It was early days for them, of course, but if/when things went wrong, she decided stoutly, she’d be prepared. She was not Genevieve. She wouldn’t lean, need and expect as Genevieve had.

Her thoughts were interrupted by Kaz arriving with the cappuccino in a white cup with a saucer and sitting down across the table.

‘So what did Oli say?’ Clancy demanded, tearing the top off a sachet of brown sugar.

Kaz fidgeted awkwardly. ‘Sorry, Clancy, but I didn’t ask him. I realised your idea wasn’t really a goer.’

Shocked, Clancy stilled, sugar sachet in hand.

Not quite meeting her gaze, Kaz went on. ‘I’m sorry if you’re disappointed but when I really thought of someone else owning a part of this, I realised it’s not what I want. The B&B came from Oli’s family and we’re building it up. The two of us.’

Clancy couldn’t unfreeze to pour the sugar into the cup. ‘Oh.’ Her heart slowed to a sad, heavy beat. ‘I see.’ She managed to sound composed. Experience had taught her that when you went into business boundless enthusiasm was a key ingredient. If Kaz had gone so cold on the idea that she hadn’t even discussed it with Oli then it was never going to happen. ‘Thanks for being honest,’ she said, trying to sound bright. She finally tipped the sugar into the cappuccino and stirred it in.

‘I am sorry,’ Kaz said again, levering herself to her feet quickly, as if relieved Clancy wasn’t trying to force the issue. ‘No hard feelings?’

‘Of course not,’ Clancy responded automatically. ‘It was entirely your decision.’ Then, as Kaz turned away she said impulsively, ‘How much would it be if I asked to book a room here for a while? Now Alice and her husband have moved into the Roundhouse—’

But Kaz was already shaking her head. ‘We couldn’t have anyone full time until about the middle of September. We’re pretty booked till then. That cappuccino’s on the house, by the way.’

Clancy sat, gazing out to sea. It was lunchtime but she was too full of disappointment to eat. Her chances of making a home in Nelson’s Bar had taken a serious hit and the prospect of staying on in the Roundhouse had taken on the proportions of a nightmare.

Briefly, she considered asking whether Dilys would take her as a lodger as a stopgap but quickly realised that living next door to the Roundhouse wouldn’t be much more fun than living in it.

She absolutely wasn’t going to expect to move in with Aaron. They hadn’t been together long enough; they hadn’t even discussed what form their relationship was taking.

As she sat there, staring into thin air, Lee and Daisy hove into view, Nelson on his extendable leash, cantering up to dance in front of Clancy. If you could harness his tail’s energy, it could provide electricity, like the offshore wind farm did, Clancy thought absently, rubbing his hairy head. He gazed at her with one bright eye.