‘That sort of thing won’t stop anyone getting drunk and it’ll cost a fortune. And who’s going to make it? I’ve got more than enough to do without spending all night stuffing cherry tomatoes!’

‘We get a caterer! I know a lovely girl who’ll do it all for us. She’ll even provide waitresses.’

‘But how much will it cost? Financially, we’re running on empty with this gallery. Until we start earning, we can’t afford unnecessary luxuries like that.’

Molly stuck out her chin. It was what she did when Derek said they couldn’t afford something and it always worked.

‘It’s too expensive,’ said Thea.

‘I’ll pay,’ said Molly.

Thea’s own chin went out, rivalling Molly’s.

‘Oh, please let me! Just for this show.’

Molly’s disappointment was more effective than her pouting. ‘We should start as we mean to go on.’

‘It’s just that Ben has–’

‘What?’ Thea hadn’t told Molly of her falling out with Ben, but Ben must have said something or Molly wouldn’t have halted in mid-plea.

Molly started picking at a spot of paint on the light switch. ‘He said he wanted to invite all sorts of people from London.’ She turned to Thea. ‘He really wants to help the gallery, Thea, whatever you think.’

‘It’s all right, Molly. If Ben wants to invite a few of his friends, he’s welcome. If he thinks they’ll come all the way out here.’

‘That’s my point!’ declared Molly. ‘If they do come, I don’t want to look like a small-town gallery that doesn’t know what’s what.’

Thea didn’t either, but the thought of spending the equivalent of several pictures’ worth of commission in case Ben’s arty chums turned up to patronise her did not appeal. ‘I’ll compromise. No food, but I’ll book a table at the Chinese for afterwards. At least that way we won’t be buying food that won’t get eaten.’ She resolved to make sure Rory ate several large stodgy sandwiches before the opening, to line his stomach.

‘The Chinese!’ Molly couldn’t have been more horrified if Thea had suggested going on to a strip joint.

‘The Chinese Dragon is really elegant. Have you been there? It’s just like a proper restaurant. I went there with friends when it first opened. It’s fab, honestly. I’ll book a table for ten or so and hope some of them pay for themselves.’

‘OK, that sounds quite fun, but I want canapés!’ The stamped foot was implicit.

Thea caved in. She had other, bigger battles to fight. ‘Oh, all right, Molly, but only for Rory’s show. When things are normal we’ll just have wine, and charge them for the second glass.’

Molly hissed in horror, as if Thea were suggesting she charged people for sherry in her own house.