He sighs. ‘Grace, I’ll see what I can do. Of course, if he comes back before the end of the month, there won’t be a problem. Beyond that, well, let’s take one day at a time.’

‘I’ve got to go.’

He gets up, pulls his jacket off the back of his chair and puts it on. He holds the door open for me and I follow him in silence back along the corridor to the lift. To my surprise he gets in with me and sees me all the way to the ground floor. Maybe he doesn’t trust Phillipa.

‘I very much hope things turn out well,’ he says as he shows me out. ‘I’ve always been fond of him.’

TAISIE

July 2000

‘TAISIE.’

She stops in her tracks, her heart slamming.

‘What were you doing in Angus’s study? You know you’re not allowed in there.’

Her mother was at the bottom of the stairs.

‘I was hiding.’

She hoped to God Tim was listening and wouldn’t come strolling out. Her lips felt bruised and swollen, and if the light hadn’t been so bad in the hall she was certain her mother would have seen.

‘It’s out of bounds. You should know better.’

‘OK, fine. Can I go now?’

She had to get to Izzy. The poor thing would be drenched, waiting for Taisie to appear. As long as she hadn’t gone in already. Taisie was sure she had told her to wait until she heard her coming. She distinctly remembered saying that.

‘Actually, no. While you’re here. I need a quick word with you. In private.’

‘Oh, not now, Mum.’

‘Now,’ her mother said sharply. ‘Do as you’re told.’

She rolled her eyes, but she followed her mother into the library. She wondered what was up. Mostly, her mother had no idea what was going on in Taisie’s head and tended to assume she was fine because she was the oldest. Taisie’s job was basically to set an example to her younger siblings and generally keep out of her mum’s hair. She was all lovey-dovey when it suited her, but it was so unnatural it was embarrassing.

‘Now don’t fly at me, Taisie.’ Her mother sat down on the sofa and patted the seat beside her. ‘But I need to talk to you about your behaviour.’

Taisie remained standing. She was tense and twitching to go. ‘My behaviour?’ She stressed the second word, putting a question mark at the end. Nick must have moaned about her. She never had him down as a snitch.

‘Your behaviour around Tim.’

Her stomach flipped. ‘I don’t …’

‘Taisie, please. You’re old enough to know precisely what you’re doing. Listen, darling, I remember what it’s like to be a teenage girl, to discover that you have sexual power, but you should tone it down. Considerably.’