Peggy stayed where she was. ‘But that’s not all, is it? Why the sheets and the blood on the gardening glove? And what had to be disinfected in here?’

‘Ach, Peggy, you’re a hard woman, so y’are,’ he said on a sigh. He looked down at his bitten hand and haltingly confessed to the entire sorry tale. ‘I’ll be buying Cordelia a new hat first thing on Monday, I promise,’ he said into the ensuing silence.

‘You’d better see you do,’ said Peggy, trying very hard not to laugh at the absurdity of it all. ‘You really are the limit, Ron,’ she managed. ‘You surely haven’t forgotten the day Sarah and Jane arrived to utter chaos, when you let the last pair of ferrets loose in the house?’

He lowered his gaze and concentrated on filling his pipe. ‘Aye, but I hadn’t taken into account the wee ones’ reaction.’

‘That’s your trouble, Ron. You never do think of the consequences. Poor little Emily must have been terrified to have blasted ferrets rampaging about the house.’ She took a breath to calm herself. ‘I can only thank God none of the children were bitten.’

Ron nodded. ‘To be sure, so do I,’ he admitted. He lifted his head and grinned. ‘But Daisy thought the whole thing was a terrific game.’

‘I have no doubt she did,’ Peggy said drily. ‘But then she’s known those ferrets since she was a baby, and is well aware she mustn’t frighten them.’

‘Ach, Peggy,’ he sighed, ‘’tis sorry I am for causing such trouble. I promise never to bring the ferrets into this house again.’

‘I seem to have heard that promise before,’ she retorted, still cross with him, and not at all convinced that he was truly contrite. ‘But as we have a wedding in the morning and it’s now almost midnight, I’ll say no more about it. But one more caper like this, and I’ll box your ears.’

He chuckled and winked at her. ‘I’d like to see you try.’

‘Don’t tempt me,’ she retorted.

They regarded one another with deep affection, knowing this wouldn’t be the last time they would draw swords, and as he smiled up at her, Peggy couldn’t help but smile back. He was a lovable old rogue, and as always, she forgave him. ‘I’ve left Cordelia making tea. Will you stay for a cuppa?’

Ron shook his head and dragged himself out of the chair. Planting a kiss on the top of her head, he squeezed her shoulder. ‘You’re a good girl, wee Peggy. I’ll wish you goodnight and go home to my Rosie.’

Peggy followed him through the hall and into the kitchen where Cordelia was making a fuss of Harvey.

‘I hear you’re in trouble again, you old devil,’ Cordelia said with a glint of laughter in her eyes. ‘What was it this time?’

Ron grinned down at her and patted her cheek. ‘To be sure, wee Peggy will tell you. Sleep well, Cordy.’

Once the back door had slammed behind him and his dog, Peggy sank into the other chair to drink the tea and share the story with Cordelia – making sure there was no mention of the hat, and thankful that the new one had been carefully stowed away inside the wardrobe.