I noticed he had been carrying a small cardboard box under one arm. I’d have loved to have known what was in it.

Nick was hurrying down the stairs by then. ‘Is everything OK?’ I asked.

‘Yes … of course!’ he answered breathlessly, but he looked flustered, and seemed anxious to reassure me, taking my hand and patting it. ‘My friend, he get excited. Is nothing.’

‘He didn’t seem to like my being here.’

‘Is nothing. No worry.’

I could tell he was uneasy. I felt a little shaken myself.

‘We finish today, Juno − more another time, yes?’ He pulled a fat roll of banknotes from his cardigan pocket and began to peel them off.

‘That’s far too much …’ I began but he hushed me, pushing them into my hand.

‘You work hard, Juno.’ He hesitated and then glanced at me slyly. ‘My friend … you forget you saw him, yes?’

‘If you want,’ I told him. ‘But he’s none of my business, you don’t have to bribe me.’

‘No. No. You keep!’ he insisted. ‘I see you another day.’

‘I need to look in my diary.’

‘Yes, yes. You ring me,’ he nodded, and couldn’t hustle me towards the door fast enough.

‘So, you never found out who he was?’ Ricky asked, tucking into his Eton Mess.

We’d got through the sea bass, baby spinach and crushed potatoes by then. Morris and I were on to the crème brûlée.

‘Nick’s visitor?’ I shook my head.

‘Are you going to work for Nick again?’

‘I think so. He’s got tons more stuff that he wants me to clean for him, things he wants to send to auction.’

‘Why doesn’t he open his shop? I’d love a poke around in there.’ Morris was an enthusiastic collector of teapots. The dresser in the breakfast room contained an army of them, all pointing in the same direction, spouts to attention.

‘I think he’s tired. Just doesn’t want the bother of it. I’m giving him Chloe Berkeley-Smythe’s slot on a Wednesday afternoon until she comes back from her cruise. After that we’ll have to see.’

‘Don’t get too involved with him, Juno.’ Morris wagged a finger at me. ‘You don’t want to get mixed up in anything dodgy.’

I should have taken his advice. But back then I didn’t know then how dodgy things were going to get.

CHAPTER SIX