‘I didn’t like to say,’ said Elizabeth. ‘But now that you mention it, I see you’ve come dressed as an extra from Holby City. Is this a new career direction or just one of your fancies?’

‘They’re actually very comfortable, you know. I don’t know why more people don’t wear scrubs in daily life. They don’t wrinkle when you wash them.’

‘What are they made of?’ asked Elizabeth, reaching across to feel the material.

‘Polyester.’

‘Good God! I don’t think we’ve ever had any polyester in the house.’

She took a bottle of hand sanitizer from her bedside drawer and applied it liberally to the affected areas. ‘Have you saved anyone’s life while you’ve been wearing them?’

‘No, but a man collapsed at the Tube station and I did my best to help him.’

‘So what are you going to do?’ asked Elizabeth. ‘Find another therapist? We live in London. There must be thousands of them out there. Everyone has been suffering from some form of breakdown since last year.’

‘It took me eighteen months to get used to Dr Oristo,’ replied Nelson, looking miserable. ‘I don’t know if I can go through all that getting-to-know-you stuff again. Building trust and what have you. She gave me the name of one of her colleagues, someone she recommends, but she’s a relatively young woman, and I don’t think I can talk about things like sex with someone her age.’

‘But you don’t have sex, Nelson,’ said Elizabeth. ‘So why would you talk about it? Surely your sessions are just fifty minutes of uncomfortable silences?’

‘It’s because I don’t have sex that I need to talk about it. Dr Oristo says I have a blockage.’

‘So call a plumber.’

‘Aren’t most plumbers men?’

‘Sexist. Anyway, maybe you want to have sex with a man. Have you ever considered that?’

‘I don’t know,’ he said. ‘I don’t think I do, but then again, I don’t think I want to have sex with a woman either. I just feel as if I’m supposed to.’

‘There must be someone you fancy.’

‘I will admit that,’ said Nelson, ‘on occasion, I am drawn to someone.’

‘Who?’

‘Princess Anne.’

Elizabeth blinked. ‘All right,’ she said. ‘Anyone else?’

‘I liked one of the contestants from this year’s Bake Off.’

‘Which one?’

‘I can’t remember her name.’

‘But it was definitely a her?’

‘Oh yes.’

‘Is it always a her?’

Nelson blushed a little. ‘Well, not always,’ he admitted.

‘Go on, then. Confess.’

‘You won’t tell anyone?’

‘I can’t promise that. I mean, if it’s funny, then Achilles will have to know.’

‘Do you remember that guy Mum was paired with on Strictly?’

‘Oh God, yes,’ said Elizabeth enthusiastically. ‘Pylyp. He was gorgeous. As it happens, I had a little go on him myself.’

‘You did?’