He smiles at Fleur warmly, indulgently.

‘No, no, no need at all. My constitution is geared to the outdoor life. You’re a beautiful woman, Fleur.’

She remembers that he often makes guileless remarks. The natives probably love him for it.

Julian arrives on his way to work to discuss the funeral arrangements. He stands in the hall waiting for Fleur.

‘Fleur, you can stay here as long as you wish, as you know. Technically the family trust owns the house, but Dad made it plain when you and he were married that you would have a life-right to the house. And we wouldn’t want to disturb that arrangement without a reason. It’s entirely up to you.’

He’s off to work, but already looking tired and drawn. By contrast his brother is rudely healthy. If it was intended to make her feel secure, Julian’s little announcement, delivered rather mechanically, has the opposite effect. It’s as if he is asking her to consider her position carefully.

‘I can’t think at the moment, Julian. People go into a state of shock after bereavement, don’t they? How are you, poor love?’

‘I’m fine. I think I am fine, thanks so much. It will probably hit me later. Where’s the intrepid explorer, Sir Simon?’

‘Sir Simon. Ah yes, he set off to renew his contact with Gieves and Hawkes.’

‘Why?’

‘Why? Because he needs a suit now that he is a baronet. All his clothes are in Johannesburg, or perhaps he said St Petersburg. He seems quite excited.’

‘He doesn’t react like normal people. Which can be both good and bad.’

She knows that Julian bears Simon a grudge; because Simon couldn’t be in the same room as Harry after their distracted mother, Eleanor, committed suicide, he left the country and Julian had to go into the bank: he had no choice as he was the next in line after all those generations. He was in his second year of a postgraduate degree at the John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard, when his father summoned him. He was studying public policy, whatever that is. Kim was at Radcliffe.

Julian suggests that Estelle should be kept on until all Harry’s papers and pictures and so on are located and accounted for. She could also help with the secretarial side of the funeral arrangements and do some forward planning on the memorial service. He produces some notices of Harry’s death for her approval. She is moved by the line ‘the devoted husband of Fleur’; she’s always depended on other people’s kindness and it never fails to affect her deeply.

‘Julian, does it have to be so quick?’

‘It does, unfortunately. Shall I get Estelle to help?’

‘Yes, please do.’

‘I’ll set her up in Bread Street and she can consult with you and help you for as long as it takes.’

‘Thank you. You’re a darling.’