‘I’m glad to hear it.’ Maya linked her arm in Liv’s. ‘It’s enough to be putting up with his awful mother – I’m not sure anyone but you could possibly sign up to a future with all that complaining and not happily throttle her after the first week.’

‘Ah, she’s not that bad.’ Liv stopped, because in spite of the disaster of dinner, she couldn’t help but feel that bubble of excitement well up inside her again. ‘If I tell you something, Maya, will you promise to keep it to yourself?’

‘Of course.’ Maya was the best at keeping secrets; even the KGB couldn’t get information out of her if she promised to keep it under her hat.

‘I think Eddie is going to propose to me this week,’ she said, hardly able to keep the excitement out of her voice.

‘Really? Well that’s…’ Maya stopped to look at her sister, suddenly serious. ‘If that’s what is going to make you happy, it’s brilliant news.’

‘Come on, at least pretend to be happy for me,’ Liv said, even though, deep down, she hadn’t expected much elation from Maya. She let out a high-pitched laugh that sounded nervous and odd even to her own ears.

‘Of course I am, sis. It’s great news. I’m probably just a little Quirked out!’

‘Yes, well okay, I’ll admit Barbara Quirke can be hard going – maybe it was just nerves today? You know, being surrounded by Latimers?’

‘Maybe,’ Maya said and then she pulled her sister close and hugged her hard. ‘Oh, Liv, I’m delighted for you, really, if Eddie is who you’ve set your heart on, I’ll be over the moon for you.’

‘It’s not that he’s said anything as such,’ Liv admitted.

‘Oh?’

‘No.’ She shook her head. ‘It’s just that I found the ring…’

‘The ring?’

‘It’s beautiful, with emeralds shaped like shooting stars. It’s everything I could have wished for and more. Oh, Maya, it’s like he has just known all along and…’