‘Well, yes, but I doubted myself when he offered to defect, if you recall. Besides, it’s not going to serve any of us to beat ourselves up on how we should have known better.’ He took a large mouthful of toast. It had enough jam on it to feed an army. No wonder his midriff was thickening. ‘I wasn’t talking about Russia. I agree with you there. I’m looking at the more dangerous and long-term enemy. China. That’s where the next war is going to come from and we both know it. You began your career in Hong Kong, you know the territory. So I’d like to bring you back as the head of our China Desk. We have some talented young staff, interesting operations, but we need a cool head to give them focus and direction and, in my opinion, that has to be you.’ He looked at her steadily. ‘I should perhaps add that the prime minister is personally very grateful.’

Generous of him, under the circumstances, Kate thought, given that she had been the one who had first fallen for the smears that came within a whisper of destroying him.

A respectful automatic ‘No’ was on her lips, but somehow it never came out. Perhaps it was just the surprise: whatever she’d expected here, it was not this.

‘I—’

‘Don’t give me an answer yet.’ He raised both arms, as if physically to prevent her. ‘I know if I push you, you’ll decline. And we need you, Kate. We really do.’

She wanted to say no. She was certain she should, indeed must, not least because she could think of no reason why Ian would want her back here.

Kate took some fruit from the platter in front of her and pushed it around the plate. They fell to talking about children, London’s schools and, in the end, the lingering autumnal weather. Ian was clearly thrilled that he’d got her to the door without a definitive refusal and she was bizarrely touched by it. What was happening to her?

He kissed her goodbye and she took the lift down to the ground floor, then walked back out into the sunshine.

She set out for home, glancing at the wedding cake of a building behind her. On how many occasions had she looked back certain she had left for the last time?

Kate quickened her pace. Was she tempted? Perhaps. She had promised to think about it and she would. She acknowledged to herself how hard it was to get this work – this life – out of her psyche.

Her mood lightened with each step. She walked through the park and found two familiar figures strolling in the morning sun, their ancient beagle Nelson between them. He had a spring in his step, these days, and she knew the feeling.

Kate watched Fiona put her arm around her brother and draw him to her. Her daughter’s steadfastness and maturity had been the stand-out revelation of the past few months.