“Actually, it’s quite a popular part, Auntie,” said Emma. “They have a film star living around the corner, and one of Paul McCartney’s daughters is just a couple of streets down.”

“Movie stars. Musicians.” Aunt Amy shuddered faintly; she was not of an artistic bent. Then smiled at Emma, who was the niece she approved of most. “How are your wedding plans coming along?” she asked.

“Very well indeed, thank you,” said Emma. “And these two are being an amazing help. They’re my bridesmaids, of course; Lulu’s baking the cake, Sophie’s made the bridesmaid dresses, and she’s also rounded up some friends who have a steel band for the music, so we’ll have a little touch of the Caribbean in rainy old London.”

Aunt Amy raised her eyebrows.

“Bohemian,” she murmured. “Just like your mother. Lulu, have you found a job yet, or are you still catching rats, or whatever you were doing?”

“I was walking dogs, Auntie,” said Lulu. “And I’m not doing that anymore, no. I’m working in a toy shop up in Hampstead with a really nice woman called Joanna. It’s a very friendly sort of place, and I’m actually quite enjoying myself.”

“A toy store,” said Aunt Amy. “With a brain like yours.”

There was a silence while Lulu served bowls of black bean soup.

“How was Hamlet?” asked Sophie, after a moment.

“It was good enough,” said Aunt Amy. “Everyone remembered their lines, at least. But I never did understand why Hamlet and his uncle didn’t just sit down and talk things over sensibly. Then none of the rest of it would have been necessary.”

Sophie closed her eyes.

When Charlie arrived, everyone turned to greet her delightedly.

“Sorry I’m late,” she said. “The meeting went on.” She went to Aunt Amy and extended her hand. “I’m Charlie,” she said. “Alfreda Fitzcharles, but they call me Charlie.”

“How do you do, Charlie,” said Aunt Amy. “We’ve already started eating, as you see. It seems my nieces don’t believe in putting dinner on hold just for the sake of politeness.”

“I called and asked them not to,” said Charlie earnestly; she was carefully avoiding Sophie’s eye. “I had a meeting and knew I’d be late. Is the soup on the stove, Lulu? I’ll help myself to some.”

Behind Aunt Amy’s back, the sisters saw Charlie briefly lean against the sink, her shoulders shaking, before she collected herself.

“And how do you know my nieces?” said Aunt Amy when Charlie was seated.

“Lulu and I were at university together. We stood together in the queue for our student cards on our first day, and we’ve been friends ever since.”

“Did you study chemistry, too?”

“No.” Charlie smiled across the table at Lulu. “Lulu’s the brainy scientific one. I studied English literature and sat around reading books all day.”

“Humph.” Aunt Amy’s eyebrows expressed her opinion of a degree in English literature. “Fitzcharles,” she said then. “Irish?”

“I am. My father’s from Limerick, although I was brought up all over the place.”