‘Or loyalty.’ Sir Alan turned to her. ‘How are you?’

‘I don’t know.’ She thought about it. ‘I just don’t know.’

‘Try not to take this the wrong way, but you don’t look on top of the world.’

‘Thanks. How are you?’

‘As you would imagine. Alice decided in the end that she would go through another round of chemo, but the oncologist was fairly clear that he thought it unlikely to have much effect. If it doesn’t, we’re to be transferred to palliative care.’

‘I’m sorry, Alan.’ She watched him in silence.

He was as still as a statue. Then he shook his head, as if to dismiss a morbid train of thought. ‘Tell Karen to go down to Narva tonight. I’ll send out someone to help her and speak to the Estonians. We’ll need a Cobra in the morning. I’d like them to know we were ahead of the curve if Mikhail is right and it does kick off.’

‘What do you want to do about their offer?’

‘Ian’s objections are understandable enough. In the end, the only thing all that grief brought us six months ago was the knowledge that your husband was Agent Viper. So . . . I need to buy some cover. I’d like us both to brief the foreign secretary after Cobra. I think, for once, I’ll conspire to leave Ian behind.’

‘Is that wise? Briefing the foreign secretary, I mean.’ The prime minister had sent one of his early leadership rivals, Meg Simpson, to the grandiose office overlooking Whitehall that had once ruled an empire. The press generally considered it a dull, uninspiring choice, designed to make sure he had no rival anywhere near him. Imogen Conrad, the dynamic younger woman who had given him a run for his money in the final round of the leadership contest, had remained where she was at Education.

‘I think so,’ Sir Alan said. ‘Meg may not be as dazzling as either the prime minister or Imogen Conrad, but she’s a hell of a lot more reliable than either. Did you check with Cheltenham for any traffic to support the idea of a coup in Moscow Centre?’

‘Yes, and they’ve heard nothing of the kind either.’ Kate stood. ‘I’d better go. The children are looking after themselves, which is not ideal.’

She went downstairs and put her head around the door of her department. Only Suzy was there, which was far from untypical as Kate had quickly learnt. Suzy shared her predecessor Rav’s work ethic but, sadly, not his charm. ‘Julie briefed me,’ Suzy said, with clipped Mancunian vowels, in such a way as to indicate Kate should really have done so.

‘I’m sorry. Do you mind if I fill you in properly tomorrow? I have to run for the kids.’

‘I understood the situation in Estonia was potentially critical.’

‘We’re watching it closely. Karen is going to Narva tonight. She’ll report back in the morning.’

‘Do you want me to do some work on anything?’