How like a man to treat a momentary exclamation as a serious statement. He’d been just as enthusiastic about Rory’s work as she had been. Now he was implying there was something personal in it.

I’m not doing it just for Rory and it’s not just a whim. I really want this gallery to work and not only to keep Molly happy, either.’ Her resentment at his implication that her gallery was some sort of distraction for idle women bubbled up. ‘But if ever you find giving us advice and support too much trouble, just say. We can manage perfectly well without you.’

Ben frowned through the windscreen. ‘I never meant to imply I objected to helping you. I just want you able to do this on your own, without being dependent on anybody.’

Thea sighed. ‘Well, that’s what I want too. And you’re quite right. I’ve got to make my own mistakes and learn from them.’ Even if Molly does go broke in the process.

‘Tell you what, when you’ve chosen all the artists you’re interested in – and you won’t be able to get hold of some of them, and others will balk at paying a fee, however small – I’ll have a look at the postcards, or the slides, or whatever you’ve got with you.’

‘I’m going to take pictures of anything I like, to make sure I don’t only choose one type of work.’

He glanced across at her and smiled the rare, wonderful smile, which transformed his whole persona. ‘You’re not a complete idiot, are you?’

Thea decided not to comment. She’d only say something she’d regret.

Ben left her in a strange street in a strange town and told her the art school was on the corner to the left. He’d offered to park the car and personally escort her, but she’d refused to let him. She regretted this independence as she fought her way through the traffic. Eventually, she reached it and a girl on the desk gave her a map, showing her how to get to the exhibition.

It took her a while to negotiate the staircases and corridors, but at last she found herself in the middle of the building: a huge, galleried space, full of works of art.

There were not many people about, only a couple of students minding the shop, who just glanced at Thea and went back to their discussion about whether the latest Oscar-winning film was really all that great.

It was nice to be able to wander round on her own, though at first she thought she didn’t like anything. She worried that she’d lost her pleasure in art because now she had to like it. Then, suddenly, she turned a corner and found an installation which made her laugh out loud.