‘Matchmaking is what aunts like to do best. They’ve been on at me for years – well since about six months after Annabel died at any rate,’ he went on cheerfully. ‘But don’t worry, they haven’t managed to make me do anything I didn’t want to yet.’

‘Good,’ said Gilly, not sure how to take this. It was the first time he’d mentioned his wife since she’d known him although she did know she had died tragically young.

‘They’ve already told me what a good cook you are, how pretty you are and how you’d make me a wonderful wife.’

‘Oh, William, I am sorry!’

‘Don’t be. It’s all true and anyway, I told you I always make my own decisions.’

Gilly didn’t know what to say so she smiled and put a tray full of lemon syllabub into his hands.

It was Sunday morning and Helena was about to round up a couple of friends to help her and Jago move her loom into the newly pointed barn when he looked through the open door of her studio.

‘Have you got a minute?’ he asked.

His expression was serious, which was unusual for him. ‘I hope you’re not going to tell me you can’t help me move my loom,’ said Helena, frantically thinking who she could call on instead.

‘No.’

‘So why are you looking like you’ve got bad news?’ Then she remembered. ‘You’ve got bad news.’

‘I’m afraid so.’

‘Should I make coffee?’

‘Probably. Or maybe something stronger like a turmeric latte.’

She forced a smile. ‘Fresh out of latte. I’ll put the kettle on.’

‘So?’ asked Helena. They both had drinks and were settled in her little sitting room. ‘Tell me all. Is he an axe murderer?’

He laughed. ‘If he is, no one’s caught him at it, but Leo Simmons is not a nice person.’

‘Where was he off to the day he nearly killed me and Mum?’

‘I didn’t manage to find out but I did discover he appeared in court a few days later facing a charge of embezzlement.’

‘And did he get off?’ asked Helena.

‘He got seven years but of course didn’t serve anything like that. He’s not someone you’d want your mother involved with though.’ Jago sipped his coffee. ‘Do you want all the stuff I printed out? Or would you rather not know the details? There’s a charge of dangerous driving in the mix.’

‘Oh God! Although I suppose that shouldn’t come as a surprise.’ Helena bit her lip. ‘Just tell me what you think I need to know. I may have to give Mum all the stuff though. This is horrible, Jago! It’s going to break her heart!’