Gilly opened her front door, her feelings very mixed. ‘Come in. And there’s no need for all this.’

He came in and put the flowers into her hands. ‘There was very much a need.’

‘I’ll just put these somewhere. I expect they could do with a drink before I arrange them.’ Leaving Leo in the hall she went to her utility room and found a bucket. When the flowers were in water up to their necks she went back to her unexpected guest. Her short encounter with a cold tap had been enough for her to gather her composure.

‘Can I offer you some coffee, Leo?’ she asked. ‘Having given your lovely flowers a drink I think I should show you the same courtesy.’ She smiled.

‘Can I suggest something different? Can I suggest I take you to my house for coffee? I’d like you to see it.’

The sensible part of Gilly would have said no but her curiosity squashed common sense in a second. ‘That would be delightful,’ she said. ‘Go and make yourself comfortable in the sitting room while I get ready.’

Gilly wanted to suggest she took her own car but then decided it looked a bit rude. Helena would have chided her for her inability to be rude to people but good manners were in every fibre of her being and Leo was making a huge effort. Saying sorry was obviously hard for him and he was doing it with very good grace.

Unusually for Leo, he didn’t talk much as he drove so when Helena rang the call broke the silence. Gilly felt awkward talking to her daughter because she knew Helena would not approve of what she was doing. At least Helena would understand her desire to see a possibly lovely house, but she wouldn’t want the house to be Leo’s.

Twenty minutes later, Leo drove through huge, wrought-iron gates that opened with the aid of a gadget in his car. He drove up the drive and drew to a halt in front of the house.

Gilly drew breath. Her own house was lovely, but this – lit perfectly by the spring afternoon sunshine – was spectacular.

It was a classical Georgian house, possibly an old rectory. The garden in front was beautifully tended and beyond the lawn there was a gate into the churchyard; beyond that was an old church. Gilly couldn’t suppress a sigh.

Leo ran round the car so he could open the passenger door. He handed Gilly out.

‘Come through to the kitchen. It doesn’t have anything like the charm that yours has, but it is quite smart.’

The kitchen was reached via a generous entrance hall, stone-flagged, light and perfect for the tallest Christmas tree. Now it had an antique desk and chair and a chaise longue.