‘I have to go in a bit. I have a seminar at twelve then the Dean invited me for lunch.’ Professor Cullen had called her from his personal phone to suggest it. Said he wanted to discuss her work, make sure she was keeping up.

A cloud scuds across Tash’s face. Balancing the rollie precariously on the mug of coffee, Tash lies back down on the sofa and pulls on last night’s jeans.

‘He’s taking you to lunch? I get squeezed in between meetings. He’ll want to find out what we know about Jessica obviously.’

‘He told me he thought I could get a first, so I thought…’

‘What, that you’re special?’ Rising and brushing the cigarette ash from her jeans onto the carpet, Tash says, ‘Sorry.’ The cigarette is between her lips once more as she reaches for her coat. Her eyes are on Nevis. ‘I have to go now. You want my advice, don’t go to lunch.’

‘Why not?’

‘You’re really clever, Nevis. You don’t need Cullen’s help.’ With that she pulls on her coat and picks up her backpack. Curious, Nevis follows her to the door. The Tash who first came in seems softer now and more subdued.

In the doorway she turns and, reaching out a hand, quite unexpectedly touches Nevis’s face. ‘Take care of yourself, doll. And remember, there’s no such thing as a free lunch.’

Chapter 30

Honor

The wood burner is warming up the Helene, the sun is out, and Honor and Alex are eating his scrambled eggs and talking over the work that needs doing on the Halcyon Days. When was the last time I did something like this? Honor wonders to herself. It almost feels like a date.

‘How are the eggs?’ says Alex, bringing more coffee.

‘Wonderful! It’s been ages since someone made me brunch.’

‘Any time,’ Alex says, laughing. ‘I do an excellent cooked breakfast too.’

‘Oh!’ Heat stipples Honor’s cheeks and Alex, seeing this, holds up a hand and says, ‘I’m sorry, I didn’t mean…’

‘No, I didn’t think…’ Honor says, trying not to sound disappointed.

A moment’s silence falls before Alex says, ‘How’s your daughter?’

Honor recounts the sorry finale to their last encounter.

‘I’m sorry. Kids can be such a worry.’

‘Yours?’

‘Tim, my son? He lives in Berlin. I wish I saw more of him. His mother lives not too far from here so when he does come over, we both get a share of him.’

‘Were you with her? The mother, I mean.’

‘We tried but it turned out we were better at being friends. You in touch with Nevis’s father?’

‘No and I don’t intend to be. Nevis has never met him.’

‘Because?’

‘Because it wouldn’t help.’

‘Oh, I see,’ Alex says, not seeing, but backing off. ‘Are there grandparents?’