‘You actually want me to answer your questions?’

‘Yes. Harry. I do. That’s why we’re here.’

‘Is it?’ He held her gaze.

Karene felt her cheeks flush.

‘Humanitarian work. That’s the most satisfying part, as you’d probably expect.’

‘I wouldn’t expect that actually.’

‘You think boys join the Navy to go to war?’

‘Or to strut about in that pretty white uniform.’

‘You think the uniform is pretty?’ He laughed again. ‘Well, the Royal Navy has a long history of humanitarian work. It’s not just conflict. And if we like to look pretty while we do it, what’s so wrong with that?’

‘Nothing at all. I read in your bio that you’ve made some controversial calls on the migrants crossing from Africa.’

Harry watched the waiter deliver water to the next table. ‘I expect future generations will look back and judge us on how we’ve handled that. Imagine travelling for over a year with no sense of safety or certainty. Taking your whole family on an arduous journey because the alternative is just too desperate. And then discovering that others are comfortable to let you starve or drown.’

Karene’s pen hovered above the page.

‘But my actions weren’t controversial. I had the full support of the Navy.’

‘Really?’

‘Of course. I wouldn’t say that independent thought is really encouraged.’

‘Now I know that’s not true. At your level you’re supposed to be making judgement calls, are you not?’

‘It’s truer than you’d think.’

Harry talked about his approach to challenging and stressful situations and Karene did her best to keep up, scribbling as much as she could in her notebook. He spoke quickly. She liked his animated style and the way he used his hands to illustrate his point. Often the people she interviewed – the mentally strong – were emotionally controlled but Harry was the opposite. He spoke with genuine emotion about the things he had seen and then, just when she felt tears sting her eyes, he would break the tension with a witty aside that made her laugh out loud.

‘Shall we order food? I’m starving after this grilling,’ he said. The waiter passed them for the umpteenth time, clearly frustrated that they were taking up a table and hadn’t yet spent much money.

‘Can I ask you something personal?’ she said, keeping her eyes on the menu.

‘Have you not already?’

‘Your wife. Would she be OK with us having dinner like this?’

‘Caroline and I have separated.’

Karene had not been expecting that. So he wasn’t on the hunt for an extra-marital affair. Her relief was a surprise. She hadn’t realized she’d been feeling anxious about it.

‘She ran off with a man called Robin six months ago.’

‘She left you.’ Karene couldn’t hide her surprise.

Harry gave a tight nod.

‘Well I’m sorry. And …’

‘And?’