‘If I’m honest with you, Rupert, I’m not sure I’m cut out for this housewife lark,’ Emily says, tapping lightly on the table with her fork. ‘I’m not really enjoying being at home on my own.’ She looks as though she’d like to say more but doesn’t.

‘Em, it’s only been a week! Once you get in the swing of things, you’ll be OK. There’s always plenty of stuff to do at home; Sadie and Amanda are always busy.’

‘Well, Amanda still works, so of course she is.’ Rupert had forgotten about Amanda’s little interior design company she’d set up after marrying Will.

‘Sadie, then. Sadie always has stuff to do – I’m sure she can give you some ideas on how to keep busy. I mean, if you really want to work then of course you can, but I won’t lie to you, I am quite old-fashioned about things like that. I loved coming home to you tonight, seeing you curled up in the armchair waiting for me.’ Rupert reaches across the table and grasps her hands in his.

‘Well, Sadie has given me a few things to think about.’ Emily pauses as Gino brings over the wine and Rupert is made to taste it and approve it. She waits until Gino leaves. ‘We were talking about charity work and I know you have one that you like to donate to regularly… it might be something to consider.’

‘Hmmm,’ Rupert says, sipping at the wine. It really is excellent – he’s sure Gino has brought them over a better vintage than they ordered. Presumably to make up for the faux pas when they arrived.

‘I think if I have things to do then perhaps I won’t have time to dwell on things so much… you know—’ Emily looks at him from under her lashes ‘—the feeling that someone is… there all the time.’

‘Yes, of course I understand. Look, Em, I just want you to be happy.’ And he does, but more than that Rupert just wants to eat, his veal has arrived, and the smell is driving him mad.

‘I am happy. I don’t want you to think I’m not, it’s just that I need to keep myself occupied. So, you’ll be OK if I contact the charity and see if there’s something I can do for them?’

‘Hmmm?’ Rupert looks up, his mouth full of food. ‘No, I don’t mind. You go for it. Have you tried this yet? It’s fantastic.’