You dump your Chanel travel bag in the hallway, the designer bag you use for all your jaunts, and follow me into the kitchen. You sit, tapping your fingers on the table, looking out of the window.

‘How was your trip?’ I ask as I put the kettle on.

‘Fine.’ You shrug. ‘But it’s a long way to go just to get Aristos to sign a few papers.’

Don’t ask me how I am, Saffron.

Annoyed at your lack of interest in me, I snap, ‘Why do you do it? Why do you pander to him?’

Your face stiffens. ‘I’m not pandering. He pays me.’

I pour boiling water into the cafetiere, and place it on a mat on the table near you. I lean across and push my eyes into yours. ‘I’m not sure I believe you.’

Your eyes darken. ‘Whatever do you mean?’

‘Well, to be honest – and honesty is so important in a relationship – I think you’re having an affair with him.’

‘Are you insane? He’s my client.’

‘I can assure you I’m observant, rather than insane.’

You clamp your jaw and clench your fist. And I know I have riled you. Good. Since I moved into your house you have been even colder than before. More distant. Don’t you feel anything for me, since I lost my husband? You still have Miles. Can’t you find any generosity in your soul? I want you to react. I want you to feel something.

I take a deep breath. ‘You need to be careful. If Miles finds out he’ll take the opportunity to run off with his teenage girlfriend; the only woman he has ever really loved romantically.’

Your eyes blaze. ‘What are you talking about, Caprice?’

Not so calm and confident now, are you, Saffron?

I flash my unnerving smile. The smile that you once told me makes you feel uncomfortable.

‘I think you need to know that Miles was always infatuated with Julie. It broke his heart when she ran off with Aiden. Let’s face it, she’s available now. And I heard him on the phone to her last week.’ I pause. ‘If you’re playing around, why can’t he?’

16

Saffron

‘I’m not playing around, Caprice,’ I shout. ‘And I know you love Julie, but Miles never did. Miles and I talk about everything. It was the other way round. Julie was in love with him but he didn’t return her feelings. Their relationship was over decades ago.’

She gives me a scathing smile. ‘You talk about everything, do you?’ There’s a pause. ‘Over decades ago?’ Another pause, longer this time. ‘You’ll soon find out.’