So he comes round, looking a little hesitant as I open the door to him. Bizarrely, Penny is standing rather stiffly at his side. ‘Oh!’ I exclaim. ‘Erm, come in …’ It must be the first time she hasn’t marched right into my house. My chest tightens, and I’m primed for another dose of her wrath. But she isn’t angry, it seems. She is rather subdued and, bizarrely, she is clutching a bottle of champagne. ‘As a peace offering,’ she says, barely audible. ‘I’m sorry,’ she adds, as the two of us settle onto the sofa, and Nick perches on a chair.

‘Oh, Penny. There’s nothing to apologise for,’ I say flatly. ‘It’s me who should be sorry. But thanks for the champagne, although I’m not sure I’ve done anything to deserve it.’

‘No,’ she says, more firmly now, ‘you most definitely do deserve it, and I think I should explain.’ She looks at Nick, and he smiles encouragingly. The bond between them is so clear to see. I still don’t understand why she affected such a brusque attitude about him coming to stay, and implied that he’s a difficult houseguest, bordering on critical. I simply can’t see it at all.

‘Girl Friday ended pretty horribly,’ she begins, pushing her dishevelled hair from her face, ‘and although I blamed competitors copying me, that’s not really true. I’ve learned to accept it was all my fault.’

‘So … what happened?’ I ask, still wary.

She sighs heavily. ‘Do you remember I mentioned a man called Saul, who helped me to set up my stall at Portobello Market?’

‘I do, yes. The one who called you Girl Friday right at the beginning?’

Penny nods, and a wistful look crosses her face. ‘Well, he was my backer too. He became a very good friend, and he tried to advise me, but I was so headstrong in those days, such a wilful girl who thought she knew it all. I made so many bad decisions, Viv – expanding too quickly, taking on premises I couldn’t afford. Rolling out too many new pieces, too quickly, as if I was in some kind of race, and being unable to pay my suppliers. It all blew up in my face, and Saul kept telling me where I was going wrong, to slow down and be more considered, and to have an actual plan.’ She grimaces. ‘You know, like any sensible adult would. But I didn’t want to hear it.’

I nod, waiting for her to go on. She takes my hand and squeezes it.