Marcia laughed. ‘I was just about to. You know you can stay here as long as you like if you get a quick sale on your house, which I think you will. We’ll love having you here. And if you need to borrow money, just say.’

‘Thanks for the offer, but that was number three on Stuart’s list for me: no borrowing more money.’

‘Yes, but we’re different. We could lend you some and we wouldn’t charge interest and we wouldn’t put a deadline on any loan.’

‘I’m lucky to have friends like you but I won’t. I like the idea of clearing the slate. I’ll take it a step at a time. The next few months are going to be about clearing and selling what I can, then I will do as you say and re-evaluate the situation and, maybe, as you suggest, take some time out. Perhaps by then it might be clearer what’s next.’

‘Exactly, you don’t have to decide anything immediately. Just deal with what’s in front of you. You’ve seen Stuart, what else have you been up to?’

‘Meeting with people on the back-up team, all the individual jewellers I have called in to make up designs.’

‘How did they take it?’

‘Resigned to it. I think a couple of them knew it was coming. I’ve encouraged them all to up their social-media presence – Instagram, Twitter, Facebook – and update their websites. It’s the way things are going.’

‘And your website?’

‘I’ll work on mine too and put any stock that doesn’t sell in the shops on there. I can put some on eBay too, though you get nothing for it on there, everyone wants a bargain.’

‘And have you got any further with your list of past lovers for me?’ she asked.

‘Argh. I thought you’d forgotten about that.’

‘Why would I do that? So how’s it coming on?’

‘Er … I got up to number three.’

‘Good. I shall expect it first thing in the New Year,’ said Marcia.

‘Bossy is your middle name.’

‘It’s because I care. In the meantime, I’ve got some news for you, developments on the Billy and Grace front. Look at this.’ She got her laptop and brought it over to the table. She opened a page and went to her emails where she found one from Pete. It showed a link, which she clicked on. ‘Pete’s been busy.’

I put on my glasses and peered at the page that opened in front of me. ‘What is it?’ All I could see was a page listing names.

‘It’s a list of men with Billy’s surname who died in action,’ said Marcia. ‘Pete found them last night. I’ve emailed what we found to you so it will be there on your computer.’