Oh, to be a man and able to compartmentalise one’s life so simply! What had nearly happened in the gallery was obviously filed under ‘momentary aberrations’. That went in the top left-hand pigeonhole, next to ‘nanny’ and ‘gas bills’. Looking at graduate shows with Thea probably qualified as ‘charity work’, which was way down on the bottom row in the corner. Quite separate.

Thea put on her new assertive voice. She hadn’t perfected it yet, but she hoped it would work all right down the phone. ‘I really haven’t got time to go gadding about the country looking at art. I’ve still got to do something about the floor in the basement –’

He made a sound which could have been a chuckle. ‘You haven’t got time not to come. You won’t have another chance to see so much work all at one go. You need to be thinking about your next show.’

‘Oh. OK. I suppose you’re right. But it doesn’t involve any overnight stays, does it? I’ve got no one to look after Lara and the pups.’

‘Will Molly come in and see to them during the day?’

‘I expect so.’ She would if you asked her, Ben, she said silently, hoping he could hear. ‘She’s not really a dog person, though. And the puppies make an awful mess.’

‘I’ll have a word. If I explain how important it is for the gallery she won’t mind.’

Yes! He might be an insensitive brute in some ways, but in others he was perfect.

Although, when Molly rang her later to confirm details, Thea wondered what on earth Ben had said. ‘There’s nothing funny going on between you and Ben, is there?’

Thea went hot and cold, and ended up guarded. ‘What do you mean, “something funny"?’

‘Nothing specific, it’s just when he mentioned you he sounded a bit – well, brisk.’

‘He always is, isn’t he?’ Brisk was OK. Molly couldn’t read anything into brisk.

‘Well, I don’t know. But honestly, Thea, you mustn’t do anything to annoy him. We really need his contacts and his advice.’

‘I’m sure I’d never do anything –’

‘Not on purpose, perhaps. But he’s a very organised, controlled sort of person and you’re –’

‘I’m not?’ Thea helped her out.

‘No, you’re warm and spontaneous and –’

‘Beautiful?’ She helped out again.

Molly ignored this. ‘But you’re not Ben’s –’

‘Type?’ This diffidence was unusual for Molly. Normally Thea couldn’t get a word in edgewise and here she was, having to finish all Molly’s sentences for her.

‘Mm.’

‘I see. I was wondering why you threw every unattached man you knew at my head and didn’t produce your home-grown cousin.’

‘Thea! I never did anything –’

‘It’s all right. I’m only joking.’