‘I know,’ she says. ‘We’re all absolutely horrified here. The police came in, Management called a meeting and that was that.’

‘They’re total shits. Can you put me through to Angus?’

‘I can’t, Grace.’

‘I’m sorry? I don’t understand.’

She breathes out. ‘He’s asked me not to. He will get back to you, only not today. He wants you to have a chance to absorb it first.’

‘Oh, lovely. He doesn’t want a messy scene. What a coward.’

‘Grace, please don’t overreact.’

‘Overreact! Nick has only been gone a week and I get this?’

‘You should have been honest from the get-go,’ she sighs.

‘I know,’ I say, swallowing my anger. This is not her fault. ‘I’m sorry, I really am, but I was trying to protect him. Why didn’t you warn me about this?’ She and Nick have worked together for five years. We went to her wedding.

‘He may come back,’ she says. Her voice becomes conspiratorial. ‘Look, Grace, I don’t know what’s going on, but Angus and Nick had a massive row on that last day.’

My nerves tingle. ‘You didn’t tell me.’

‘I couldn’t. Discretion is highly valued here. I wouldn’t dream of gossiping about conversations between Angus and his employees.’

I reluctantly decide it wouldn’t be politic to ask her why she is now. ‘What did they argue about?’

‘I don’t know. I walked into Angus’s office and walked straight back out again. They were right in each other’s faces.’

I remember now that he was at home when I got back from school with Lottie on that Friday. He claimed he had left work early because he had a presentation to focus on. Is this the real reason – that he needed to draw a line between the blistering row with his boss and his home? If so, why didn’t he want me to know about it? Surely that’s what being someone’s partner is all about.

‘Grace?’ Phillipa says.

‘It’s OK. Thanks.’

I end the call and run down the stairs and out through the back of the shop to Cavendish Square where I’ve parked the Vespa. I check my watch: it’s just gone one o’clock. It’s my week for school pick-ups, but if I hurry I can get to the City and still be back in time.

TAISIE

July 2000

‘NOT PLAYING WITH THE OTHERS?’ TIM SAID.

Taisie’s eyes were glued to his face. She seriously thought she might collapse in a heap. ‘I’m pretending to. But it’s a bit childish for me.’

He laughed, and she laughed back, although she was worried that he was laughing at her, not with her.

‘You are so charming,’ Tim said.