Her train would be arriving in a few hours and it was time for him to head home to change the sheets and get the remaining ingredients for dinner. He had come to the green lane that had once been used by drovers to take sheep and cattle from the South Downs up to London for sale and slaughter. Now he could cut back along it, walking the straight edge of his semicircular path. He set off rapidly under the midday sun, his longing for reunion uneasily combined with the feeling of how little he knew Olivia, and by the stress of so many specific novelties: her first visit to his cottage, the first time he had cooked for her, the first time he had bought the barely affordable red wine recommended by the local wine merchant, and then there was the potential for disappointment that surrounded all these novelties. Francis stopped for a moment, interrupted his anxiety, took in his surroundings again and burst out laughing, realising that everything was perfect just as it was and that it couldn’t be improved by speculation.

2

Lucy took up the window seat that Jade had booked for her, a little pod that extended into a narrow bed. She was taking the day flight from New York to London, but she was shattered enough to risk the circadian havoc of going to bed first thing in the morning. Before switching off her phone, she sent a text to Olivia. She tore the plastic cover from the blanket and broke the seal on the little black bag containing a miniature toothbrush, miniature toothpaste, miniature lip balm, miniature moisturiser, night socks, eye mask and earplugs. She took out the last two items and stuffed the bag into the pouch beside her. Jade had asked Lucy for her seat preferences, her dietary preferences and, for her stay in Hunter’s seldom used but fully staffed London flat, her favourite coffee, her favourite newspaper and her breakfast preferences. She was being so solicitous that Lucy was bracing herself for an email about her blood type, her favourite position and her political inclinations. Jade was Hunter Sterling’s vibrantly efficient personal assistant and had clearly been told to treat Lucy with great care.