‘Of course. It’s only got a few things in it. You seem to have equipment for an entire Boy Scout Jamboree in that rucksack. We’re only going to have tea.’

‘Not at all,’ he said dismissively.

They were at the farm, preparing to go for a repeat of the walk they had gone on together, back in January, when they had only just met. It was now October and the sort of autumn day that made Laura want to quote Keats: there was a hint of mist and veils of dew-spangled cobwebs on the fuchsia-filled hedgerows. Part of their picnic was apples from the tree in Dermot’s garden and there was the promise of hot sun later. She had moved into Dermot’s house ten days earlier, after he’d had the entire house repainted. Every morning when she woke up to hear him snoring beside her, she thought she’d die of happiness – that was if he didn’t wake her first, pulling her to him and holding her tight prior to making love to her so thoroughly she was sure everyone could tell how she’d started her day just by the glow that surrounded her.

‘Where are the dogs?’ she said now.

‘I asked the farmer to keep them in.’

‘Oh, that was very kind of you. I would have coped.’ Now that she and Dermot were together she felt nothing could daunt her, certainly not a few noisy collies.

‘I didn’t want you having to cope with anything, not today,’ he said firmly.

When they had climbed over the gate, Dermot assisting Laura in a way that involved his hand on her bottom and her giggling for quite a long time, they set off walking.

After a little way, Laura said, ‘I can’t quite believe we’re preparing for my parents to come to stay.’

‘We should have that spare bedroom in a good state before they get here.’

‘What I really can’t believe is that you invited them.’

Dermot had behaved like a perfect gentleman the morning after he had burst into the Horsley household and by the time he and Laura left (by taxi – very extravagant) her parents had seemed quite happy that he was now taking charge of their daughter and her journey back to Ireland.

‘I thought it was only fair that they should see their only child was being properly looked after,’ he explained. ‘And I’ve been thinking, we may want to sell my house.’

‘But you’ve lived there for years?’

‘I’ve always had a fancy to build one where you can see the sea. There’s a plot up here I might persuade the farmer to sell.’