‘No one is. However, it can be suggested that not declaring rental income to HMRC is unwise. It’s quite possibly all that would be needed to get him to back off.’

‘Seriously?’

‘If he has any sense at all, yes. It’s likely he owes a not inconsiderable sum, especially when compared with the cost of some gardening and grass seed.’

‘And a phone. And a designer coffee table.’

‘Even with those things too.’

‘But you aren’t going to tell HMRC either? I don’t want that.’

‘No, I’m not. But I can’t imagine it’ll be long before he decides to voluntarily pay the tax anyway, once the situation has been explained to him by his solicitor.’

Fiona, who has been silent during the discussion, joins in. ‘I’ll draft a letter and you can see it before it gets sent.’

Tess frowns. ‘Solicitor’s letters are expensive.’

‘You can pay me in ironing. I have a Munro-sized heap of it, and it’s only Thursday.’

‘Are you sure?’

‘M and P Legal have always been,’ she makes inverted commas in the air with her fingers, ‘“helpful” to Georgia’s friends. Let’s just say the sisterhood supports when necessary.’ She wags her finger at Tess. ‘And I will extract my fee in pressed T-shirts and pillowcases, you can be sure of that.’

‘Ironing I can cope with. I just don’t want to be pulled into a huge argument over all this.’ Tess looks at the three women with whom she has just shared an excellent meal. ‘I think I’ve finally got to the point where I’m thinking about what comes next in my life, and I don’t want to get dragged backwards.’ She stands up. ‘And since we are talking about what comes next, who would like coffee and chocolate?’

Chapter 71

September 2011

‘I’m going to France,’ announces Georgia as they are finishing lunch. ‘I assume you’ll be able to look after everything while I’m gone?’

‘To France?’ Tess cannot keep the surprise from her voice.

‘Yes. Stan asked me to remind you there are lots of blackcurrants which will need to be picked at the allotment.’

‘France is a big place.’

‘I’m going to visit one of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission cemeteries on the Western Front. Finlay might be there. All I really have is the letter from his commanding officer, and that might not be accurate. He’s listed on the big Memorial to the Missing nearby, but according to their website he doesn’t have a headstone with his name on it. I want to go and look for myself.’

‘How long will you be away?’

‘Two weeks; I’m leaving the day after tomorrow and going on a bit of a tour. Not sure exactly where I’ll end up.’