‘Oh God, what?’ Evie groans, passing a roasted chestnut stand, a woman in fingerless gloves pushing them around a huge smoking pan, a smile on her face.

‘Well, look, I know we talked about not feeling worthy yesterday, and honestly, I am so honoured you’d share that with me because in all the years I’ve known you, you’ve never actually articulated yourself that way. That was the most openly I’ve heard you talk about your dad, ever.’

Evie feels her tummy contract and her throat get hot. Where is this going?

‘Am I about to be punished for that …?’ Evie says, and she’s only half-joking. The other half is dead serious.

‘Nooo,’ Magda says, tutting. ‘But I did just want to keep that conversation going? If you’re open to it?’ Evie doesn’t say anything, and Magda apparently takes this as permission to continue. She takes a breath, and the seriousness of it makes Evie furrow her brow. Everything seems less pretty now. But somehow she is more open to this conversation, more open than, as Magda said, she’s been in years. The thought of Duke’s face floats into her imagination. Odd.

‘Because I couldn’t help but notice that after that salesgirl noticed you, you spent a lot of money. And look, I don’t know your exact situation, but I am your friend, and I do know when something isn’t right.’

Evie would rather talk about her heart than her bank balance out loud.

‘I was treating myself,’ Evie says, waving a hand.

‘And that’s totally allowed,’ Magda replies. ‘Obviously. It’s just … it wasn’t a small amount of money. And I know you say about it being so expensive for your mom’s care, and you’ve always kind of skirted around the issue when your credit card has bounced or whatever. So I’m only thinking that … you know … if you’re good for cash, why does the card bounce?’

‘I keep the limit small,’ Evie says. ‘So I don’t get in trouble. So small that sometimes it gets maxed out. But rather that than have a big limit and overspend because of it.’

‘Uh-huh,’ Magda muses. Evie starts to think that that’s the last of it, when her friend adds: ‘You said something about being able to pay for all your mom’s care without worrying because of the new foreign rights deals, too?’

‘Nursing homes are expensive!’ Evie says, defensively. ‘The good ones, anyway.’

Magda makes that noise again. ‘Uh-huh.’

‘I’m fine,’ Evie says, when she realises Magda isn’t following up with anything. ‘Money comes in, money goes out. I write two books a year, Magda. I don’t travel much, or even go out very often, but I do buy nice cashmere to do my work in, and nice candles to burn as I do it. I think I deserve that much.’