‘Filming. We decided to show you some mercy and let you sleep in.’ Clover looked her up and down suspiciously. ‘Why are you wearing that?’ Her friend was in heels and a cream Zara trouser suit that looked like a Valentino, a slip of caramel silk peeping past her revere collar. She looked ridiculously modelesque.

‘I told you last night. Dinner! I’ve been trying to get hold of you all day.’

Clover rolled her eyes. ‘Well, we had no mobile signal. We’ve been in an industrial unit outside Kaprun. Julian’s set up a soft play zone for him—’

‘Excuse me,’ Ari grumbled, walking past with a stony expression.

Clover stepped out of the way, biting her lip apologetically. ‘Whoops.’ She lowered her voice; Beau and Kit would be following in from the car any second. ‘He’s got a load of ball pits and giant trampolines set up in a unit for them. They’ve been practising jumps all day. And when I say all day . . .’ Clover rolled her eyes. ‘Problem is, there’s no heating. Or anywhere to get a hot drink or some food. So while they were keeping warm jumping about . . .’

‘Oh no.’

‘Oh yes,’ Clover nodded, shivering. ‘And guess who deliberately didn’t tell us that – on purpose? I didn’t even bring a jacket because he said we were going to be inside. I am frozen.’

‘Your lips are a bit blue . . . Oh hi Beau,’ Matty smiled as Beau loped past.

‘Hey Matty, you look hot.’ He stopped and corrected himself. ‘Sorry, I mean . . . nice?’

Matty gave a bemused smile as he got into the lift. ‘Not a clue,’ she mouthed.

‘None.’ Clover gave another shiver. ‘Look, I think I’ve caught a chill. I need a hot bath. Could you be a pet and ask Carlotta if I could possibly have a hot chocolate? I’m too tired to walk the extra steps.’

‘Clo!’ Matty cried, looking appalled. ‘You can’t have a bath or a hot chocolate!’

‘Is it really too much to ask?’ Clover sighed. ‘We gave you a free pass today. The least you could do is—’

‘Julian’s going to be here any minute.’

‘Okay. And you’re all ready. It’d only take you a minute to nip upstairs for me. Pretty please?’ she said over her shoulder as she began walking down the corridor.

‘Clo,’ Matty called after her. ‘Julian is expecting you and Kit to join us.’

‘Ha! As if!’ Clover laughed, turning back. ‘I am almost hypothermic because of him!’

‘But he’s made reservations.’

‘And I already told you no. Over my dead body. I cannot think of anything worse—’

‘Worse than what?’

They looked back to find Kit standing in the doorway, his board under his arm.

‘Nothing,’ Clover said quickly.

His eyes narrowed. He could easily read a lie. He looked straight at Matty instead with a quizzical expression.