‘I have no idea what she saw in him. I don’t even know how they met. She moved in powerful circles, mixing with people who shaped the country, and he worked as a personal trainer at a dingy gym. How do those worlds cross?’

That annoyed her. ‘You make it sound like Nazi Germany. Should people like Nick wear armbands so the elegant like yourselves can avoid them in the street?’

‘She had a good job. She could have made something of herself. London was the place for her, the hub of the country. She had a home, a good house I rented for her. I was making plans for starting a business down there. Even Jane was thinking about a move south to help run it. The Conservatives had just won and her boss was riding high. And then the Lotus Eater came along and started sleeping there more often and ruined—’

‘She gave up a good career to get married and have a baby, that’s your problem? And she did make something. A little girl, who will be a woman, who might just cure cancer. Some of those genes are from Nick, by the way. But you got your daughter and granddaughter back close to you. You bought the house for them. You’ll note I’m pregnant, right?’

He turned and glanced at her belly. His eyes quickly went back to his kingdom. ‘It was her mother’s idea. She never wanted Anna to leave South Yorkshire. And we both wanted to make sure any grandchildren were nearby.’

She said, ‘And Nick was part of the deal, of course.’

His response was a shrug.

‘My partner wants me to give up work. He doesn’t want me running around after criminals in my condition. He doesn’t want his little daughter worrying each night that Mummy will be hurt. I plan to do just that – quit work. And my job is important, just like Anna’s was. How do you feel about that? Will I be wastefully throwing my important life away to bring up a child?’

He said nothing.

‘My partner runs a little computer shop. He fixes them. Our worlds crossed because he was hired as a strip-o-gram for me. That might be your answer.’ She tried to hide a cheeky grin. ‘Girls love a fit man. If Nick was a personal trainer, he might have been ripped and hot. Got any photos of him topless from back then?’