Helena braked and pulled into the side of the road. ‘You are joking?’

‘Yes of course!’ said Gilly. ‘Now let’s get home and have something proper to eat.’

But after Helena had finally gone home, Gilly was thoughtful. Like Helena she was outraged at the suggestion that in her mid-fifties she was in need of sheltered accommodation at her son’s house, while giving up her own life to become a nanny – presumably without being paid. But she was the owner of quite a valuable property and while Martin and Cressida didn’t need to live in a seven-bedroomed mansion, Helena could certainly do with some money to buy a studio. Helena had spent the five thousand she’d received at the same time as Martin on a loom and other equipment. It would be wrong to dismiss the idea without giving it some thought. What she needed was someone she could discuss it with, someone with her interests at heart. Of course she wouldn’t go and live with Cressida and Martin but maybe it was time to downsize?

Chapter Five

It was still light when Helena dropped her home and Gilly had noticed that the signs outside the house were a little mud-spattered so she decided to go out and wash them, as well as tidying up a bit in the garden. First impressions were so important. Helena might tease her about being obsessed with Four in a Bed with its critical bed and breakfast owners, staying in each other’s businesses and peeling back every layer of bedding and standing on chairs to find dirt on the chandelier, but attention to detail was very important. Besides, she wanted to think, and she thought better if physically occupied.

But half an hour later the light was seriously beginning to fade and Gilly was about to go inside when she heard a car pull up in the road behind her.

‘Excuse me!’ said a voice.

She turned round and saw a large, smart car and a man with silver hair and a nice smile leaning across so he could speak to her through the passenger window.

‘Can I help?’ she asked, glad she had make-up on from having been out for lunch and that her hair was reasonably OK for the same reason.

‘I wonder if you can,’ said the man, whose voice was as pleasant as the rest of him. ‘I’m looking for this address.’ He stopped the engine, got out of the car and came round so he could talk to Gilly properly. He was holding a bit of paper.

Gilly took the offered paper and considered it for a moment. ‘Well, you’re not far but you’ve come up the wrong way from the crossroads at the bottom of the hill.’