‘Kate!’ She put her arms round her and kissed her on both cheeks, and when she stepped back she noticed that Kate’s eyes were filled with tears.

‘Are you all right? What is it?’

‘Oh, I’m sorry. I’m fine. It’s just that I haven’t seen you for ages.’ Her eyes scanned the towering shelves of books. ‘Haven’t seen this place for ages.’

‘We’re still here.’

‘I’m glad. I wouldn’t like to think it had all disappeared. The old world I mean.’

Erica smiled ruefully. ‘No. The old world is still here. Limping on.’

Kate regarded her quizzically, as if questioning the fact that she could be back in her old world and find it just the same as when she left.

‘Look, do you want a coffee? I don’t mean here. We might be disturbed. I’ll close for half an hour.’

‘Are you sure? Only I don’t want to…’

‘Of course I’m sure. I want to hear all your news.’ Erica pulled down the blind on the shop door, hastily scribbled ‘Open again at noon’ on a piece of card and placed it in the side window. ‘Come on.’

She took Kate to a small cafe further down the alley, and they sat at a table tucked away in the corner where they could talk without being overheard.

‘So tell me all about him. Howie, is it?’

Kate replied without much enthusiasm. ‘Yes. Howie. In Barcelona this week.’

‘And you’re not with him? How can you resist Barcelona? All that architecture. Goudi, and the Ramblas…’ Erica’s enthusiasm was in marked contrast to Kate’s low-key responses.

‘Well, when you’ve already done it three times it doesn’t have quite the original appeal.’

Erica could see that the first bloom of love was beginning to wear off. ‘So where are you living?’

‘Rome mostly, but I thought I’d come here for a few days. On my own.’

‘To Winchester?’

‘No. To London. I thought I’d pamper myself in the Ritz for a while.’ She gazed wistfully out of the window in the direction of the cathedral. ‘Though to be honest I think I’d rather be in a B&B in Winchester.’

‘Well stay the night then.’

‘Oh, Erica, I couldn’t. I’ve nothing to wear.’

Erica looked at Kate in her well-cut dark brown trouser suit, her brown crocodile boots and her trim bob of blonde hair, then glanced down at her own body encased in nondescript working clothes. For a moment her own sadness resurfaced, then she said drily, ‘Well you could make do with the rags you’ve got on. And we do have clothes shops in Winchester if you need any more.’

Kate smiled apologetically. ‘Oh, I couldn’t.’

‘Yes, you could. And, anyway, Tiger’s out tonight and I could do with a bit of company. How do you fancy a girl’s night in?’