‘Thanks,’ I said, handing Lorcan back the travel mug as we sat cosily in the car, having walked back down from the ruins. Initially we’d just sat there together, Lorcan’s arms tight around me as I rested my head against his solid chest and stared out at the ocean, watching the patterns on the surface change as the clouds played hide and seek with an elusive sun. We didn’t speak. There was no need to. I knew he was there for me and that was enough.

‘Did you want to go back to the house now? There’s a bit of daylight left so we’ve still got time to have a general drive around and see a bit more countryside.’ He sent me a half-grin. ‘To be fair, most of it is just more fields and more sheep so don’t be expecting a lot of variety.’

‘I’ll bear that in mind for my Tripadvisor review.’

‘That’d be grand.’

I loved that he hadn’t asked me how I was feeling now, or some other platitude. What could he say anyway? I wasn’t sure I even knew how I was feeling. It was a long time since I’d spoken about my family, and the truth was I’d never really spoken about it in as much detail as I had sitting up on those rocks. Family had obviously come up in previous relationships but I’d always dealt with the subject in a slightly clinical, detached way. The only way I could. I’d say that they’d died when I was younger and wouldn’t elaborate. I’d never spoken about Henry to anyone. Not until now. He’d been too special, too precious, too heartbreaking to talk about. But something about this place – and this man – had emptied my heart and I didn’t regret it. I was glad I’d told him. And I’d meant what I said. Henry really would have adored him.

‘I’d love to see a bit more of the area, if you have time?’

‘All the time in the world,’ he said, smiling as he turned the key, pushed the stick into gear and pulled back out onto the road. We wound around country lanes, got stuck in a cow-jam, which was so much more entertaining and relaxing than a regular traffic jam, and eventually turned back to head towards the village.

‘Did you want to go via the castle on the way back? Not to stop, but just so you can see it lit up now the light’s fading. I’m not sure you’ve ever seen that for yourself yet, have you?’

‘No, I haven’t. That’d be great. Thanks. We’ve planned for lanterns all the way along the entrance path so that’d give me a good opportunity to get a picture in my mind how that will look too.’