‘No, Betty,’ I said, laughing. ‘Definitely not now and most definitely not this man.’

‘Well now, that’s a shame. You looked ever so good together and he’s very handsome.’

‘Sometimes those are the worst ones,’ I said, turning her words back on her and she shook her head, laughing.

‘What are we going to do with you?’

‘Nothing, but thank you for the offer. Really, I’m perfectly happy as I am.’

My neighbour gave me a look that disagreed. ‘I see Tom was here, checking on the place at the weekend.’

‘Yes. I have a slight problem with the roof.’

‘He told me it was leaking like a sieve.’

Thanks, Tom.

‘I’m working on getting it fixed.’

‘Tom said he’d told you he’d happily get it done for you, and that you could pay him later.’

I really needed to have words with Tom about how much of my business he discussed with the rest of the village. The fact that he’d told the neighbours this, obviously in all innocence, only backed up what I’d said to Lorcan about gossip. If Tom went around happily telling villagers that he’d done my roof ‘on credit’, firstly, everyone would know my financial situation and secondly, it would undoubtedly cause at least a few to wonder if he was receiving payment in other ways. Which was why I was sticking to my original sensible plan of praying to any god who would listen – I wasn’t fussy – for dry weather until Peyton’s big wedding and I could begin to get my finances back on track, and my roof back to being weathertight.

‘Yes, I know. It’s very kind of him, but I don’t like to be beholden to anyone and it’s not fair. He’s a small business too so it’s hardly likely he’s got plenty of money sat around in the bank to be doing favours to people.’

‘Yes, but we both know you’re not just any old people when it comes to Tom, don’t we?’

‘No, Betty, we don’t,’ I replied in a definitive tone, which she merely waved away.

‘Oh, pssh. He’s had a crush on you since the day you moved in. You must have noticed.’

I thought back to what Lorcan had said about Tom having a ‘thing’ for me. The truth was, I hadn’t noticed. I was always too busy to notice.

‘You really hadn’t, had you?’ Betty read my face.

‘There’s nothing to notice. Anyway, isn’t he living with someone? Dark hair, a hairdresser or something?’

‘They broke up about a year ago, love.’

‘Oh…’

‘He was asking what I knew about your Irishman.’

‘Well, you can start by telling him he’s not my Irishman.’

‘Yet.’

‘Ever!’ I turned back to her. ‘What did you say?’