‘But Molly, unless we get Rory’s work it won’t matter what we do about the basement floor, because we won’t need to use it. The graduate show isn’t until August.’

The silence with which Molly greeted this told Thea she hadn’t really taken in the significance of Rory’s defection. ‘Oh, shish-kebabs!’ she murmured.

‘Exactly,’ said Thea, although her own expletive had gone on a lot longer and had been a lot less genteel.

‘I’m going to have to leave you in charge of the gallery, Molly. It’s only for a few days. Will that be all right?’

‘Of course.’ Thea could already see that Molly was beginning to relish being in sole occupation and could only trust that the power wouldn’t go to her head.

‘Now my only problem is what to do about Lara and the pups.’

Molly and Petal seemed to physically retreat. Petal was happy to spend hours cuddling them, but faded away like dew on a sunny morning if their newspapers needed changing. ‘Well, I’m going home,’ she said quickly. ‘Mummy’s been on at me for ages. She doesn’t understand why I haven’t gone before.’

‘Well, could–could…’ Thea struggled to remember the name of Petal’s current swain and failed – ‘your boyfriend stay here and keep an eye on them?’ He was local, which was why Petal hadn’t gone home for the vac.

‘Oh, no. He’s coming home with me.’

Thea spent a few moments tussling with thoughts of murder and dismembering. By dumping Lara and the pups on her, Rory had not only made it possible for him to zoom off to London but impossible for her to follow him.

‘You’re not going for long, are you? I’m sure Mrs Jones, my cleaning lady, wouldn’t mind popping in…’

‘It’s not just a matter of feeding them. They need exercise and company, they can’t be in the house on their own all day and night. It would be dreadfully cruel. Does the RSPCA do respite care, do you think?’

Molly and Petal looked bemused. Thea was always something of a mystery to them, now she was completely incomprehensible.

‘I mean, if you have a handicapped child, or an elderly relative that you look after and you have to go away, you can sometimes get them into a home for a couple of weeks. It’s called respite. That’s what I need for Lara and the puppies.’

Molly and Petal exchanged anxious glances; Thea had obviously really lost it this time.

‘Leave it with me,’ said Molly. ‘I’ll think of something.’

‘Would you, Moll? I’d be so grateful!’

‘Only if you don’t call me “Moll” – it’s a name always preceded by the word “gangster’s".’