don’t you ever do cooking with your mum?’ Thea didn’t know much about motherhood, but she certainly used to cook with her mother, when she was little.

‘No, she doesn’t like mess, much.’

‘Well, no one actually likes it – it just happens.’ Thea scratched her nose with a floury finger. ‘I don’t suppose Ben is too keen on mess either.’

Toby shrugged. ‘He doesn’t mind it, I don’t think, but we don’t have much quality time.’

‘Quality time? Oh.’

The flour on Toby, moistened with washing-up water, had now turned to glue. ‘Mm. That’s why we’re downsizing.’

‘Downsizing? I mean, that’s interesting.’

‘Yup. He’s going for this job in Bristol. He should be able to get home a lot earlier and we can get rid of Margaret. My nanny.’ The word obviously embarrassed him. ‘We should be able to find a nice little village where I could go to the local school rather than privately.’

Thea supposed it was the private education which made him so articulate. ‘I see.’

‘And it looks like Veronica’s getting married again, so he wouldn’t have to give her so much.’

‘Veronica?’

‘My mum. She doesn’t like labels.’ Toby frowned. ‘I would quite like a mum, though.’