‘I can help you change your order if you like,’ she offered.

Evelyn dropped her gaze towards the tea lake. ‘That would be most helpful,’ she said. ‘I don’t know how things got into such a pickle. I used to keep on top of the house, but then I sort of lost interest in it, and the messier it got the harder it became to tidy up. Nicholas despairs of me. He’s always at me to let him help, but I can’t bear the thought of him rooting through my things, even if it is mainly rubbish. That’s how the diary ended up in the charity shop, by Nicholas trying to be useful, although I wish he’d told me what he was doing. I have no idea what else was in that box, what other treasures he might have seen fit to give away.’

‘It was just old paperbacks,’ replied Pip helpfully. ‘I don’t want to make assumptions, but I don’t think there was anything precious in there – except the diary, of course.’

There was a heartbeat’s pause. Evelyn opened her mouth to speak and Pip felt certain she was about to ask her if she had read the diary, but then she seemed to change her mind.

Instead she said, ‘I’d better get this lot cleaned up. Such a nuisance. So silly of me. And that was my favourite teapot as well.’

Pip dropped to her hands and knees and began to pick up the bits of pottery, nestling them in the largest piece whilst Evelyn tiptoed out of the tea and went to find a mop. When she returned, Pip got Evelyn to sit down whilst she set to clearing the mess, putting the kettle on to boil for a second time and locating another teapot in a cupboard, all under Evelyn’s direction.

Soon everything was sorted, and a fresh pot of tea sat brewing in a tiny space that Evelyn had cleared on the table.

‘You can get help with all this, you know,’ said Pip gently.

‘I know,’ said Evelyn. ‘But the mess isn’t really the problem. If I cleared it all away it would just come back. I need to sort out in here first . . .’ She tapped the side of her head with her hand. ‘Or there’ll be no point.’

Pip nodded. She knew exactly what Evelyn meant.

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