He nodded. “I met Graeme at a reunion party, we got talking, and when he called a few months later to tell me there was a law practice coming up for sale here, I decided a change of scene might help.”

“And has it?”

“In a way, yes. Now tell me more about you. Am I allowed to ask if you’re married?”

Feeling her mouth turning dry, she said, “Jasmine’s father died when she was ten.”

“Gosh, I’m sorry to hear that. A really tough age to lose a parent.”

“Yes, it was, not helped by the fact that my father died around the same time. So now we’re just the three of us, me, Jasmine, and my mother.”

He was about to say more when Jasmine weaved a happy path to her mother’s side. “Hope I’m not interrupting,” she hiccupped, “but I just wanted to say that Nana’s bloke is totally cool. You need to meet him, Mum.”

Claudia said smoothly, “I already have—does Nana know you’re referring to him as her bloke?” She glanced at Dan and was relieved to see his amusement.

“Probably not,” Jasmine admitted. “His name’s Henry and apparently he used to own the law firm that you now run,” she informed Dan.

“Isn’t it a small world?” he said dryly.

“Tell me about it,” and catching hold of her mother’s arm she gave it a bruising squeeze. “I’m so glad we came tonight,” she said. “Everyone’s amazing and it’s starting to feel like we’ve been here forever.”

Fearing for how far she might go in her enthusiasm for the evening, Claudia said, “Could we have a quick word?”

“Of course,” Jasmine cried ecstatically. To Dan she said, “She’s about to tell me off for being drunk, so if you’ll excuse us . . .”

“Good luck.” He smiled, and saluting her with his glass, he turned to talk to someone else as Claudia took her daughter to the edge of the room.

“Please watch what you say,” she whispered. “I know it’s fun and you’re having a good time, but . . .”

“It’s all right, you can stop worrying. I won’t have any more and I promise, I’m being very careful about what I say. So now tell me, do you fancy him? He’s pretty ripped, and those glasses are kind of cute.”

Claudia’s heart contracted as she drew back in protest. “I was just chatting with him, nothing more, and actually I think it’s probably time we made a move. We don’t want to outstay our welcome.”

“Like as if. Anyway, Abby’s invited me to sleep over and I think I will.”

“Not while you’re like this. Please come home with me and Nana.”

Jasmine’s expression turned mutinous and Claudia experienced a bolt of unease.