‘Lara made a bit of a mess, I’m afraid,’ Thea broke in before Susan could tell her to bump the puppy on the head. ‘And one of the pups, that big one, with markings like a killer whale, was breech. Ben had to deliver it.’

Susan turned away from the little balloons which lay in a row by Lara’s huge side. ‘Ben? Who’s Ben?’

Perhaps now was as suitable a moment as any to tell Susan about the great visitation. ‘Ben’s – Ben arrived last night, with some other people.’

Susan regarded Thea as if she’d had some kind of fit.

‘Let’s make tea and I’ll explain.’

‘OK,’ said Susan getting up and going into the kitchen. ‘Oh. There don’t seem to be any tea bags.’

‘Ben is some kind of relation of Molly’s. Molly is a friend of mine and Petal’s aunt. And Toby’s Ben’s son.’

‘So Ben is the one who used to be head of an art college and likes Rory’s paintings?’

‘More or less. They didn’t need to come in person and certainly not all of them. I spent ages taking slides.’ It was important that Susan didn’t think she was particularly pleased by the invasion.

‘And they’re all asleep? Here?’

Thea nodded.

‘Mother of God, where did you find to put them?’

Chapter Eight

Chapter Eight

While Susan was tidying the kitchen, Toby appeared. He looked sweet and rumpled, and endearingly like his father.

‘Hi, Toby. Did you sleep all right?’ Thea decided to ignore their earlier meeting.

‘Hi. I’m glad someone’s up at last. I’ve been in bed reading for ages.’

‘Well, I suppose you didn’t go to bed as late as everyone else. Come and see the pups.’

Toby knelt down respectfully at Lara’s side. ‘Look at that little tiny one,’ he said.

Thea swallowed. ‘He may not live very long. But he’s my favourite.’

‘Mine too,’ Toby agreed.

Ben came into the room, dressed, but only half awake. Seeing him with his hair adrift made Thea put up her hand to her own. She discovered it had curled into knots at the base of her neck where it had got wet in the bath and badly needed brushing. She clawed at it with her fingers.

‘Hello, Thea. Hi, Tobe. Admiring the puppies? The little one’s still with us, I see.’

‘That’s mine and Thea’s favourite,’ said Toby firmly.

Ben gave Thea a look which told her never to lie to children about the chances of tiny puppies surviving. She looked back, trying to indicate that she hadn’t. ‘Has Lara been out yet?’ he asked, when this silent altercation was over.

‘She hasn’t stirred,’ Thea answered.

‘She should get out and relieve herself and she’ll need breakfast, too.’

Thea opened the front door and called Lara. She wagged her tail but didn’t move.