‘Will they have room for all of us?’ She tried to sound cool, suppressing the longing that leapt inside her in case Pansy’s invitation should be withdrawn as casually as it had been issued.

‘Room?’ Pansy giggled. ‘I expect they’ll find you a corner somewhere. Wait till you see the place. That’s settled, then.’

Chloe nodded slowly. The last time she had been to Venice was with Leo, who was working. He had proclaimed himself too busy to join her in exploring the city, and they had spent his free hours in bed, or in dark restaurants and claustrophobic bars. Now, the thought of seeing it all in the company of Pansy and Helen was inviting.

Somehow, in the horrible days since the clinic, they had become the best friends she had ever had.

The room was almost dark now, but she could still make out Helen’s face vivid with excitement, and Pansy’s pleased satisfaction.

Chloe lifted her drink.

‘To Venice,’ she said.

‘To Venice,’ they echoed her.

EASTER

TEN

‘I’ll miss you.’

Darcy was standing with his back firmly turned to the queue at the passport desk. He put his hands on Helen’s shoulders and drew her towards him.

‘If you must go, come back as soon as you can,’ he whispered with his mouth close to her hair. Helen breathed in the familiar scent, wool and leather and the open air, and then grinned up at him.

‘It’s only ten days,’ she said lightly. ‘But I’ll miss you too.’

It’s true, she thought. Somehow, without either of us knowing quite how, we’ve drawn very close. Watching the broad, undistinguished face and rueful smile, she recognised that Darcy was part of her life now.

He bent to kiss her, brushing the corner of her mouth with his own. It wasn’t Darcy’s way to be more demonstrative in a public place. He lifted one of the black curls and wound it reflectively round his finger.

‘I love you,’ Darcy said.

‘This is the last call for Alitalia flight 349. Last call for Alitalia flight 349.’

The intrusive announcement brought back the crowded terminal, the disappearing queue.

‘I know.’ Helen’s voice was barely audible. She looked down at Darcy’s capable, calloused hands gripping her own, then up into his eyes. ‘I know.’

He didn’t kiss her again. Instead he gently propelled her forward and into the line of travellers at the barrier. Pansy and Chloe, from their discreet distance, grinned at each other and came to join her. When Helen looked back from the far side of the barrier, Darcy waved once and then turned away.

There was such tenderness in his face that she almost ran back to his side, but Chloe and Pansy were behind her and between them they swept her along the featureless tunnels to the boarding gate.