The market people had moved up the street to a new establishment, Terrence informed Laura, which served sausages of all nationalities with a fine variety of pickles and mustards. ‘They can make as much noise as they like there. You won’t find people like Brian and Susie here any more. They’ve moved up the street, chips with everything.’

‘When did this happen?’ Laura sipped her wine.

‘Last week.’ Terrence idled by her table. ‘I was offered a job there, but I’ve better things to do.’

‘Oh?’

‘I am going into private service. Would pussy like a saucer of milk?’

‘No, thank you.’ Laura looked up. Above the long apron, spotlessly clean, Terrence sported a striped waistcoat. ‘I like the waistcoat.’

‘My uncle brought it from Germany; some count’s footman sold it to him. It’s got his crest on the buttons.’

‘Very nice. Shall you be happy in private service?’

‘I mean to be.’

‘Doesn’t it depend on the people?’

‘No problem, it’s just an old couple.’

Terrence had grown taller during the winter, more robust. His face had filled out so that his teeth were less daunting. The probability occurred to Laura that the old couple might be Nicholas and Emily, that Nicholas and Emily might need protection, or conversely Terrence. But she was on her way to London. Nicholas, Emily and Terrence must fend for themselves. She raised her paper and pretended to read.

‘I plan to get Mavis to work part-time with me,’ said Terrence, ignoring the hint. ‘It’s a local job, see.’

‘Very nice.’ Laura folded the paper to the leader page. Was the thought of Terrence living in the rooms where she had made love to Claud abhorrent? She had been stupid to allow him to keep coming there; it would have been better to have stuck to the loft where somehow she had always kept the upper hand, contained her love (if that was what it was). If she had not had an assignation with Margaret Bannister she would have paid her bill and left.

‘When I have some experience I shall go to a school for butlers and move on to the States. They pay terrific salaries there. You get your own car, the lot.’

‘That’s all right, then,’ said Laura.

Terrence moved away to position himself by the bar, ready to swoop on customers as they came in.