When Jack spoke, his voice was little more than a whisper. ‘If I count to ten and open my eyes, will that woman still be here?’

‘I’m afraid so,’ said Ianto quietly.

‘Lie to me.’

‘She will most certainly be gone, yes.’

‘I don’t pay you enough.’

Ianto came running up to him, and, making sure that Agnes wasn’t looking, hugged him. Jack, careless, seized his cheeks and kissed him. Ianto squirmed away uneasily. ‘Not on duty, Captain,’ he whispered.

‘Tut,’ said Jack fondly as Ianto straightened his tie.