Thea picked up Little Chap and then the kettle. ‘So, what did Ben say, to make you both look so miserable?’ She managed the kettle and puppy together, filling one and cuddling the other. She wished she could have the place to herself, to have a quiet cup of tea, see to her dogs and plan a strategy.

‘He told us that Rory definitely won’t be showing with us,’ announced Petal. ‘Because Veronica – that’s his wife – has found a really wonderful exhibition space for him.’

‘Well, I knew that.’ She put down Little Chap so she could deal with mugs and tea bags.

‘But you don’t seem to understand the implications,’ said Molly, sitting down.

‘Or you wouldn’t be so cool about it,’ broke in Petal. ‘It’s all been a complete waste of time. I may as well go back to Surrey!’

‘Well, there’s no point in weeping and wailing and gnashing my teeth. Rory’s not the only pebble on the beach.’

‘But this was our big chance to make a name for ourselves as a gallery,’ protested Molly, as if Thea must have forgotten. ‘We were going to get so much publicity and interest from the art world. Rory would have put us on the map.’

‘I know. His paintings are wonderful, but I’ve got a really good degree show lined up. And we’ll have a bit more time to get ready for that. We weren’t ever going to be a one-show wonder, Molly. We’ll just have to make our reputation a bit more slowly, without Rory’s help.’

‘I still don’t think…’

‘Would you like tea, Molly?’

‘Yes, please. But I don’t see why you’re not tearing your hair out over this. I mean, the whole reason for you dashing off to London was to convince Rory to change his mind and you failed. We know you did, because Ben told us.’

‘Ben doesn’t know everything,’ said Thea airily. ‘Ben doesn’t know that I showed my slides and stuff for the graduate show to the owner of the gallery where Rory’s showing. He liked them a lot. He thinks I have a good eye and he wants me to be a scout for him. So there!’ She could have added a lot more, but didn’t, for the sake of discretion.

‘Oh. And this proper gallery owner actually liked that ghastly pink kitchen and those weird videos?’ Molly was at once appalled and disbelieving.

‘Yup. You see, we don’t need Rory.’

Petal sighed. ‘I was really looking forward to his show, I must say. I don’t know if I’m really into the gallery now.’

‘Well, honestly!’ said Thea. ‘A fine friend you are! Take away the crumpet and only leave the art and you lose interest. Perhaps I should point out that some of the graduates are fairly gorgeous, too.’