‘No,’ says Becky, fixating on the sheen of the fridge. ‘I think that what it is, I think that maybe … everyone’s looking for their moment in the sun? It’s an industry mostly made up of people who haven’t made it, or are realizing that they won’t make it. I think Amber was probably starting to feel like she was old news and wasn’t going to be someone who gets big parts. And now she’s in the papers. In a twisted way she’s probably got what she wanted, on some level. If that makes sense.’

‘You can see why I hired her, can’t you?’ says Matthew, entering the room from deeper in the house. He is wearing a white linen shirt, unbuttoned twice. ‘Becky already knows more about how things work than people who’ve made ten films.’

And in the brief and uncomfortable gap when it is clear she will not come to him, he walks to her instead, throws his arms round her, the cool edge of the phone in his hand digging into her as he hugs her like an old friend. She notices that he smells of soap and roses. He steps back from her, smiling, working just as hard as Antonia to be the exact version of Matthew Kingsman that the moment requires. ‘How’s the doorstepping going at your end of things?’

Like they’re the two ends of the situation, her and Matthew. A problem shared, equitably and easily. ‘Nothing more since The Sun.’

‘I think you’ve done a great job. Your character reference was, well, what can I say? Five stars.’

‘I’m glad if it was a help,’ she says quietly.

‘Anyway, I think it’s all on its way out.’

‘It is?’ Antonia’s face softens. Her eyes shine, perhaps there is a tear; she certainly looks as if she might cry and Becky knows that this will be the only evidence of Antonia’s storm.

‘Yes.’ Matthew steps toward his wife and puts his arm around her. ‘There isn’t enough of a story for it to get any more traction. The stuff about the witness this morning? It’s all a bit CSI. The police obviously aren’t going to do anything. Amber’s had her moment in the sun. I’m fairly confident, by the way, that she won’t be landing a good gig for quite a while. She’s burnt more bridges than she knew existed, pulling this stunt.’

‘It’s unforgivable, really,’ says Antonia.

‘I spoke to Sam,’ says Becky. ‘I think Medea might make it through if the story starts to go away like you say it will.’

‘Let’s spare Antonia the boring stuff. We’ll talk in my study.’