Blackie exclaimed, ‘That’s right! Alf mentioned that lad Ian Craig. Mebbe she’s all right. Mebbe she’s hooked up with him.’

‘So why didn’t she go home?’ Finn said. ‘Did she go back to his house? Is she still there?’

‘That don’t sound like Gwen. She is a nice girl, not a loose woman,’ Blackie murmured, and said no more as Aunt Eileen appeared in the main room, removing her pinafore.

She said, ‘Will you all come and get yer Yorkshire puddings, please.’

The three men rose, and Patrick said in a quiet voice, ‘No discussion about Gwen, lads. I don’t want Eileen to be upset.’

‘Quiet as two mice,’ Finn whispered.

Blackie merely nodded.

From time to time, Eileen and Patrick exchanged glances. They didn’t say a word to each other, but their eyes shone with shared pleasure.

They knew how much Finn was enjoying the large, round Yorkshire pudding, now oozing gravy. And Blackie too was engrossed with his food, as he always was.

When they had all finished the first course, Eileen asked Patrick to bring the plates, and for Blackie to refill their tumblers with cold water.

‘What else can we do, Aunt Eileen?’ Blackie asked. ‘Can we help some more?’

‘Your uncle is going to carve the leg of lamb, and I will serve the vegetables. Once the plates are ready, you can come and carry them to the table. Finn will help you.’

‘Sure and we will,’ Blackie responded, and glanced at Finn. Leaning closer, he whispered, ‘Where did ye get all the information about Gwen? From Alf?’

‘Yes, and also from Sarah. I bumped into her on Town Street. She’d been to Christ Church, to the morning service. The neighbours had been talking to each other before and after the service.’

‘Was she with her sister?’

‘No, she was alone,’ Finn answered. ‘I didn’t even know about a sister. How did ye know there was one?’

‘I walked Sarah home last night, remember, and it was the sister who let us in. She was a beauty, believe me, a knockout …’

‘Are ye interested, eh?’ Finn probed, laughter in his eyes.

‘No, I am not, believe me … she’s a widow lady,’ Blackie replied quickly, thinking, and a gorgeous widow.

‘Oh, perhaps that’s why I never set eyes on her. Did ye see her before last night?’ Finn continued to press.

‘Never. I understand she’s a bit of a recluse. Quite refined, like, and …’

Blackie stopped abruptly as his uncle appeared and beckoned. ‘Come and get the plates, lads, and I’ll bring the other two.’