Just as she was about to serve dessert, the buzzer sounded from the front gate. She looked at the speaker in shock. Who could be visiting her at this hour of the night?

‘Are you expecting someone?’

‘No. I rarely do anything in the evenings.’ She went to press the speaker button. ‘Yes?’

‘Mum? Since when have you had these fortifications built?’

‘Oh. William.’ She mouthed, ‘My son,’ to Jez then pressed the button. She couldn’t very well turn her son away. ‘Come in. The gates will close automatically behind you.’

She turned to Jez. ‘I’d have preferred to wait to introduce you to my family, but it seems fate has taken a hand.’

‘I can leave if you want.’

‘I don’t want. I don’t like sneaking around and I don’t turn my guests out.’ But she was more worried than she’d admit about William’s reaction to finding her sharing an intimate dinner with a notorious celebrity.

‘He won’t approve of me, and I can’t blame him.’ Jez’s expression had changed again, become more guarded.

‘Why are you always so down on yourself, Jez? It’s not up to William to approve or disapprove of you, though I warn you he’s a bit stuffy. It’s up to me to approve of you.’ She smiled and pressed a quick kiss on his cheek. ‘And I do.’

‘Very well. I’ll stay.’ But he still looked nervous.

‘I’ll go and open the front door.’

William was on his own and had his I’m-going-to-lecture-you look.

He kissed the air above her cheek. ‘Just thought I’d pop in to see you, Mum.’

‘Well, you might look happier about it. And it’d have been better to ring and see if I was busy or not. I’ve got a guest tonight. Come and meet him.’

‘Who is it?’

‘Jez Winter.’

‘So Andi was right!’

She swung round. ‘About what?’

William glanced along the corridor and said in a lower voice, ‘That fellow is taking advantage of you.’

‘You must have a very low opinion of me if you think I’m such an easy mark.’

‘Perhaps I’d better come back another time.’

‘And perhaps you’d better come and be introduced properly. And mind what you say. I brought you up with good manners, I hope.’ She led the way into the dining room. ‘Jez, this is my son, William.’

The two men shook hands and William positively bristled, looking like a dog defending a bone as he said stiltedly, ‘I’m – er, pleased to meet you.’

‘And I’m delighted to meet Sophie’s son.’

‘Are you? I pop round quite often, so we’ll no doubt meet again. I like to keep an eye on my mum. Don’t want anyone upsetting her.’ He moved closer to his mother, as if on guard.

In spite of the tension, Jez’s lips twitched and his eyes began to dance.

Sophie had trouble holding back an answering smile. Her son was like a bulldog at times, a rather solemn bulldog at that. ‘I was just about to serve dessert. Come and join us, William. I’ll bring you a plate and cup.’