‘Since when has pride come into the equation? You’ve lied.’

Lottie swallowed. It always came back to this. ‘I didn’t lie, I just didn’t tell you.’

‘There are such a thing as lies by omission.’ Her mother flattened her mouth into a straight line.

Lottie sighed. ‘Trust you to know about different types of lies.’

‘There are at least seven types, but you always favour lies by omission.’

‘Look, Mum, that isn’t the point here.’

‘No, but telling the truth makes things better.’

Lottie shook her head ‘Does it? I don’t agree. Sometimes lying protects people.’

‘Hardly ever and I don’t believe it.’

‘Don’t tell me you haven’t lied, or that you’ve neglected to mention you were a journalist.’

Her mother frowned.

‘Look this isn’t about lying. It isn’t important.’

‘I thought after ten years you’d learned your lesson. You promised you wouldn’t lie to me.’

‘I didn’t.’

‘You did.’ She fixed Lottie with that look. ‘The truth is always better. I may be angry but not as angry as when I’m lied to.’

‘Fine. I’m broke. I have to inform the V&A tomorrow that I won’t be one of their rising stars.’ She dropped her hands to her sides and stretched her fingers flat. ‘That’s the whole truth and nothing but the truth . . .’ She looked away knowing this time she was actually lying. It wasn’t the whole truth. She just couldn’t add in the last bit. It was too awful and her mother’s opinion of her would hit rock bottom.

Her mother sighed and shook her head. Angry words would have been better. ‘What hurts more than the lie is that you didn’t trust me enough to tell me.’

‘Mum, it’s not trust. I didn’t want to appear even less than I already do in your eyes.’

Her mother opened her mouth, but no sound came out. Lottie had rarely seen her speechless.

‘I’m sorry that I’ve given you that impression.’ She picked up Lottie’s hand. ‘It’s not what I intended.’

‘Mum, you’re so accomplished. Double first at Cambridge, a top war correspondent, awarded an MBE and you are a champion of oppressed women without voices of their own. There is nothing I could ever do that would reach that. My goal has just been not to let your opinion of me drop lower.’ Lottie took a breath. ‘I knew what happened with Paul would do that.’

‘Oh, God, I never knew you felt that way.’

Lottie nodded.

‘I’m angry at the moment because I could have and should have helped.’

‘Mum, I made this mess and I need to fix it.’ Lottie looked away. She felt so vulnerable, like a crab in transition. She needed that new shell in place fast.

Her mother ran her fingers over the initials on the box. ‘I’m sorry.’