Simon Costello knew that the purchase of the house in Pembroke Square had been a mistake within a year of his and Loiss moving in A possession which can only be afforded by the exercise of stringent and calculated economy is best not afforded at all But at the time it had seemed a sensible as well as a desirable move He had had a run of successful cases and they were coming in with reassuring regularity Lois had returned to her job at the advertising agency within two months of the birth of the twins and had been given a rise which took her salary to thirtyfive thousand It was Lois who had argued the more strongly for a move but he had put up little resistance to arguments which at the time had seemed compelling the flat wasnt really suitable for a family they needed more room a garden separate accommodation for an au pair All these of course could have been achieved in a suburb or in a less fashionable part of London than Pembroke Square but Lois was ambitious for more than additional space Mornington Mansions had never been an acceptable address for an upandcoming young barrister and a successful businesswoman She never said it without a sense that even speaking the words subtly diminished her standing socially and economically