Fred gave her a funny look. ‘It’s bloody delicious. It’s always been my favourite.’

Seeing Fred’s, Helena wanted jelly and ice cream too. When they had all had it, Fred yawned.

‘Tell you what, it’s turned into a lovely evening out there,’ he said to Jago. ‘Why don’t you take Helena outside and tell her the rest of the story? There’s a nice bench a little way along. Perfect for looking at the view and talking.’

Helena looked at Jago, who then looked at Fred. ‘You’ll be OK?’

‘I’ve got my bell. I’ll ring if I need you.’

Jago got up and held out his hand for Helena’s so he could pull her up too. ‘This calls for rum.’

‘And more ginger biscuits. For dunking,’ she said.

‘Really?’ Jago and Fred both looked horrified.

‘Don’t knock it till you’ve tried it.’

Jago had to go back inside for an old mac and cushions as the seat, although perfectly positioned, was soaking wet.

‘It is an idyllic spot,’ said Helena. ‘You get a bit of both views, the one at the front and the one at the back.’

Jago nodded. ‘My plan is to make the cottage habitable – extend it a bit – and then Fred could maybe come up for holidays with his daughter and her family.’ He looked down at her. ‘Maybe we could come up here too?’ He had become tentative as if not quite sure how he stood with her.

She picked up on his doubt and became shy. ‘I would like that.’

He handed her a glass of rum and the packet of biscuits. She took one and dipped it in. ‘So?’ she asked. ‘What’s the rest of the story?’

‘It’s more background really. Before the fire I was engaged to be married. We were young but we were in love and she had a big wedding planned. All the bells and whistles, country house hotel, a band for the day and another for the night. Her dress cost several thousand pounds.’

‘Oh my goodness.’ Helena crunched into a rum-soaked biscuit for support.

‘But after it all blew up she broke off the engagement. Said she didn’t want everyone to be putting up pictures and mocking her for marrying a man who could have been responsible for people dying.’

‘Although they didn’t die.’

‘And I wasn’t responsible. She knew that, but the rest of the world thought I was. She had a point.’

Helena sipped the rum without the biscuit and found she liked it.