‘Veronica told me Toby had been kidnapped.’

‘Kidnap—I don’t believe it! You’re out of your mind. Where on earth did she get that idea from?’

‘So how would you describe removing my son from the custody of his mother and his nanny, and disappearing into the streets of Knightsbridge, then? A little gentle exercise in a thunderstorm?’

Thea shook her head to clear the rain from her eyes. He was now as wet as she was though, in a suit, was a little better protected. ‘You are mad,’ she declared. ‘Stark, staring, fucking mad! Why on earth did you think I’d kidnapped Toby? And if I did, why did I spend a small fortune on a taxi taking him home?’

Ben shrugged dramatically. ‘I don’t know! Nothing you do ever seems logical.’

Thea’s eyes flashed to rival the lightning. ‘Well, let me explain! I took him home to you because that’s where he said he wanted to go. Although it was bloody miles away and, as I said, cost me a fortune in fares. Don’t you think you should be inside, comforting him, instead of shouting at me, who’s done nothing whatever to be ashamed of?’

‘Don’t tell me how to look after my own son!’

‘I wouldn’t dream of it! Though just one tip: tell your wife and your nanny that it’s a good idea to stay where you last saw the child, rather than disappearing into Greater London!’

While Ben now realised that Thea had done nothing wrong, he was still upset. ‘Don’t stand there shouting. Tell me what happened.’

Thea was incredulous. ‘I think you mean, “I am so sorry, Thea, I don’t know how I could have been so stupid!” Only don’t bother to apologise, because what you’ve done to me is so much worse than you just being a dickhead about Toby.’

The expression broke through his anger. ‘Look, I’m sorry, I obviously got completely the wrong idea, but tell me what did happen.’

It was better than having to confront him with his perfidy, so Thea obliged. ‘I was talking to Rory – or trying to – in a pigging thunderstorm and Toby followed us. By the time he’d caught up with us we were all lost. It took us ages to get back to the gallery, and when we did, everyone had gone. I just cannot believe it! How could a mother just swan off when her son is missing in the middle of London?’

‘She didn’t swan off. She went back to her flat, in case Toby had gone there. They rang me at the office and said Toby had disappeared.’

‘So naturally you all assumed I’d kidnapped him. And you accuse me of not being logical?’

Ben sighed. ‘None of this is very logical. Let’s go back to the house and get you warm and dry.’