Finch was glad Paz couldn’t see him cringe. ‘It doesn’t matter what she’s called any more.’

‘I see. Well, you know how much Cami loves you, Roberto, and Paris is only a train ride away. My area of special interest is currently Azerbaijan, but I’m sure I could mug up on broken-hearted soldiers, if required.’

Finch laughed and thanked him. When he came off the phone he still had a smile on his face: Paz always lifted his spirits. In fact, he was feeling better for the first time since Grace’s visit. I’ll feel better still, he thought, when I can put some distance between Romy and me.

When Grace called later that evening, Finch told her of Paz’s suggestion.

‘Right.’ Grace’s one-word response – after a very long pause – fell damply on Finch’s enthusiasm. ‘This is about Romy, isn’t it?’ she went on. ‘I knew I should never have told you.’ He heard an exasperated sigh. ‘You see? This is what happens when people speak up about stuff like that. It ruins things for everyone. And you want me to tell Sam?’ Her tone was scathing. ‘There are quite enough bodies under that particular bus as it is.’

Finch was silent. He’d been down the route of begging her to get the professional help she needed so often that it seemed pointless to reiterate it again now. He’d always tried to be honest with Grace. When her mother became ill the first time, Nell had wanted to keep the cancer secret, saying that Grace didn’t need to know unless it was serious. But Finch had insisted she be told and they were both glad that he had. Grace had been such a comfort to them, especially at the end. She’d moved back into the Sussex house and helped Finch nurse her mother before the final hospice days. The girl’s energy, her humour, her refusal to be maudlin about the future had kept them all afloat, for which Finch would always be grateful. But he knew he couldn’t be honest about Romy now.

‘You don’t mind me going, Gracie?’ he asked. ‘It’ll only be for a month or so, I think. But I won’t if you don’t want me to.’ He found himself tempering his estimate, genuinely unsure how long he’d be gone and not wanting it to sound as if he were abandoning her for ever.

‘Don’t be ridiculous!’ Grace’s pitch had risen. ‘Of course I don’t mind. We don’t see each other for months on end. I won’t even notice you’re gone.’ She hesitated. ‘I’m sorry,’ she said, in a soft voice. ‘I’m sorry I ruined things for you.’