Kaz’s attention was taken by customers at another table and Harry and Rory soon went on their way too, thanking Clancy for the snack and patting Nelson’s shaggy back before they left.

Clancy sat on, pondering whether Alice and Hugo might find a Norfolk winter bleak and bugger off in their motorhome to Morocco or Timbuktu. She couldn’t count on it. After October, her caretaking responsibilities at Roundhouse Row would be minor too, though it was apparent from the records that she might expect the occasional walker or birdwatcher booking.

Would she want to be a caretaker forever?

Probably not, though she didn’t miss the buzz of working at IsVid as she’d assumed she would. She didn’t miss the stress and the long hours either. The feeling was growing inside her that she should seriously consider rooting herself in Nelson’s Bar, this tiny windswept village up on the headland with its stripy chalk cliffs. She was going to have a chunk of money. What she wanted was something absorbing and worthwhile to do with it. Something that would attach her to Nelson’s Bar.

Contemplatively, her eyes followed Kaz as she emerged from the B&B with a fresh tray crowded with tea and scones and delivered them to a table nearby. Impulsively, she stopped her as she passed on her way back inside. ‘I’ve done some research for you about funding, if you’re interested in hearing it.’

Kaz promptly sat down opposite Clancy. ‘Yes,’ she said simply.

‘Right.’ Clancy gathered her thoughts. ‘Leaving aside traditional bank borrowing, which you’re already investigating yourself, there are lenders who specialise in lending to rural businesses. They might be more approachable but they’re no more affordable.’

‘Oh,’ sighed Kaz, gazing down at the table top. ‘What about that crowdfunding thing you mentioned at the Parish Meeting? I googled it myself but it seemed more to do with causes and charities than business.’

‘There’s definitely organisations where people invest to lend to businesses exactly like yours,’ Clancy hastened to assure her. ‘It’s all done online and it’s perfectly reputable. It can be cheaper than traditional borrowing too, but your most likely investors come from your community. And you might have to give investors a slice of the business. And a campaign takes up to three months.’

‘Our community didn’t seem that keen on helping at the meeting,’ Kaz pointed out. ‘The whole thing sounds airy-fairy. Oli wasn’t at all keen when I told him what I’d read.’

Clancy took a deep breath to steady herself, recognising that this might be a life-defining moment and not wanting to miss the chance. ‘Have you thought about taking a partner in, instead of borrowing the money? A single investor?’

Kaz’s eyebrows shot up. ‘We haven’t, but only because we wouldn’t know where to start. I don’t think there would be enough profit for a sleeping partner. It would have to be someone who’d want to shoulder some work. Like who?’

Another breath, even deeper, then Clancy blurted, ‘Like me.’