I sink into a silk-covered antique walnut chair, to the right of the fireplace. Saffron sits opposite me and leans forwards.

‘I’m sure you’ve read our job description. We need help, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., five days a week.’ She pauses and crosses her shapely, slender legs. ‘Our elder son Ben is eight years old. He attends a private school, City of London Freemen’s. Its name is a bit confusing.’ She smiles. ‘It’s not in London, but Ashtead, not far from here. His younger brother Harry is six. He’s still at the local C of E Primary.’ She pushes her glasses further back against her nose. ‘In term time, we need them taken to school and picked up, and for them to be looked after until 6 p.m., when either Miles or I will be home. If they are ill or it’s the school holidays, we need them cared for full-time.’ She leans back. ‘Does the package we sent to the agency seem suitable to you?’

I smile slowly. ‘It does. Very much so. And I love working with this age group. I expect you’ve looked at my CV. The last children I looked after were the same age and we got on so well.’

‘Look, Hayley,’ Saffron says, sitting back, frowning in contemplation. ‘I’ve read your references. You come highly recommended, but are you available? I need someone to start quickly.’

I take a deep breath to slow down my reply. I mustn’t sound overeager. It will make me seem desperate. But this is by far the best opportunity I’ve had since I arrived in the UK. So far I’ve only had a few temporary appointments at homes where the regular nanny was on holiday.

‘Well, I could move some things around … That way I could start on Monday,’ I say hesitantly.

‘Great stuff.’ She gives me a wide beaming smile. ‘Well, I’ll show you the accommodation. You can meet the children and we can take it from there.’

She stands up, and I follow her back into the hallway. An older woman is now attending to the flower arrangement on the dresser, cutting stamens from the lilies. When she sees us she straightens her back and rubs it, watching me through sad grey eyes.

‘Let me introduce you. This is my mother-in-law, Caprice,’ Saffron says. ‘Caprice, this is Hayley, who’s considering coming to work for us.’

Caprice nods her head at me, and carries on trimming the lilies.