‘It’s not completely outrageous, Edie; it’s completely true,’ she said calmly, relaxing back into her armchair and crossing her legs, as if settling in to present an episode of CBeebies Bedtime Stories. ‘Luke is aware of professional services going through at greatly reduced cost – no project name and no mention of it in any of the shared files – for a close and very buxom female friend of Mr Grange. It started immediately after he joined the firm.’

I tutted dismissively. ‘You know what Luke’s like. He’ll have got the wrong end of the stick.’

She shook her head in a determinedly slow manner. ‘He asked Cameron about it and Cameron was very frank apparently. Luke said he was…’ She paused and looked thoughtful. ‘I think the word he used was laddish.’

‘But nothing could be going on without Alison knowing about it. She wouldn’t allow anything dodgy,’ I said adamantly.

Ruby shrugged. ‘I’m not saying dodgy, I’m saying tacky. No doubt Alison knows all about it.’

‘It just doesn’t sound like something she’d OK,’ I said doubtfully.

‘Doesn’t it? Cameron came with a reputation as someone who gets commissions and gets things done. Alison’s not stupid. She knows how useful it is to have a networker at the table, a man’s man, and Roger’s never ticked that box, has he? He’s about as macho and charismatic as a block of Wensleydale.’

‘Alison’s not the kind of woman who needs a willy in the room to cut a deal,’ I insisted, shaking my head. ‘She’s a feminist.’

‘No. She’s a pragmatist,’ retorted Ruby. ‘She’ll give him what he wants in order to get what she wants – and I don’t have a problem with that. It’s just that what he wants makes him a creep,’ she added, shuddering.

‘Luke could be muddled,’ I said, still not convinced. ‘You said he was drunk.’

‘I said he was tipsy. He saw the woman when she met Cameron from work – a brunette with a boob-job and a low-cut top, apparently. They were all over each other by the lifts, and you know what Luke’s like; he just had to tell someone. But,’ she added a little anxiously, ‘he’s now terrified of anyone finding out that he blabbed. So you mustn’t say anything, OK?’

‘Of course I won’t.’

‘Cameron’s not in a serious relationship with the woman,’ she continued, her lip curling. ‘He was very clear with Luke about that. The arrangement is casual and, apparently, not the only one he has going on. Mind you, not all of them involve a low-cost extension. So this woman must be particularly giving.’ She shivered a second time and drank her wine.