‘Not exactly, but she was always coming up with crazy ideas that would have landed us in a lot of trouble at best, and could have been fatal at worst. She was a real live wire, but also exhausting. I’m trying to remember her surname. Car-something. Carruthers? No, Carmichael, that was it.’

‘Do you know what happened to her?’

‘No idea. She’s equally likely to have married and settled down to raise a family as she is to have died in a bizarre bungee-jumping accident or become a stuntwoman. I could see her as a stuntwoman, actually.’

‘Maybe you should look her up,’ Will suggests. ‘Widen the talent pool beyond just Gina.’

‘Let it go,’ Jonathan warns him, but I notice his stern tone doesn’t reach his eyes. ‘Anyway, if you’re not coming with me on Saturday, what are you going to do?’

‘Do I have to do something? I didn’t realise that was a thing now.’

‘Of course you don’t. I just wondered if you had a better offer, that’s all.’

Will smiles. ‘I know you might find this difficult, Dad, but most things are better than freezing my socks off while you and Bernard wang on about collectives and cyclics and whatnot. Maybe Tilly would like some help with her nephew.’

‘I’m sorry, what?’ I was drifting off, as I often do when they go into these little sparring matches, so the mention of my name has caught me by surprise.

‘I was just wondering whether you’d like some adult company when you take your nephew out on Saturday,’ Will clarifies. ‘The adult, in this instance, being me.’

‘Oh, umm.’

‘Will’s surprisingly good with children,’ Jonathan offers, sensing my hesitation.

‘Probably on account of the fact I used to be one,’ Will retorts with a grin. ‘I mean, I don’t want to impose on your special aunt-and-nephew time, but if you wanted some help, I know what a handful they can be at that age. You might welcome a second pair of eyes, unless you genuinely do have some in the back of your head.’

I consider his offer. If I’m completely honest, I have been vaguely dreading the prospect of my day out with Isaac ever since I made the offer to Tash in a moment of madness. The idea of having someone else there to help is very appealing. The fact that it’s Will, who I’ve really come to like, makes it a no-brainer.

‘OK,’ I tell him. ‘If you’re sure, you’re on. I’d like that.’

‘How on earth could I begrudge you missing flying club when you’ll be on such a noble cause?’ Jonathan says with a smile. ‘Although I’m sure Bernard will miss you.’

‘I dare say he’ll bear the deprivation,’ Will retorts.