‘Sorry.’ I tried for a reassuring smile. ‘Je suis désolée, Madame. I’m OK now, I promise.’

I checked the room. Everyone else – real and blue – had left. That meant I could relax a bit.

‘I don’t really know what happened,’ I admitted, sitting on a desk and swinging my legs. ‘It just got on top of me. It’s a bit scary sometimes. But I’m basically fine.’

She sat on her desk too, and took out some Werther’s Originals from her handbag. She always did that: it was adorable. I accepted one when she offered them and unwrapped it.

‘You and Sasha are doing all right?’

‘We’re doing brilliantly,’ I said, speaking round the sweet. ‘I mean, we really are. And nothing’s changed, truly. I was just having a bit of a blip.’

‘I’m full of admiration. Just do depend on me as part of the support network. Elderly French teacher by day, listener and provider of sweets or whatever you need by … later in the day. Or earlier. Whatever. Is Sasha really fine?’

‘Yes.’ I smiled at that. Sasha had blossomed since Dad left. ‘She really is. She works at the cafe in the park and she loves it there. Dad said she was an embarrassment to him doing that kind of job, but now he’s not here and everything’s better.’

‘Good for her.’

I loved talking about how my sister was doing – I was so proud of her. Our relationship was entirely different now. We were everything to each other.

‘She’s doing an Open University course in forensic science, as well as growing a baby. She’s going to stop the cafe in June and start again when they reopen next summer. We have Mum’s life insurance. We really are fine.’

Ms Duke patted my shoulder and I knew I was free to leave.

I ran to catch up with Izzy and the others, and vaguely pretended I’d got into trouble for not concentrating in French, though I felt bad when it made everyone say what a bitch Ms Duke was. Izzy waited until we were on the way into lunch and stopped. She gave me a little hug. A faceful of wild hair, a blast of Victoria’s Secret body spray.

I said to her, ‘Actually she was just looking out for me.’

‘I kind of knew she would be, or I’d have stayed with you.’