She still looked slim – thank God for Pilates and good posture – but she knew it was there, bigger every day, and soon she would have to take special care over her dress. Nothing tight . . .

On the day she found out, after staring in awe at the unambiguous blue line in the little window, she phoned Adele. She had to talk to somebody, and she didn’t think Leanne would be sympathetic. Of the three people she’d had sex with at the relevant time, Leanne was the only one who could definitely not be the fater.

‘What do you mean, it might not be Massimo’s?’ asked Adele, over bruschetta in the Harvey Nichols café. ‘How many others are there?’

‘Only one.’

‘Who?’

‘Oh, he’s nobody,’ said Victoria, remembering Ben’s broad back, his skin like warm caramel, the sweetness of his kisses as he made love to her for the fourth time in a night. ‘Just a DJ that I met at a party.’

‘Just a DJ? You mean you picked up some kid and you . . .’ Adele lowered her voice. ‘You were not . . . careful?’

‘It wasn’t planned, darling.’

‘Then of course you will do the sensible thing.’

‘Will I?’

Adele dabbed her mouth, put down her napkin. ‘Let us think about this for a moment. You do not have a home.’

‘I could, if . . .’

‘You do not have a partner.’

‘But when Rivelli finds out that he’s going to be a . . .’

‘You have no money.’

‘No, but I can . . .’

‘The only way that you’re going to get any of those things, darling, is by finding yourself a new friend. And nobody, I repeat, nobody is going to look at you with a baby hanging off your titty.’

‘It worked for you.’

‘Oh!’ Adele threw her head back and laughed. ‘Darling, that was different.’

‘It’s always different for you, isn’t it?’ said Victoria, cursing Adele for her effortless elegance, the casual way in which she wore clothes she had bought for herself, jewellery she had bought for herself.

‘But Victoria, surely you don’t think . . . Oh, no, vraiment . . .’

‘What?’

‘That he will take you back. Rivelli.’

‘Why not?’

‘Have you learned nothing?’

‘I know him, Adele. I’ve loved him for a long time, and he has loved me.’

‘My poor girl.’ Adele reached out; Victoria withdrew her hand. ‘You are making a very big mistake.’

‘I know what I’m doing, thank you.’

‘But you do not. Now, shall we have a pleasant lunch? I have said what I have to say. I do not expect you to take my advice, because you never have. But we can be friends, can’t we? Come on. It will be my treat. Choose the wine.’

‘No, thanks,’ said Victoria, picking up her handbag. ‘It’s bad for the baby.’