‘Tell me something,’ he went on, but paused to lift his wine glass to his lips. Was it her imagination or was there a sheen on his skin as if from nerves? ‘Is Albin in your thoughts much?’

She swallowed, feeling as if her reply was important and wanting to be honest. ‘He’s crossed my mind a couple of times. It would be odd if being a mile as the crow flies from Hannah Anna Butik didn’t remind me but, apart from the little matter of the several thousand pounds he owes me, he doesn’t mean anything to me. Not now. He killed my feelings when he showed me his unpleasant side.’ She didn’t add that the man who filled her thoughts was Nico.

He nodded as if satisfied and released her hand as their meal arrived, the sauce from the meatballs pooling around boiled potatoes and dark red lingonberry jam. He ate well, with hardly any of the playing with his food that Hannah had observed in the past, and she wondered if it was a sign he was feeling better about life. The level of champagne sank until all that remained in the bottle was air.

‘More champagne?’ Nico asked, laying his cutlery neatly on his empty plate.

‘Not for me, thanks.’ She was already floating on a cloud of bubbles. ‘But I’d love coffee.’

He ordered then leaned closer once again, voice low, eyes bright, so close she could see tiny flecks of green and gold among the blue. ‘What did you wish for in the Gold Room today?’

She flushed as she remembered that half-formed but fully felt wish. ‘You can’t share wishes. They don’t come true.’ Not even superstition was going to make her jeopardise whatever magic was trembling just within her grasp this evening.

‘Was it X-rated?’ he murmured. Then, deliberately, ‘Like mine?’

She swallowed, mind flying to exactly what X-rated thoughts his wish could have involved.

He lifted her hand to his mouth and kissed her fingers. ‘I’ve been wishing since your brother’s wedding that we could have those slow dances back.’

Her skin tingled from the brush of his lips but she couldn’t let his comment go unchallenged. ‘It wasn’t me who went off and danced with Amanda Louise.’

He propped his chin on his fist. ‘It wasn’t me who didn’t own up to having a boyfriend.’ His tone was as challenging as hers.