He smoothed down my hair. ‘All right. It’s just morning sickness – they really should call it something else. But shall we go home anyway?’

I was grateful to him and was about to say yes, I did want to go home and curl up by the fire or listen to the evening concert on the radio, when Charles strode over. ‘Dr Cawson, I really do think we should try now, before he sits down to dine,’ he said, keeping his voice low. ‘He won’t be here very long. Just for Comrade Burgess’s address, then he’ll probably go.’

I must have looked confused. ‘A patient of mine is at the Ministry of Food,’ Nick explained. ‘He’s offered to introduce me to one of Burgess’s people tonight.’

‘Who?’

‘Ian Fellowman. Assistant Secretary of State Information. In charge of broadcasting.’

‘It would be excellent to meet Comrade Fellowman,’ Charles added. ‘Of course, there’s no real chance that we can meet Comrade Burgess himself. He –’

‘Charles, could you give us a minute?’ Nick said, without looking at him.

‘Yes. Of course, Dr Cawson.’ He went through into the ballroom.

There was a silence between us. I really didn’t want to be there. ‘Would it be useful to you?’ I asked.

He sighed. ‘An Assistant Secretary is a useful contact, and perhaps things could develop from there. I’ve heard his usual GP is planning on retiring soon.’

‘Will you get a chance to meet him again?’

‘Who knows? To be honest, I don’t know how well my patient really knows Fellowman. That’s why this looked like the best chance – a social gathering.’

‘Where you can charm him,’ I said, mustering as much of a smile as I could. ‘How long would you need?’

He paused. ‘If I could have just five minutes … God, it’s awful, isn’t it? The lengths we have to go to. But look –’

‘No. Of course you must meet him.’

‘Are you sure?’

‘Yes, you might not get another chance.’

He took my hands in his. ‘All right. If you’re sure.’ I wasn’t. I felt dreadful, but I knew it was important to him and I didn’t want him to go home and miss his opportunity, so I resolved just to keep a lid on the nausea. I did my best not to let on how I felt as we crossed the lobby to the ballroom, had our identity cards checked against an approved list, and stepped inside.