‘And I’m sorry that you’ve been bothered by such unpleasant matters. You shouldn’t have to listen to that sort of thing,’ he says, after a while. ‘Peter Lazenby is – as you’ll remember from meeting him – a man who lives what can only be described as a reckless life. I doubt he could own a nightclub and be any other way.’

‘It’s true, then? What I’ve heard? He’s involved with criminals? Corruption?’

‘I don’t know exactly what you’ve been told.’ Ralph sighs heavily and looks up at her. ‘He sails close to the wind, I’m quite sure of it, but he’s not a criminal himself. He’s from a good family.’

She studies the tea in her cup. It is already too dense and dark for her taste. She does not want to drink it but takes a small sip, for politeness’ sake, wondering whether she might ask for a pot of hot water.

‘And you… You don’t have much to do with him, do you? I heard that there were politicians involved in his business –’

‘Don’t be ridiculous, Harriet.’ He grips his cutlery and leans over the table, speaking with a quiet, tight voice. ‘I can only assume that you’ve been listening to vulgar gossip in the newspaper offices. No politician I know would involve himself in anything illegal or corrupt. And no one that you know, either.’

‘I’m sorry.’ She shrinks a little at the sharpness of his response. ‘I only wanted to warn you about him, and perhaps… Suggest that you keep your distance.’

‘I barely see him. Hadn’t seen him in months until the other day.’

She lets out a sigh of relief. ‘Oh, I’m glad of that, Ralph. Very glad.’

He finishes his meal in swift silence and downs the last mouthfuls of his tea.

‘I should be heading to the House. Are you returning home or going to work?’ He reaches into a pocket, and then a second pocket, frowning. ‘Blast. I appear to have left my watch at home. Do you have the time?’

‘It’s nearly a quarter to eleven,’ she says, checking her wristwatch again. ‘I have no plans, so I expect I’ll go to the office for an hour or so.’

‘Then I ought to go. If you’ll forgive the urgency.’ He pulls coins from his pocket and hands them to the man hovering a few feet away. ‘I’m sorry, darling, you’ve caught me in a rush. Still living the bachelor life, I think.’ He helps her with her coat. ‘Thank goodness you’ll be rescuing me very soon – I can look forward to a calmer start to every day.’