‘Well, you don’t actually charge them, that’s illegal, you just ask for contributions. It’s what people do, honestly. I found out when I was in London.’ This was a lie, but if Molly could stamp, she could bend the truth.

‘Very well, I’ll let you know best on that one. But for our very first party – I mean show – I want to do things properly.’

Thea shrugged. ‘She who pays the piper gets the sushi.’

Molly smiled, but then became serious. ‘Ben’s quite worried, by the way.’

‘Oh, dear. Poor Ben.’

‘No, really – about Rory suddenly changing his mind.’

‘Changing it back, you mean.’

‘It did make me wonder if we really ought to let Rory show here. Veronica can be so spiteful and according to Ben she was spitting tacks when she heard.’

The phone calls must have been flying to and fro across London like nuclear missiles. ‘I don’t think anyone could ruin Rory’s career now. Edward, the gallery owner in London, thought very highly of him. And although Veronica seemed to take the credit for getting the space, Edward would have shown him anyway. I really don’t think she can hurt him.’

‘I think Ben was more worried about what Veronica would do to this gallery than to Rory.’

This did pierce Thea’s confidence a little. ‘Why? Why would she do anything to the gallery? What could she do? Fire-bomb it?’

‘Don’t joke! She’s a very influential woman! The wrong word from her and people will stay away in droves. She’s never liked me and – ’

‘And what?’

‘Ben says she thinks you kidnapped Toby.’

‘Well, that’s totally ridiculous. No one could possibly be so stupid as to think that. For God’s sake, Toby followed us out of the gallery. She must have realised that. If she ever cast a glance in his direction she’d have seen him leave.’

‘Well, I don’t know, at least, only what Ben tells me. And he did tell me that Veronica’s livid with you.’

‘Because she thinks I kidnapped Toby?’

‘Oh, I think there’s more to it than that. I think she’s peeved because you got on so well with Edward Grampian, who Ben tells me is very important in the art world. And she doesn’t like it if Ben gets interested in a woman. She doesn’t want him herself, but she doesn’t want anyone else to have him.’

‘She needn’t worry about that. Ben is not interested in me. Not in the slightest. Now, do you think we could stop gossiping and get on with some work?’ Then, realising she shouldn’t have shouted at Molly, Thea went on, ‘Sorry. I am a bit stressed by everything at the moment. And I do think Ben should have made it clear to Veronica that he and I aren’t even good friends.’