‘I don’t like that word,’ he said, grimacing a little. ‘Cheating is for cardsharps, carnival barkers and presidential candidates, and I am none of those things.’

The Old Fashioned arrived but with only one citrus rind, the waiter explaining that the bartender had declined to make it with two.

‘What do you mean, he declined?’ asked George, looking up at him irritably. ‘What gives him the right?’

‘François posts images of all his cocktails on Instagram,’ replied the young man. ‘So he can’t take the risk. Last month, he substituted Aperol for Campari in a Negroni and he received death threats from purists.’

‘Oh, for God’s sake,’ said George, waving him away, too weary to argue.

‘Of course, if she threw you out,’ continued Angela, ‘it’s not as if you’d be homeless.’ She looked down at the tablecloth and tapped her fingers against it. ‘I mean, you could always come and live with me, if you wanted. Live with us, that is. The baby and me.’

He narrowed his eyes, hoping that she was joking.

‘But you live in Croydon,’ he said.

‘What on earth has that got to do with anything?’

‘If you don’t know, then there’s very little point in me trying to explain.’

‘I’ll have you know that Croydon is becoming quite gentrified these days.’

‘I just prefer a postcode that begins with a SW, that’s all,’ said George. ‘My father instilled certain values in me from the start that have stood me in good stead over the years. Carrying a monogrammed handkerchief, for example. Having a good tailor. Matching one’s belt with one’s shoes. The stuff of civilized living.’

‘You can’t make life decisions based on letters of the alphabet.’

‘I don’t see why not.’ He took a sip from his drink, then a larger draught, then finished it entirely. ‘I suppose you want this baby, do you?’ he asked, keeping his tone casual and his implication vague.

‘I’m thirty-eight years old,’ she replied. ‘So yes, I do. I might not get another chance.’

‘You do know the world is overpopulated as it is?’

‘Then one more won’t make much of a difference, will it?’

‘Of course, the Chinese had the right idea with the one-child policy.’

Before they could debate this, the Shadow Home Secretary, who had been seated on the other side of the room, stopped by to say hello and George stood up, kissing her on both cheeks and congratulating her on her recent promotion.

‘I must say, you look marvellous,’ he added. ‘Power agrees with you. Or shadow power, anyway. And, correct me if I’m wrong, but you’re wearing Caron Poivre, aren’t you?’

‘How did you know?’ she replied, beaming.