Trusting that Molly would be able to bully or blackmail someone into being a resident dog-and-puppy sitter, Thea picked up the phone and rang her friend Magenta, who she hadn’t seen since she left London and spoke to only rarely.

After a lot of ‘why haven’t you been in touch?’ and explanations of busyness, Thea cut to the chase: ‘Can I come and stay for a few days? My star attraction has disappeared and I’m very much afraid that he’s found somewhere better to exhibit than my gallery. I don’t know how that’s possible, but there it is.’

‘Better than a gallery in … in … whatever godforsaken corner of the country you ran away to? Impossible.’

‘Magenta, I did not run away and my gallery is not in a godforsaken – ’

‘OK, OK, no need to be so touchy. Of course you can come and stay. I’ll take you round all the hot galleries and pick up the gossip. We’ll soon track him down.’

‘Thank you. You’re a star! I’ll ring you from the train to give you an idea what time I’m arriving and take a cab to your place.’

Thea was staring into her wardrobe, trying to decide which of her clothes were the least shabby, when Molly phoned to tell her she’d found the perfect puppy solution. ‘Well, almost perfect, anyway. It’s two young men.’

‘What?’

‘Pet sitters,’ she declared. ‘They come into your home and look after your pets, water your plants and things. These two like to come together, apparently.’ There was a tiny pause. ‘I didn’t dare ask if they were gay. It wouldn’t have been politically correct.’

‘No. And not really relevant, either, as it’s out of the question. It would cost an arm, a leg and the whole damn torso besides.’

‘Don’t be disgusting and I’m paying. It’s the only sensible solution. Who else could you get, for goodness sake?’

Thea sighed. ‘I do realise it’s not easy. I’ve been racking my own brains and come up with a big fat nothing.’

‘Well, then. The firm do stringent police checks and things, so they should be utterly reliable.’

‘As long as they know what they’re taking on.’

‘Oh, yes. Apparently they’re quite used to puppies and large dogs. In fact, they’ve just lost a Great Dane and will adore Lara. It’s perfect.’ Molly sounded more than usually pleased with herself.

‘Not quite.’

‘Well, what’s wrong with it? Your dogs are going to be given first-class care. What’s your problem?’

‘It means I’ve got to tidy my house. If I had a student to do it for me, I could just pack up and go!’