‘It wasn’t really on the cards for me,’ Clio said. ‘Hector was sent to the school where grandpa went but it only took boys. I think Mummy wanted me here with her, and I was such a home bird anyway. I suppose if I’d really wanted . . .’ Her voice drifted off and she gazed out of the window on to the lawns beyond. ‘Anyway, I stayed at home with Mummy and Daddy, when he was here.’

I sensed the start of a story and I waited to see what Clio would say next, but just then there was a clatter of footsteps and Poppy and Noah appeared at the window, cheeks pink and eyes bright. Clio opened a door and they tumbled in.

‘Mummy, we found a lake and it’s got a boat,’ said Noah. ‘Can we go on it? Please. Can we?’

He appeared to be asking Clio, but I answered for her. ‘No, I don’t think so, pet. Me and Clio are chatting and Poppy doesn’t really know anything about boats. There’s no one to take you.’

‘There’s Marlon,’ said Poppy slyly. ‘He said he’d take us.’

I wasn’t at all sure that I could trust this Marlon bloke with my most precious possessions.

‘Maybe later,’ I said, knowing that the draw of a trip in a boat on the lake was too strong for them to be fobbed off for long.

‘Why don’t you go through to the den?’ said Clio. ‘You might find something you’d like to do in there.’

She pointed towards a door at the other end of the room. Poppy looked at me for confirmation that this would be okay and I nodded reassuringly. They disappeared through the door and moments later I could hear them enthusing.

‘There’s a pool table and a juke box and stuff,’ said Clio with a wave of her hand. ‘Signs of a misspent youth. I think maybe Mummy overcompensated for my solitary existence. When I moved over here I just brought them all with me. My friends think it’s great when they come over, but I barely ever go in there. I play a mean game of pool, though,’ she added with a smirk.

‘Me, too,’ I said. ‘My dad taught me how.’