‘That’s right. We were briefly at Cambridge together.’

‘Cambridge?’ he frowned. ‘I thought he said Oxford.’

Charlotte was impressed he’d picked it up; he clearly had an eye for details. ‘Yes, he – uh, transferred, for his final year,’ she said stiffly.

‘Oh. Well he must have had his reasons. We’ll have to put ourselves in the hands of the professor and hope he can find an explanation for why my father’s doing what he’s doing. God knows, we all need resolution now before he passes.’

‘Well, I don’t doubt he’ll do an excellent job for you. And if I can do anything further down the line, either for you or the two Marinas, don’t hesitate to let me know.’

Mateo frowned. ‘That sounds like you’re leaving.’

She looked back at him in surprise. ‘What more is there for me to do? My role was to get close to Marina and find out what she knew and, if necessary, to manage her financial expectations.’ She shrugged. ‘That she’s family means that’s all a moot point now. She has certain legal rights; your lawyers will take over from here.’

‘On the contrary, you are still very much needed, Charlotte,’ Mateo said, shaking his head at her. ‘I’m sorry but if she and my father are to be reunited after almost a lifetime apart, then that will take a certain amount of managing and you alone are the bridge between the two sides. You are best placed, I feel, to help our newcomers adapt to the new life in which they are going to find themselves. I need you to be at La Ventilla for the reunion.’

‘La Ventilla? That’s your estate in Andalusia.’ She felt her stomach dip again. Telling Stephen and her mother she was coming out to Madrid had been tricky enough. Now the country pile?

‘Precisely. The doctor has said my father can be discharged in the next few days, and he is keen to go home. Clearly he is not well enough to travel any distance so we must bring my aunt to him. If you and she are correct and reunion was what he really wanted all along, then we must honour my father’s wishes.’

‘But she’s very elderly too.’

‘Naturally. But you said she is in generally good health? We’ll fly them down in the family jet. It will be so comfortable, they will scarcely realize they are travelling.’

Charlotte shifted awkwardly. ‘When were you thinking for this?’

‘As soon as possible. The day after tomorrow? Time is against us.’ He stared into space briefly. ‘She must be important to him. Marina’s name was the first word he said when he came round.’

‘I didn’t know that,’ she murmured sympathetically. ‘The thing is, I’m afraid that’s going to be tricky for me. I have plans for this weekend that can’t be changed.’

He looked displeased. ‘What could possibly be more important than resolving this crisis?’

Charlotte swallowed. ‘Well, I’m getting married next week and my fiancé’s parents are hosting a formal dinner at the Savoy on Saturday night. I’m afraid that, as the bride, I am very much obliged to be there.’