‘Placing’ was an inadequate word. Each handbag was wiped or brushed then positioned precisely on the diagonal. Starting with the largest and going smoothly down to the smallest he progressed through black, blues, greens, tans, browns, bronzes, reds, golds, yellows and lastly creams and whites. On the shorter shelving either side of the window he did something similar with clutches, evening bags and purses.

Scarves next, one per hook, each knotted in exactly the same way and dangling the same distance from the floor, the colour segue mirroring that of the handbags. The belts received a similar treatment on the shelves of purses.

The Åberg leather goods scored a stand to themselves near the door. Each bag, purse, belt, wallet, diary, notebook, organiser, pen case, blotter, wash bag, tech case, card case, flask and passport cover had arrived in this season’s colours of burgundy and lime along with classic blacks and tans. He arranged them in tiers, stacks, fans and groups. Hannah hoped Åberg didn’t send mystery shoppers to check whether she’d followed the schematic because Nico’s arrangement was awesome.

Evidently it pleased him too because he paused to play air guitar along to the music – Fall Out Boy now. It was a quirky moment that made Hannah laugh. Nico grinned and turned to creating monochrome counter displays and a colour wheel of hats.

Lastly, he worked on the window, adjusting the lights, creating a swooping design of silk scarves and a contrastingly geometric design of bags. ‘Halloween decorations?’ he queried, sipping a second cup of coffee because he’d let the first one go cold.

‘I haven’t got them yet,’ she confessed. ‘Julia will be in tomorrow. It’ll free me up to find something.’

He didn’t look impressed. ‘The Swedish like Halloween. Get full value out of it before you dress the shop for Christmas.’

Suitably chastised, she watched him contrive flying bats from black silk scarves, suspending them from the ceiling with clear thread. ‘I don’t remember you being this creative.’

‘Late developer.’ His smile flashed and she realised how much he’d relaxed. It couldn’t put flesh on his bones but it softened the hollows of his face.

While Hannah vacuumed the carpet and cleaned glass, Nico created artful cobwebs with parcel string that took on an ethereal shimmer under the window display lights.

He climbed out of the window, cast a last look at each stand and shelf, then turned to Hannah. ‘OK?’

‘I think the word “awesome” was invented for this,’ she said frankly. She admired the meticulously positioned merchandise, the clever use of colours and hues, and shook her head. ‘I can’t thank you enough. My shop looks so high-end I can’t believe it.’ She glanced at her watch. ‘And just in time to open.’