‘Everyone’s stressed. We have no idea what the Coyote has planned next. Makes preparing for another attempt impossible.’ I stretched and yawned. ‘And now I have to deal with my mother-in-law when I get home.’ I rolled my eyes. Keep up the chit chat. Everything is fine. ‘So where are Camilla and Arthur?’

‘Out shopping.’

‘I’m hungry, Mama.’

‘OK, Gigi. Shall we go home for lunch and see Ganma?’

‘Ganma!’

I got up, holding Gigi’s hand. Frederick’s arm shot out and held my arm. I looked down at it and then up at him. We observed each other. I had to hope I was managing the staring flirt we’d been so well practised at. That he wouldn’t see the terror.

‘Stay for lunch here.’

‘Tempting. But I think fish fingers with Ganma is calling.’

He stared at me for another second. Then dropped his arm.

‘Bye, Florence.’ I touched the girl on her shoulder.

‘Bye bye.’ She didn’t look up.

‘Right, Gigi, now let’s get everything together. Shoes. Coat.’ I hoped he wasn’t looking at my hands. They shook as I did the Velcro up on Gigi’s pink sparkly trainers.

‘Now say “thank you” to Florence’s daddy.’

‘Fank you.’

‘I’ll see you at Christie’s.’

‘Goodbye, Lex.’

I smiled and turned towards the kitchen steps. Having my back to an enemy went against everything I’d been trained for. But I had to do it. Gigi skipped ahead, humming. It was ten steps to the hallway. I took each one, listening for a charge, bracing myself for a knock to the back of the head. If he was responsible for everything we suspected, he would have no qualms about attacking me in front of our children.

I made it to the kitchen door, stopped, held up a hand and gave him another look. Felt the bile rise in my throat. I shuffled Gigi along the hallway and out into the fresh air. The front door slammed behind us.

‘Meet me outside my house,’ I announced to my pocket and a listening Jake.

I picked up Gigi and held her close. ‘Mummy is going to carry you the whole way home.’ She snuggled into my neck and I clasped my arms round her. My baby. My Gigi. She was safe. We walked slowly home.

Jake was waiting outside our door.

‘Look who’s here, Gigi!’

‘Uncky Jake!’ She wrangled herself out my arms and ran into his.

He picked her up and hugged her close.

‘Good to see you, little miss.’

I let us in the house. I looked at the photo of me, Will and Gigi in the frame on the table. Had I just come so close to losing her? She had been in harm’s way and I hadn’t been there to protect her.