He still had not told Kate about Matt accompanying him, or about Liz being on call. The right moment had not yet presented itself. Trying to work out how best to go about telling her, he prowled around the kitchen, opening cupboard doors and peering hungrily into the fridge. Kate had forgotten about lunch again. No wonder the weight was falling off her.

He called up the stairs asking if she would like a sandwich, but she answered that she needed to finish something and would grab a bite when she was through. He wondered what malevolent figure was emerging from her dexterous fingers and began to wish he’d never sneaked a look at those awful paintings.

As he swallowed the last mouthful of his lunch, she came into the kitchen and stood before him, holding up a painting.

‘Well? What do you think?’

After a moment’s hesitation, he raised his eyes and beheld not some vile goblin but a magical landscape. Imaginary flowers surrounded a waterfall, all rendered in glorious colours. Mythical birds with vivid plumage flew among the blossom and in a pool at the base of the waterfall, a gathering of water sprites frolicked in sunlight. What on earth was she up to?

‘You keep saying I don’t show you my latest stuff, so here it is. Opinion, please?’

But when he looked closer, Will realised what she had done. The picture had seemed vaguely familiar, and it was. She had resurrected an old painting, adding more flowers and birds and the sprites. It was years old and she must have thought he’d have forgotten it by now. But Will remembered them all. Not one single brush stroke had ever escaped his attention.

What should he say? He stalled for time, taking it to the window and holding it under the light. She was going to extraordinary lengths to keep her new work hidden from him. He decided to go along with the charade. ‘Great, babe! I love it. But what about the new, powerful approach you told me you were using for your own book? This is more your original style.’

He detected a flicker of panic — or was it anger? ‘Oh, that. I’ve put it on hold for a while.’

Okay, two could play at that game. He smiled at her and asked if he could come and watch her paint, like he used to.

She suddenly found something of great interest on the toe of her trainer. Without looking up, she produced her habitual excuse. ‘I’d love you to, Will, but my concentration is shot at the moment. I’ve no idea why, it’s just the way I’m feeling right now. Give me a bit longer, can you?’ She raised her eyes to his, beseeching.

‘Of course. It’s just that I love to be near you — well, you know that.’