Surely Careers went through this with them. “Yes,” said Walden patiently, “at minimal interest, as a graduate tax, if you have a job that earns over the threshold. I promise you, the main financial effect it has on your life long term is that you become much more able to get that well-paid job. It’s by no means a perfect system, but we’re not American. You might find yourself on a tighter budget than some of your peers, yes.” Were Aneeta’s parents giving both their teenage daughters four hundred pounds a month in pocket money? Even Walden hadn’t had that kind of fun money until she’d been gainfully employed for a few years. “You certainly wouldn’t be the only one. It’s a long summer vacation, as well, with plenty of time to work and save up for the next academic year. Truly, Nikki, this part isn’t something you need to worry about. You’ll be all right. You can make it work.”

But Nikki’s expression was closed. “What if I am the only one?” she said. “What if I don’t want to be the only one?”

Walden hesitated.

“Sorry, Dr Walden. I just—the more I think about it, the more I think … what if it’s just Chetwood again? Like this.” Her hand gesture took in the panelled walls, the antique furniture, all the ancient institutional elegance. It also took in Walden herself. “And everyone there will be like Will, or—I mean, I like Will, I think.” A brief look of confused horror: Oh no I mentioned my sort-of-boyfriend situation to my teacher. Walden pretended not to notice. Nikki squared her shoulders and pressed on. “He’s got all these plans already, like we’re both going to row and he’s going to take me to formal every week—I didn’t even know that was a thing, formal—and he’ll get his Blue and I’ll get a First and we’ll get a travel grant and go to Italy together next summer. He just thinks everything’s so easy. I think it’s probably not that easy to get a First, actually?”

It wasn’t, though Walden had, and she was professionally certain that Nikki could. Possibly not at the same time as keeping up with Will Daubery’s intended social schedule.

“He just doesn’t get it,” Nikki said. “He doesn’t get it at all. I don’t think anyone really—even Aneeta was just like. You know. ‘I think you could do something really powerful for women of colour, Nikki, I’m so proud of you!’ And like—obviously I agree with her and I think it’s important and it matters! But Aneeta’s not the same as me. She’s just not. Because Aneeta’s mum is a neurosurgeon, and my mum worked in a Tesco.”