Pauline didn’t know, but smiled again. And then, without quite knowing she was going to do it, she reached up and touched his short, white, springy hair, an odd, unusual gesture for her. ‘It feels nice,’ she said shyly and he smiled at her and did not move. For just a moment they stood together that way and then, feeling she was blushing slightly, she took her hand away.

‘Well, I’m so glad you could come,’ she said a little formally, regaining her composure.

‘Lovely party, lovely day,’ he said. ‘Look, I want to talk to you, as far away from that – spectacle –’ he pointed to Iona Spring holding court under the oak tree surrounded by a gaping audience ‘– as possible. Terence Blue is too soft to be a rapist.’ Pauline looked at him sharply but he was not making any sniggering innuendo. ‘He’s a pussycat under all that macho performance, I bet you a quid there’s more to all this than meets the eye.’

‘Ah Joey, you were always the last of the big spenders,’ said Pauline teasingly. ‘I remember all those cappuccinos you used to buy me, cappuccini.’ Then she added carefully, loath to talk about what Molly had told her, ‘You may be right though, about Terence.’

They walked down towards the river, through the guests who filled the garden now. The sun sparkled on the water and small craft chugged by, people staring up at the party. For a moment they stood in silence.

‘Well how are you Pauline?’ said Joseph at last, and she saw that he was staring at her. ‘You know, you look absolutely beautiful. If it doesn’t sound rude, you’ve aged very well.’

‘Thank you,’ said Pauline.

‘Tell me,’ he said. ‘Do you still want to fly?’

Pauline felt deeply uncomfortable at this reference to the past that was gone. ‘I was just dreaming about my father in those days,’ she said rather tightly. Joseph smiled an odd smile at her. And then he broke the moment and got quickly down to business.

‘Well has Anthony talked to you, what do you think?’

‘About what?’