Nodding her understanding, she asked him more about his role as a practitioner, genuinely interested to know, and he seemed quite relaxed to talk about it. It was a good way to keep the subject away from her, although it wasn’t long before he was asking how everything was going at the house. She was glad to entertain him with the frustrations and disasters of the last ten days, and to admit to how much she already wanted to change.

They talked about Jasmine and the other acts who’d been booked for the concert; about Marcy and her new job at Glory Days; and about Leanne’s offer to let him rent the house at Ash Morley that Klaudia had left.

“I was tempted,” he admitted, “but I need to get back on the property ladder with a place of my own.”

“Are you looking?”

“I would if I had more time, but I’m in no hurry. The flat suits me well for now, although living over the shop does mean I keep forgetting to take time off. I imagine it’s a bit the same for you, working from home.”

“It is,” she admitted, “but I love my new craft room so I’m happy to spend as much time in it as I can. Unfortunately, it’s not as much as I’d like because I’ve been very lucky with all the orders that have come my way since I did the show home, so I’m often out measuring or fitting, or picking up and delivering to the machinists. I haven’t made much for the coach house yet, apart from the drapes of course, and a few other things here and there.”

“So, what else would you like to add?” he asked.

Not sure if he was really interested, she decided to go with it and said, “More lamps. Those I’ve made since coming to Kesterly are mostly of driftwood and pebbles, so they’re more suited to a place near the beach. For where we are now, I’d like to let myself loose on so many things I hardly know where to start.”

Appearing impressed he said, “You’ve clearly got an eye for this sort of thing.”

She smiled. “I enjoy taking unusual items of furniture, whether they’re footstools, chairs, old chests, drums, tin baths, and repurposing or reviving them. At some point I’d like to get a kiln and learn how to make pots.” She felt sure she was talking too much, but seemed unable to stop. “There’s an old shed in the garden that could be turned into a small studio,” she continued, “although I think Jasmine has her eye on that for a music room.”