He’d started the car and was about to move off when his phone rang. It was Miranda.

‘Nick. How nice to hear from you. And surprising.’ She sounded unfazed by his call. Her voice had the firmness of someone who’d given more than a few speeches in her time.

‘I’m sure it must be a surprise, yes. Thanks for calling back.’

‘No problem. I’m sorry I wasn’t at Caro’s funeral. I just thought … it might be difficult.’

‘Caro always thought of you as a friend.’

‘I know. She phoned me. Not long after I wrote to her. We had a good chat. But she warned me April was still sticking pins in my effigy.’

‘She has her principles.’

‘I wouldn’t argue with that. Anyway, I gather you didn’t call about April.’

‘No. Martin Caldwell.’

‘Has he been bothering you?’

‘Not exactly. But he wants to meet me and, well …’

‘He came to see me recently. He was in a bit of a strange state. Nothing new there, to be honest.’

‘Why did he come to see you?’

‘I think he’s lonely. Simple as that. Did he give you some special reason for meeting?’

‘Yes. But, er, I wanted to check him out beforehand with someone who knew him when he was a student.’

‘He’s harmless. Good-hearted, in his way. A bit prone to fantasizing, that’s all.’

‘Fantasizing about the past?’

‘Is it the past he wants to talk to you about?’

‘Yes. Something to do with … my father. Geoff Nolan.’

‘Well, you certainly shouldn’t believe everything he says. About Geoff or anyone else. When are you meeting him?’

‘Late this afternoon.’

‘Mmm.’ Miranda paused for thought. Then she said, ‘It’d be nice for us to meet, don’t you think? You could tell me all about yourself. I’d like that.’

‘OK.’

‘Can you make it to Chelsea for lunch? There’s a lovely Italian just round the corner from me.’

Miranda Cushing – Baroness Cushing – was tall and elegant, with delicately tinted hair, blue-grey eyes, high cheekbones and a mischievous smile. She was waiting for Nick when he reached the restaurant, where ladies who lunch were in some abundance. Her clothes looked expensive and she wore them well. She was halfway through a glass of Prosecco and more or less insisted he have the same.