‘Of course.’

Jane hesitated for a moment, as if about to add something, then tactfully withdrew.

‘I’ll deal with her,’ Kate told Rose. ‘You’ve done enough.’

‘She is … wearying. I don’t know how you’ve put up with it all these years.’

‘Dr Wiseman’s given me strict instructions. I’m to view her as an object of pity.’ Wiseman was the psychiatrist Rose had finally prevailed upon Kate to see a few months earlier. He’d been a revelation.

‘All right,’ Rose said. ‘Call me later.’ She kissed her niece.

‘I hate to ask you another favour,’ Kate said, as she turned away.

Rose smiled. ‘Anything. You know that.’

‘I’ve got dragged back into something. Work wise, I mean. I was wondering if you’d be able to step into my shoes at home for another couple of weeks. I give you my word it’ll be for the very last time.’

Rose frowned. ‘What have you been “dragged back” into?’

Kate had debated all the way through Battersea Park what she was going to tell her aunt, who, as Head of Finance, was still a senior member of MI6 as well as a second mother to her. She opted in the end for qualified candour. ‘I’ve been asked to conduct another inquiry.’

The surprise and alarm on Rose’s face were so marked that Kate beckoned her to an alcove. They sat knee to knee. ‘Look, I know what you’ll say,’ she said.

‘You had a breakdown, Kate. And, yes, you’ve emerged from it stronger. But I’m pretty sure Dr Wiseman would consider any step back nothing short of madness, particularly in the new climate,’ Rose said. ‘I’m relatively insulated in Finance, but I’m not sure even I’m going to be able to tough it out. Ian’s only been in charge a few days and the atmosphere has turned on a sixpence.’

‘I’m not coming back to the Service.’

‘Then what?’

Kate hesitated for only a moment. ‘The prime minister is still desperate to clear his name. He thinks that, since I don’t believe in his innocence, I’m best placed to prove it.’

‘But you already gave evidence to the internal inquiry!’

‘That hasn’t neutralized his critics. He’s asked me to conduct an external investigation, though it’s obviously deeply confidential.’ Kate often found candour became less and less qualified in her aunt’s company, but she knew this was as far as she could and should go.

Rose seemed utterly bemused. ‘I just don’t understand. Why, after all you’ve been through, would you even consider—’

‘He said if I didn’t cooperate he’d rescind Stuart’s right to travel and put out a warrant for his arrest if he leaves Moscow.’

Rose sighed. ‘What a bastard. And Stuart … My God, how much trouble has that man been. You know, perhaps it is time you left him to his own devices.’

‘I can’t do that to Fiona and Gus.’

There was a long silence. ‘Is having Stuart free to come and go from your life what you want? I mean what you want?’ She raised a hand. ‘Actually, park that. Let’s discuss it another time. You know, it’s pretty inevitable that Ian will learn sooner or later that you’re conducting another investigation. He’ll consider it a threat to him, one way or another, since he tends to assume anything he didn’t initiate or approve is. He’ll conclude it’s your initiative, designed to discredit his conduct and curry favour with Number Ten.’