Well, that rang true with what I knew of Clio so far. I thought of the speed with which she had offered me her friendship, those empty smiles in the photos on Facebook. I nodded to encourage him to keep talking.

‘I think, and this sounds a bit odd, but I think she feels guilty.’

‘Guilty about what?’ I asked.

‘The money,’ he replied with a shrug. ‘It doesn’t sit easy on her. She’s not a bit like her brother. I don’t mean she dresses in rags or anything, but it’s like she can’t quite get her head around it. Does that make any sense?’

I nodded, but I wasn’t sure I totally understood what he was getting at. Having no money worries didn’t sound that bad to me.

‘She’s got no need to work,’ he continued, ‘but I think she’d really like a career. The trouble is, she doesn’t know what to do. No role model, you see. Lady H has obviously never had a job except for the estate itself. Her dad played the violin in that orchestra so that wasn’t like a proper job either. I think Clio just wants a normal life with a job and a standard house and a couple of kids, maybe.’

Just like me then, I thought. It was ironic, really. If Marlon was right, then Clio’s dream was what I saw as ordinary and humdrum. Maybe that was why she’d been so quick to befriend me? I wasn’t sure whether I liked that idea or not. Did she see me as a little pet? After all, I was out with Marlon, which was totally her doing. But actually I didn’t feel at all manipulated. Clio had arranged this, taken the kids out, all of it, because she thought I’d have a nice time. It was as simple as that. And she’d been right. I was really enjoying myself.

‘She’s lovely, though,’ added Marlon, and immediately confirmed exactly what I’d just been thinking. ‘Just like Lady H. It’s just that she’s a bit, well, lost.’