He wasn’t happy either. Out of sight around the corner he might be, but she could very clearly hear their voices, and he and Smith were having a major row.

Whatever the original topic of conversation had been, Luke cut ruthlessly across it.

‘Never mind all that now,’ he said, dismissing whatever Smith had begun to say. ‘What’s all this I hear about Jane?’

‘Jane? What about her?’

‘That you’ve recommended her dismissal. On what grounds? I warn you – Ellis is very unlikely to back you on this. He rates Jane quite highly. As do Matthew and I.’

Concealed around the corner, Jane glowed. It didn’t last long.

‘Jane? Why are we still talking about Jane? I have such exciting news and . . .’

‘We were talking about Jane because it’s important. I don’t know what you’ve been saying to her, but she was part of the team long before – well, a few weeks before you turned up and . . .’

Smith’s voice was beginning to lose its syrup. ‘Can you please stop banging on about Jane? I’ve something much more important to talk about.’

Luke said something incomprehensible.

‘I only told Ellis he needs to drop her because she’s dragging the team down. She doesn’t do anything – she doesn’t contribute anything – she barely even speaks. Trust me, Luke, you’d be far better off without her because . . .’

Luke said something. His deeper voice made his words more difficult to distinguish.

Smith swept on. ‘No, of course I’m not advocating throwing her out on to the street – although I don’t know why. I tried to find her a nice clerical job – something simple in Records, where she’d be much happier – and she just threw it back in my face. But I need to . . .’

Luke rumbled again. More angrily this time.

‘Yes, and him, too. He’s only putting in the hours until he can get to the Time Map, but he could easily wait out his time in IT. Major Callen would have a word with Hay if I asked him to. Neither of them will be a problem.’

Luke started to speak and she cut across him.

‘So we can be together, of course. Because . . .’

A door slammed somewhere behind her and Jane missed his response but there was no missing Smith’s.

‘For God’s sake, can we stop talking about bloody Jane Lockland. She’s not important. Look, this is difficult – I hadn’t wanted to tell you like this but, well, you should know – I think I’m pregnant.’

It would appear the universe had finally found a way to silence Luke Parrish.

Smith was continuing. ‘Don’t look so stunned, Luke. This is wonderful news. It’s what we always wanted. You can take your place in your dad’s organisation . . .’

He said something.