Alone in hers, Marianne could not but be aware of her solitary state. Nor that she hadn’t forgotten the man she encountered at her brother’s dinner party. A brief encounter was all it had been – and she would rather not think of the impression of her he had doubtless carried away with him.

She had unpacked and was combing her hair when Laura knocked on the door and entered, eating a peach from the fruit basket provided with the compliments of the hotel management.

‘Did your outfit for the wedding get crushed, Marianne? Mine would have if it hadn’t been Jake who did the packing! I’ve never shed the habit acquired in my roving days of just stuffing whatever into a bag ten minutes before taking off.’

Some small talk followed, then Laura said after a pause, ‘You didn’t do much travelling without Ralph, did you? I expect you’re missing him right now.’

‘I still haven’t got used to being alone, if that’s what you mean,’ Marianne replied. ‘I doubt that a woman widowed after many years ever does. But if you want the truth, I don’t miss marriage.’

‘You wouldn’t consider marrying again?’

Marianne laughed. ‘Like my mother used to say – though not in that context – it’s manners to wait till you’re asked.’

‘But should you meet the right man—’

‘Another of my mum’s favourite sayings was that well-known cliche about crossing a bridge when you come to it. And still another, which could be more to the point, is not to meet trouble halfway!’

‘I didn’t imagine that your marital relationship was trouble-free,’ said Laura, ‘whose is? But essentially you and Ralph were happy together, weren’t you?’

‘That doesn’t mean that at my age and stage I would lightly let myself in for sharing my life with a man again.’

‘There’s something familiar about this conversation.’

‘It’s more or less a repeat of one we had years ago,’ Marianne told her dryly, ‘but then it was me talking to you like a Dutch auntie. We’ve switched places, Laura, and I must say I find it amusing. You’d like me to settle down. But I’m not exactly having a rave-up!’

Jake then came to suggest that they go for a stroll on the Kurfürstendamm.

‘I called Karin and Howard to let them know we’ve arrived,’ he added, ‘and Karin’s parents have invited us for dinner this evening. She mentioned that the Cafe Kranzler is where the smart Berliners go for coffee and pastries in the afternoon – and you know me for pastries, Laura!’

‘If only Bessie was still saying that.’

‘Stop it, will you?’

Again the note of strife Marianne had detected earlier was briefly in the air.

Laura dispelled it with a self-deprecatory laugh. ‘Who’d have thought I would turn into a mother hen?’