Isobel tried again. ‘You are upset because he laughed at the words you used?’

‘No.’ Ann could still feel the embarrassment. ‘I mean, yes, a bit. I said I could offer him a free room. And I stupidly thought he would be pleased about it, but he wasn’t. He was furious. He said he didn’t need charity and he’d manage without my help. And that was it, more or less.’

‘But what about doing the decorating as payment?’

‘I told you. He cut me off before I was able to tell him that part.’

Isobel sighed.

‘I did my best. There’s no point in standing there with that look on your face. He went and fixed the front door and then he said he might be back to paint it tomorrow if he has time, but I’m not sure that’s going to happen now. He didn’t even say goodbye when he left.’ Ann’s voice had a catch in it. ‘So you see, I’ve messed everything up. I’m not sure when he’ll be back. It might be never.’

Isobel wasn’t given to displays of physical affection, but there were times when only a hug would do, and this was one of them. She put her arms around Ann and didn’t let go until Ann herself started to pull away.

‘I think you care about him having somewhere decent to stay more than you are letting on,’ Isobel said softly. ‘I expect if you both leave things for a few days it will sort itself out.’

‘I’m not sure how.’ Ann sat down on one of the kitchen chairs, suddenly feeling as though her legs wouldn’t support her. ‘I have no idea where he’s going to be staying.’

Isobel reached into the deep pocket on her apron.

‘I don’t need a hanky.’ Ann sniffed. ‘I’m fine.’ She straightened herself. ‘I doubt he’ll come back. I mean, why would he, after I’ve offended him so badly?’

Isobel smiled. ‘Oh, I think he’ll be back, and sooner than you expect.’ She laid the contents of her pocket on the kitchen table; the chisel had a smooth wooden handle around which had been painted two stripes, one in purple and one in turquoise. ‘I was in the parlour upstairs and I saw him go up the front path when he left. He wasn’t hanging about.’ She paused. ‘He didn’t look quite right, though, and that’s why I kept watching.’

Ann picked up the chisel, feeling the weight of it in her hand. She rested it on her middle finger, feeling for the balance point before putting it back down. ‘This belonged to his brother. He must have left it by mistake.’