Formality was slipping away. He needed her nice and relaxed to maximize the element of surprise.

He turned into the street and gently took her elbow as he steered her through the traffic. ‘Your boss is a very persuasive man.’

She nodded eagerly. ‘I’ll say. He really motivates people.’

‘You enjoy the job?’

‘Oh, yes, very much but it pretty much takes over my life.’

‘Judging by the headlines, you’ll be having to work even harder now.’

‘It looks like it.’

The doorman greeted them as they entered the club and climbed the stairs to the foyer. Tom hoped his father wasn’t around: the last thing he needed was parental disapproval of his chatting up another woman behind Delphine’s back. He guided her to what had been called the smoking room, then to a table in the darkest corner. ‘They do a particularly mean mojito here.’

‘I’ll have a lime soda . . .’ She sighed. ‘Oh, all right.’ She grinned guiltily. She was good, thought Tom, but not too good.

He summoned a waiter, who took their order, then leaned forward and gave her all his attention. ‘You must forgive me for seeming so forward but I’ve been away in the most godforsaken place, surrounded by hairy, perspiring males with varying standards of hygiene, on a military base totally devoid of any beauty.’

She raised an eyebrow. ‘So you’ve got me here under false pretences. I thought this was strictly business.’

‘I’ve always had difficulty finding the line between where business ends and pleasure begins.’

Tiny movements around her eyes suggested to Tom that she was torn between attraction and wariness. Fair enough, he thought. She has no idea what’s coming.

‘But I really do want to talk about the amazing Mr Rolt. He’s shown his hand with that interview. I expect your life’s about to get a lot more complicated, as a result.’

The waiter arrived with the drinks. Phoebe took a tiny sip and sat back in her chair. ‘It’s been relentless today. He’s going to get a lot of flak but he’s very resilient.’

‘Are you a big fan of his views?’

She seemed taken aback by the question.

‘It doesn’t take much to see what he’s saying adds up to a pretty extreme position.’

‘He’s never said he has any personal political ambitions.’

She hadn’t answered the question but he let it go for now. He picked up his glass. ‘What shall we drink to?’

She grinned at him, waiting for him to choose.

‘To Invicta? And all who sail in her!’

‘To Invicta.’

They each took a sip.