He closed his eyes for a moment, muttering, ‘I wish to hell they’d leave me alone.’

‘It must be hard living in the limelight all the time.’

‘You’d think I’d be used to it by now, but as you get older you crave a bit of peace.’

He still looked as wary as a cornered animal, she thought. Well, that’s what he was, really. ‘Would you like a coffee while you’re waiting? I was just going to make some. And I have some home-made cake.’

He looked faintly surprised, then nodded. ‘I would, actually. If it’s not too much trouble.’

‘No trouble at all.’

There was a knock on the front door and he stiffened again.

She got up. ‘Better if I answer it, don’t you think? It’d look strange not to.’ She laid one hand on his shoulder as she passed him, could feel the tension there. ‘Don’t worry. I won’t give you away.’

When she opened the door, she found three men waiting, one with a camera at the ready. ‘Can I help you?’

‘Did anyone come to your door?’

‘No, but I did wonder if I heard a noise down that side of the house a few minutes ago.’ She pointed. ‘I thought it was a fox after the birds. I have a feeder out there and—’

Two of them ran off in that direction without a word. Only the third one bothered to toss her a quick ‘Thanks’, before pounding after his colleagues.

Nasty creatures! she thought as she locked the door again. She turned to see her visitor standing in the doorway of her living room.

‘I’m grateful.’

‘You’re welcome. Now, coffee and cake. I’ll bring it through.’

When she carried the tray in, he was slumped in a chair, one hand covering his eyes.

‘Here you are.’

He mustn’t have heard her coming because he jumped in shock, then tried to smile.

‘Don’t,’ she told him gently.

‘Don’t what?’

‘Force a smile. And you needn’t chat at all if you don’t want to. Just sit there quietly and rest. You can test the cake for me and give me your honest opinion. It’s a new skill of mine, baking. I always used to worry about being too big, but now I’ve given up on trying to look like a stick insect. My genes aren’t programmed for it, anyway. I concentrate on enjoying life – though that doesn’t mean I eat a ton of junk food.’

‘That’s the first time I’ve heard a woman say that.’

She grinned. ‘I can’t tell you how comfortable it is to eat what you want. And I’ve not put any weight on. This seems to be my natural size and it’s comfortable to live with, even if it doesn’t suit the fashionistas.’ She poured his coffee, gave him a piece of cake then cut one for herself, looking out at the small water garden in the central courtyard as she ate, not attempting to make conversation.

After a while he put down the mug and empty plate. ‘Thank you. That’s the first food I’ve enjoyed for a long time.’