‘That’s why the cheque bounced.’ She looks at me with frightened eyes. ‘The police are investigating, and the Financial Services Authority. Until they clear it all up, Rich’s hands are tied.’

‘Omigod. I thought you were going to tell me he’d got another woman.’

‘If only,’ Chelsea says, rolling her eyes. ‘That I could cope with. This . . .’ she sighs unhappily. ‘We’re both in uncharted territory.’

‘I can’t believe that Richard is involved in something like this.’ Not the model husband.

‘He isn’t,’ Chelsea says determinedly. ‘Of course, he isn’t. He’s just got caught up in the aftermath. A victim of circumstances.’

‘Of course. Of course.’ I echo anxiously. Fraud – Richard? I’m stunned.

‘It will all come right in the end. It may just take some time. A few weeks – no more, I’m sure.’

‘How can I help?’ I ask. ‘You know that I’ll do whatever I can. You’re always there for me.’ I think of how she’s tried to help me with my fundraising when she had all this going on.

‘I need money, Annie,’ she says bluntly. ‘The kids’ school fees are due next week and I’ve no idea how we’re going to pay them.’

‘Wow.’ That’s quite a big ask. I know that the kids go to one of the most expensive schools in the area when they’re in England. ‘I haven’t got that kind of money, Chelsea.’

If only I had.

‘It’ll be a loan,’ she says. ‘Just until our bank accounts are released again.’

‘And you think that’ll be a few weeks?’

‘I don’t know,’ she admits, hanging her head. ‘That’s what I’m hoping. Until then, I don’t know what to do. That’s why I came to you.’

‘I’m stony broke, Chelsea. I don’t have the kind of money you’re talking about.’

‘But you have the money for your holiday.’

Holiday? Adventure. Dream. Escape. Not holiday.

‘I’ve worked so hard to get that. It’s all I have.’

The tears start again. ‘And I wouldn’t ask you if I wasn’t desperate. What am I to do? What else am I to do?’

What am I to do? I think. I can’t leave my sister like this. She’s frantic. I can’t ask her to pull her children out of their posh school because I won’t lend her the money. I know how much Henry and Sophia adore Swanleys.

I knock back my coffee. Her need is greater than mine. ‘I’ve only got about two thousand pounds. That isn’t anywhere near enough.’

‘But it’s a start,’ Chelsea says. ‘I can ask Lauren too.’