‘I’ll let you know if I think she’s jolly.’ He winked.

Helena decided she liked James – he was definitely jolly.

As the evening was going so well, they decided to stay and eat. Amy and James seemed to hit it off and, Amy had confided, she fancied James really quite a lot.

But while they were sharing a selection of puddings, Jago frowned and got out his phone. ‘Sorry,’ he said, having looked down at it. ‘I’ll have to take this.’

Something in the way that he left the table made everyone else a bit less cheerful. ‘I hope it’s not something dreadfully wrong with one of his properties,’ said Helena. ‘We may need to leave at once to put buckets under burst pipes.’

‘Well, if you have to go, maybe me and Amy can stay on for a bit? Would you be up for that, Amy?’ James asked.

‘I should think that would be all right,’ said Amy. She sounded fairly relaxed about it but Helena guessed she was delighted by his suggestion.

Jago came back. ‘We’re going to have to go, I’m afraid,’ he said.

‘Burst pipes?’ said Amy.

‘No. Why should it be burst pipes?’ Jago seemed confused.

Helena got down from her stool. ‘We were just speculating about what your phone call was. I guessed a plumbing crisis at one of your rental properties.’

‘If only!’ he said. He pulled some notes out of his wallet and put them on the table. ‘Let me know if that’s not enough and don’t go crazy, kids!’ He gave a cheery smile but Helena could tell it wasn’t sincere. He was obviously very worried.

He didn’t volunteer any information after they set off for home and eventually she had to ask. ‘I don’t want to be nosy, but can you tell me what the phone call was about or is it confidential?’

He sighed. ‘I do have a business problem, I’m afraid. Which means I’ll have to be away for a while and I’m not sure how long.’

‘Oh.’ This was a shock but she didn’t want to appear clingy by letting him see how much of a shock. ‘But we’ll be able to keep in touch with each other?’

He shook his head and looked straight ahead through the windscreen. ‘I’m afraid not. There’s no phone signal where I’m going. Or any Wi-Fi.’

‘But what about your properties here? Will you need me to do anything for you?’

‘Sweet of you to offer.’ He gave her a warm smile and patted her knee. ‘I’ll sort things out before I go.’ He was silent for a few moments. ‘Will you be OK on your own in the house? It could feel a bit spooky with it being unfinished and everything.’