‘He stayed away for years because he was frightened of Harry, but now he’s back to take his place in the family. Julian feels he’s carried the load, and he’s not happy about Simon.’

‘What a mess. I don’t know. I’m totally adrift. Simon’s got to sort himself out. He’ll wander off somewhere, I should think.’

‘Yes, maybe, but as the older brother and the Baronet he has the idea that he has come to claim what’s his.’

‘ “Harry of Hereford, Lancaster and Derby am I . . . I lay my claim to my inheritance,” ’ says Fleur. ‘Richard II. I played a maid at the Young Vic. Is he entitled to anything much?’

‘I don’t think so. The trust settled a lot of money on him years ago. But I am sure Harry left him some things.’

‘It’s making me ill. Not the question of who gets what, but the uncertainty. I can’t sleep.’

‘Yes, Julian can’t really sleep. Do you know, when he does fall asleep he dreams he’s talking to his pony.’

‘That’s sweet.’

‘You think talking to a horse is sweet?’

‘I do. I think it’s great. I don’t think Harry ever felt stress in his whole life. He just knew exactly what he wanted to do and he did it.’

‘Did you love him?’

Fleur pauses.

‘I did. But I always liked older men, perhaps because my father left us when I was so young. I needed some sort of reassurance. With Harry, nothing was random or uncertain. You got dragged along in his slipstream. And I loved it. What you are asking, I think, is have I got any plans. The answer is no.’

‘Apparently your ex-husband has been writing to the bank.’

‘So everyone keeps telling me. They cut a lot of Harry’s good causes and my ex was one of them, and he’s started complaining. Harry paid him off when we married, but I never knew the details. Anyway, I sent him a small cheque to shut him up.’

‘OK. By the way, I’ve put you on the committee for the Veggie Ball in September at the Dorchester. First committee meeting is on Friday at our place. Is that OK?’

She was planning an outing with Morné, but she can’t say no.

‘What an honour.’

‘Come for supper tomorrow; Julian’s off to the States.’

‘OK, thanks, let’s go somewhere buzzy.’

After they have found their way out of Hackney – a nightmare – and Kim has dropped her back home, Fleur wonders why she was asking her about Artair. Does she think she plans to go back to him? And she wonders just why Julian is so stressed out. Simon is a genial buffoon with a very short attention span and he’ll soon be gone on his strangely aimless travels.