I’ve tried to frame the question casually, just a point of detail, but Todd is no fool. He fixes me with those dazzling green eyes. In public, he can project a puppyish energy, a nice guy who accidentally found himself in charge of a major political party. But no one gets to the top in politics without being steeped in Machiavelli, and a dash of Sun Tzu.

‘Does it matter?’

‘Well, that policy was originally a government plan. The Treasury worked it up. There was a white paper all ready to go to the printers, and then at the last minute the Chancellor ditched it. So it’s curious that a few weeks later it will be in a Labour manifesto.’

His eyes glance at the flashing red light on the tape recorders.

‘Can we go off the record?’

I press the pause buttons on the recorders and put down my pen. ‘The reason I’m interested in this policy – as I think you may know – is that my sister was working on it. Before she died, three weeks ago.’

Todd’s brow furrows in sympathy. He reaches out across the table and grips my hand. My instinct is to recoil. With effort, I don’t.

‘I heard about that. I’m so sorry.’

‘You met her?’ I know he did, from Marilyn. But I don’t want to reveal that connection – and I’m curious what he’ll volunteer.

‘She was in a few transition meetings. One of the most impressive civil servants I’ve met, actually. Such a commitment to public service, and a conspicuous sense of duty. Whoever forms the next government, we’ll be poorer for not having her in Whitehall.’

Although I’ve heard all those things said about Clare for weeks and grown numb to them, when he says them it’s as though they are credible only now. God he’s good. To my embarrassment, there are tears pricking the corner of my eyes.

‘Were those the only times you met her?’

Does my tone give it away? He tilts his head to the left and studies me. ‘I think you know the answer to that.’ A pause. ‘You’re sure this is off the record?’

‘Completely.’

‘The last thing I want is for her name to be brought into any kind of disrepute. After what you and your family have been through.’

‘Then we want the same thing.’ I hold his gaze.