‘Of course you have. Ah, the gin list! Thank you, Libby. Now, this is the one I had, so many herbs it’s practically medicine …’

Libby – Keith introduced them, charmingly – recommended a garnet-coloured aperitif which Tara had to admit was more than palatable, and then showed them to their table for two, by a window looking on to the garden.

‘So!’ Keith smiled, filling the sudden silence as though they’d just been admiring the place settings. ‘How are you—’

‘How did it go at the council meeting today?’ she blurted out, before he could ask her something personal.

‘Very well! Did I tell you our archivist came up with some old photographs of the original building? I thought it might be nice to incorporate a little history into the design.’

‘It would.’ This was easier. ‘What sort of details would you choose?’

‘Those terrific old oak beams should be centre stage,’ he said straight away. ‘I’ve already had a long chat with the lead carpenter, and he’s happy about the way everything’s drying out. I sent some extra dehumidifiers down there to speed things up a bit.’

‘So I hear,’ said Tara.

Alice had updated the flood volunteer WhatsApp in a flurry of excitement to inform everyone that ‘a crack team of tradesmen’ had pulled up in a van to install industrial dehumidifiers in the hall, and start scaffolding the exterior. The way she described it, you’d think they’d leaped out of the back like the A-Team. Going by the photos, they certainly hadn’t leaped out of the van and put the kettle on in the way the local builders typically did.

‘Did you know there was a magnificent original fireplace in there?’ he went on. ‘Beautiful feature, God knows why it had been boarded over. Anyway, we’re going to restore that, commission a new oak surround, find a way of making that a focal point again. We’ll find the right local craftsmen, obviously,’ he added, before she could speak. ‘The whole point is to involve the community in making something for themselves.’

It was clear that he was enjoying himself. Keith’s handsome face was animated as he described the particular wood the original builders had used, and Tara noticed that he referred to various people by name – not just Rob the MP, or Alice, but the local joiner, Andy, and his lads, Dan, Tyler, Hugh.

‘Have you been doing anything else, apart from researching oak beams?’ she asked, only half joking.

‘Not a lot.’ Keith moved his napkin as the starters arrived on a wide tray. ‘The office is thrilled – they’ve been trying to get me out from under their feet for months. They think it’s Christmas.’

Tara had ordered scallops, Keith the Jerusalem artichokes, and as she lifted her fork to start, a young waitress came rushing back with the wine menu.