‘Yes. I’ve only got the one landlord. And I could hardly not rescue the kitten, could I?’

‘That was so brave.’

This was exactly the response she was looking for. ‘It was difficult! But Jago – the landlord – was far too big to get into the space.’

Gilly had pulled her chair a bit nearer to Helena’s. ‘Surely he could have found someone else?’

‘There was no time. The heap of rubble could have collapsed at any moment. It wouldn’t take much to squash a kitten.’

‘Don’t!’ said Gilly, getting up to make the tea. ‘Do you want brandy? Or Rescue Remedy?’

‘I’ve already declined the offer of brandy,’ said Helena. ‘But Rescue Remedy might be good.’

Helena thought she heard her mother mutter, ‘Same thing really,’ as she went to find the bottle.

After Gilly had waved off her daughter, who was bearing a plastic box of bolognese sauce as well as quite a lot of shortbread, she went to find her phone so she could make an appointment. While she had told Helena about their lunch date with her brother and sister-in-law, she hadn’t told her that Cressida had added, ‘We’ve got an exciting plan we want to share with you,’ when she’d issued the invitation. Gilly had an idea she knew what this plan was, and she wanted to prepare before the visit. Hence the appointment with her accountant.

William Davies had been her accountant for seven years. He had advised her when she was setting up her bed and breakfast business and had been a supportive presence ever since. She’d had him recommended to her by a friend who felt that Sebastian, her ex-husband, who was using an old school friend ‘mates rates’ solicitor to arrange his divorce, was far too advantaged. Putting Gilly in touch with William Davies was her attempt to level the playing field somewhat.

The following morning in William’s office, Gilly took the chair offered to her and sat down opposite him. She smiled, aware she was pleased to see him. ‘How are you?’

William sat back down behind his desk, having risen as she was shown in. ‘Well, thank you. And you? Mandy will bring us some tea in a moment.’

Gilly nodded. She’d left a tin of home-made shortbread at the front desk as usual. The tea which was brought, unasked, every time she visited, was part of the thank you from Mandy and her colleagues. While they waited she contemplated the fact – not for the first time – that William had very good hair. It was greying in an attractive way and there was lots of it.

‘So,’ William said when the tea had arrived, ‘what can I do for you?’

‘I’m wondering if there’s any way I can raise some money from my house without actually selling it.’

‘Why?’