My face fell, my heart rate slowed and my excited thought processes rapidly decelerated, before coming to an abrupt halt, as I reached the same miserable conclusion as Cameron. We could have a bash at being a couple, or we could form a professional partnership. We could not, with any confidence of success, attempt both.

He was an impressive man, to whom I was at that moment almost irresistibly attracted. But although I was pretty sure I would feel exactly the same way about him tomorrow, next week and next month, what about in six months? Or in a year? A split could have disastrous consequences in the workplace, negatively impacting the lives of our clients and colleagues, as well as our own. And even if we didn’t split, even if our relationship turned out to be a largely successful one, it could still prove damagingly distracting.

I looked up, resisting an urge to place my arms around his neck and pull him towards me.

‘Thank you for being so honest with me, Cameron,’ I heard myself say, my voice steady and calm. ‘I respect and admire you very much, but I’m interested only in a professional relationship. I think we will make a really good team.’

He tensed slightly against the cold and then nodded. ‘I have no doubt that we will,’ he replied. ‘This is a great opportunity for us both.’

Chapter 38

One year later

Roger told us that he wanted no fuss and no mention made of his retirement on his last day in the office. But, of course, we all just rolled our eyes at that and after some negotiation he eventually gave in to an understated single glass of champagne at four p.m. He also agreed to a practice-funded dinner the following evening, to which Alison said partners were invited – a kind offer, even if a largely redundant one, as Luke was the only one of us with anyone to invite along.

‘You know, I’m still not sure whether to bring Jem tomorrow night,’ he said quietly, as we drank our champagne and Roger chatted with Cameron and Alison on the other side of her conference table.

‘Why on earth not?’ I asked, pulling a face. ‘We all really like Jem and the pair of you are so funny together.’ I hesitated for a moment. ‘You haven’t had a falling out, have you?’

‘A falling out?’ he repeated, with a snort and a shake of his head. ‘You sound so like my nan, Edie. Henleaze really rubbed off on you, didn’t it? No, we haven’t had a falling out. It’s just that Jem will be the only non-work person there.’

‘So?’ I shrugged. ‘Is that a problem?’

‘Not for Jem,’ he said. ‘But I don’t want anyone feeling they can’t talk about work, or make in-jokes, because there’s someone sitting there who won’t get any of it.’