She turns away, wondering what Philip would have made of Hal and Fliss. She is certain that he and Hal would have got on very well. They would have exchanged yarns of life at sea and in embassies in foreign countries. Philip had a knack of putting people at ease, creating a convivial atmosphere; he would have felt at home here at The Keep. She wishes he could be here with her, sharing this as they’d shared so many things. They’d had so much in common. He was a lonely only child, with a father in the army, and he’d enjoyed the companionship he found at school, especially with Max.

She can remember when she first realized, had known for certain, who Philip’s true love was. They were in Copenhagen when Max’s ship came into harbour for a Show the Flag visit. He’d grabbed a taxi and come straight to their flat much earlier than expected. She let him in, hugged him, then Philip came out of his study and stopped in surprise. The expression on his face – joy, love – showed her everything, explained so many things. How odd that she hadn’t minded: that it simply brought them all even closer. These two men had been the constants in her life and she loved them both. After Philip died, when she was packing up in London, she’d found a photograph tucked between the pages of one of his books. On the flyleaf was a brief inscription: ‘Philip. Congratulations. Max’ and a date, July 1970: the summer before Philip went up to Cambridge to read History. The book was a copy of 1066 and All That. In the photograph, the two young men stand together. Max, slightly taller, has propped his elbow casually on Philip’s shoulder and is smiling nonchalantly at the camera. Philip is looking at Max with an oddly touching mix of affection and admiration. Somehow the photograph says it all.

Now, Cara picks up a bag that has a box of chocolates in it, a little present for Fliss, and makes her way downstairs and back to the kitchen.

After lunch, leaving Hal to fill the dishwasher and Henrietta to settle the baby down for his nap, the others take Honey and set off for a walk on the hill. Jolyon and Sam walk on ahead, with Honey close at heel as usual, despite their efforts to make her run freely. Fliss and Cara follow more slowly, battling into the strong westerly wind.

‘So was it a good party last night?’ Fliss asks. ‘Sam seems to have enjoyed himself.’

Cara guesses that Fliss is trying to find out a little more about Sam’s activities in Salcombe and wonders how much he’s told her about Amy.