Emma was already cooking when Lulu arrived at her flat, the pale evening light streaming through the window, a bunch of Fee’s roses the color of sunset splashing orange and red across the dining table.

“Matthew’s been waxing romantic,” she said. “He went into Mom and Dad’s garden on Sunday and picked them for me himself. Useful sort of in-laws, aren’t they? Nice to see you, Lu. How are you doing?”

Lulu sighed at her sister’s carefully casual tone, and dropped into a chair.

“Mom’s told you, hasn’t she?” she said.

Emma looked up from the vegetables she was stir-frying, and smiled.

“Did you think for one mad second that she wouldn’t have?”

“Not really.” Lulu yawned, feeling suddenly more tired than if she had worked a full day for the Goncharoffs. “What are you cooking?”

“Sea bass. I decided you need a treat. We all need treats from time to time; they’re very important. Glass of wine?”

“Wine?” Lulu frowned suspiciously; they did not usually drink with their Tuesday supper. “Are you going to ask me for a kidney later on?” But she took the glass anyway, and sipped at the liquid, pale yellow in the evening light. “Nice,” she commented.

“Matthew and I have joined the Wine Society. We both agreed you deserved something good tonight. How’s the rising new TV star? On an insufferability scale of one to ten?”

Relaxing just a little into the comfort of being cooked for, Lulu laughed.

“Hovering around thirteen and a half,” she said. “But it’s okay because it’s only when she touches the earth, most of the time she’s orbiting around Saturn and out of reach anyway. Have you heard she’ll be sharing a scene with Dr. Broody?”

“She did just get around to mentioning it. But only about fifty or sixty times, so not too bad.” Emma smiled into the vegetables. “It’s funny to think about, though, isn’t it?” she said. “Our grubby little sister and Dr. Broody. It’s quite exciting, really, I’m dying to hear what he’s like.”

“Colin,” Lulu corrected her, “is the consummate professional. And so is Sophie. So if you want vulgar gossip, you’ll have to read the tabloids, I’m afraid.”

“I wonder how tall he is,” said Emma. “I’ve been trying to measure him against the other actors, but I can’t quite work it out. I do hope he’s tall; I don’t like short men. If he’s short, I’ll have to stop fancying him.” She gave the vegetables one last stir and turned off the heat under the wok. “Sophie doesn’t seem to know about your news yet,” she said.

“I haven’t told her,” said Lulu. “She’s so excited—I decided it could keep till tomorrow.”

“That was nice of you,” said Emma.

“Right.” Lulu snorted. “I’m very nice. That’s why everyone finds me so easy to get along with. ‘That Lulu,’ they say, ‘she’s so … nice.’”

“I’m serious,” said Emma. “It really was nice of you. You should do what Mom says and give yourself positive feedback when you’ve earned it. And while you’re at it, you might just learn to take a compliment when it’s offered.” She reached down to ruffle Lulu’s hair before turning back to the stove. “Watch out, food’s coming.”