No, thought Isobel, I’ll bet she hasn’t! Her mind was racing. Aloud she said: ‘This is very upsetting news. It’s possible,’ she went on, groping her way, conscious of gaping pitfalls if she said the wrong thing, ‘that because I’ve brought up a family myself and have got to know Rory so well in the last two months I might be able to offer some helpful suggestions. We really didn’t have any problems with him once he’d settled in with us. But I need to see Lorna and talk it over with her in person.’

‘Quite,’ said the senator. ‘Quite. But may I say to you . . .’

‘What exactly is the problem with Rory’s behaviour?’ interrupted Isobel. ‘I can see he must be very unsettled after all the changes he’s been through, but surely he can’t have been that bad. He’s only five, for goodness’ sake and he’s only been back with his mum for a week. And children always punish their mums for leaving them, even for a short time. It’s standard.’

The senator said gravely that that was a very, very interesting observation, but he did not, at this stage, and on the telephone, feel at liberty to go into details over a possible clinical condition that had not, as yet, been properly assessed. He impressed on Isobel what a vital year this was for him politically, how he needed Lorna’s support full time and how the nurse they’d hired to look after the child didn’t seem able to manage him any better than his mother could. Not once was any question of Rory’s welfare mentioned. He then informed Isobel that he was waiting for a highly significant call to come through from the States, and, much as he’d enjoyed talking to her, he felt he really must bring their call to a close.

‘That’s fine by me,’ said Isobel, ‘I’m pretty busy myself. Perhaps you’d tell Lorna that I could come up to London on Friday for one night to talk things over, but if she wants my help over Rory she’ll need to ring me as soon as she gets in so that I can arrange things this end. It’s over to her,’ and she rang off.

Regaling Giles with this conversation that night, she said: ‘Do you know, I suddenly felt sorry for Lorna! He sounds such a bogus old windbag. I’ll bet he’s good at dodging awkward political questions and waffling on about nothing, using ten words when two would do, but no amount of money and glamour and moving in high circles could compensate for having to listen to someone like that pontificating all day. But oh, Giles . . . poor Rory! He must be wretched. So bewildered. No wonder he’s being a perfect pain.’