‘What a lovely stall!’ said the woman. ‘I love your scarves! I am a bit addicted,’ she went on. ‘My husband says I have the largest collection of them in private hands. How he would know, I have no idea.’ She frowned. ‘Unless he found my private stash of them under the spare bed.’

The woman didn’t add to her collection by buying one but she took a card and promised to keep an eye on her website. Helena was grateful she’d remembered to bring her cards as she nearly always forgot. They were important, Amy was always telling her. Although she made most of her money through weaving workshops, she did sell things online.

But a member of the second group of people did buy a scarf and draped it round her neck. It looked stunning on the woman’s rather formal black jacket, giving it the lift it needed.

‘What’s so good about these scarves,’ the woman said while Helena was processing the purchase, ‘is that they do for men and women.’

Helena smiled as she handed the woman her receipt. ‘True.’

‘And what’s good about that is,’ the woman went on, ‘a woman can buy it for her husband – men are always so hard to buy for – and then wear it herself if he doesn’t appreciate it.’ She looked down at the scarf. ‘In fact – can you wrap this up for me after all? Alexis has a birthday next week. That makes the scarf practically free!’

‘Do you want a quick whizz round the other stalls?’ asked one of Helena’s neighbours an hour or so later. ‘My friend has come and can mind my stall and it’s a shame not to see what other people produce.’

‘Oh, that is very kind! I was expecting my mother but she’s coming with my brother and his wife and they’re obviously delayed. I’d appreciate a trip to the loo as well. If you’re sure.’

After a quick chat with Amy, whose stall was right up the other end, Helena took her tour of the show.

There were some exquisite things to see. Even if one wasn’t intending to buy anything, just seeing the skill and beauty of the items made it very worthwhile for visitors. It could be a museum of the future, Helena thought.