‘Did you give her the others’ numbers too?’ Nell asked. She had a horrible vision of this Delilah getting hold of Moira in one of her un-PC moods.

‘Only Dora’s. I didn’t have the rest.’

‘OK, I’ll warn her. How is Naomi?’

‘Completely better. Missing her granny,’ replied Willow.

Nell’s heart turned over. Of course it wasn’t true, but it might be when she and Naomi saw much more of each other.

‘Are you ready to go home?’ Dora asked Karl.

‘I think I am,’ he replied, watching her. ‘I even quite look forward to it. Except that we live in different cities.’

‘It’s only an hour from King’s Cross,’ Dora pointed out. ‘It’s not like we’re on different continents.’

‘I know it’s highly unlikely, but I don’t suppose you’d consider coming to live in Cambridge?’ Karl asked, suddenly serious.

‘Or you move to London?’

‘I’m not really the London type.’

‘We do have museums in London, you know,’ Dora teased. ‘There’s even quite a big one stuffed with classical antiquities stolen from Greece.’

‘You’re not exactly a habitué of the British Museum, then?’

‘Once, on a school trip. That was enough.’

‘My life is in Cambridge.’

‘And mine’s in London. Especially now I’ve promised Ariadne she can come and stay.’

‘You can learn English in Cambridge too, you know. They even have quite a good university, I gather.’

‘God,’ Dora laughed, with a hint of bitterness in her tone, ‘we sound like that Gershwin song. You know the one, I say “potato” and you say “potahto” . . .’

‘Don’t, Dora,’ he said, reaching out for her. ‘Remember how that song ends.’

‘They decide to call the whole thing off,’ she said crisply.

‘You’re wrong,’ he brightened, the lyrics suddenly coming back to him. ‘They decide to call the calling off off and compromise because they love each other.’ He pulled her firmly into his arms. ‘And that’s what we should do.’

‘I’m not very good at compromise.’

‘I’ll teach you. First lesson, close your eyes when I’m kissing you. I don’t want to see that sceptical expression.’

Dora did as commanded. It was a very nice kiss.

‘Am I being selfish?’ he asked when she opened her eyes. ‘Forget where we live. Am I too old for you?’

‘Young men are dull,’ Dora laughed. ‘They always want to talk about themselves. And they want sex all the time. My Grandma used to say, “Better to be an old man’s darling that a young man’s fool.”’

Karl roared with laughter. ‘I’m not sure that’s entirely complimentary.’