She sighed. She could tell herself, quite convincingly, that her own bathroom was full of clutter and rubbish because of Petal and her other students, but she knew it wasn’t true. She was a cluttered sort of person and Ben wasn’t. Even if his betrayal hurt her far, far more than Conrad’s had done, even if he were the kind, sexy man she’d once thought him, they were totally wrong for each other. They’d drive each other to distraction.

Draped in towelling from head to foot in the form of Ben’s bathrobe and the towel he’d given her, Thea went downstairs and found the kitchen. She’d already gone into Ben’s spartan bedroom, telephoned Magenta and brought her up to speed, Thea thought, remarkably calm about it all.

Now, Thea didn’t feel very calm and she did feel rather foolish. She hadn’t been able to find anything even distantly related to moisturiser in Ben’s bathroom cabinet and her face felt tight and shiny. Without even a trace of make-up to soften the effect, she probably looked like a sunburn victim. Still, what did it matter if she looked a fright? She just needed her clothes back.

Toby was sitting at a completely clear pine table, eating a plate of pasta. His nanny, whose name Thea couldn’t remember, was leaning against the equally uncluttered work surface, drinking a glass of wine. There was no sign of Ben or Rory.

‘Oh, hi,’ said Thea.

Toby looked up and grinned. The nanny detached herself from the worktop and asked, ‘Would you like a glass of wine? Ben will be back in a moment, but I’ve got to go home, now. You might as well have one while you’re waiting.’

‘Are my clothes dry, do you know?’ Thea accepted the glass of cold white wine.

‘Nearly, I think. But now you’re here I’ll pop off. That’s OK, isn’t it, Tobe?’

‘Fine,’ said Toby with his mouth full.

Thea sipped the wine. It was not all right with her. If the nanny wasn’t here she couldn’t just get dressed and slink off, as she had planned. She’d have to stay with Toby. She couldn’t abandon him without a responsible adult. And it was a nuisance to have lost Rory again. Still, perhaps it was for the best. If she was going to have to seduce him into showing with her, she’d prefer to be dressed for the event. With Ben’s robe gathered round her, she looked like the Michelin Man.

‘Before you go, where’s the tumble-dryer?’ If she delayed the girl a little, Ben might come back, and in the changeover period between nanny and father, Thea could make her escape.