Esther moved closer. ‘Young Rob, y’mean?’ She spoke so quietly that Ella almost missed the words. She looked up sharply, staring at her grandmother.

‘How . . .?’ she began and felt her face colouring.

Esther smiled gently. ‘Aw, lass. I’m not blind, even if he is.’ Then her smile took on a sadness. ‘I’m sorry – if he doesn’t – well – feel the same about you.’

Ella leant on her broom and sighed. ‘I’ve lived with it a long time now. It didn’t hurt quite so much when I was away. But back here, well, it’s more difficult seeing him so much. I have to remember not to let it show.’

‘Maybe you shouldn’t try so hard to hide it.’

Ella laughed. ‘Oh, Gran, he doesn’t know I exist. He’s after the girls all right, but all the pretty ones.’

‘He’s like his grandad,’ Esther murmured and her eyes misted over, looking back down the years.

‘Matthew Hilton, you mean?’

She nodded. ‘He looks like him, spittin’ image of him, he is. When I was ill there – I – I got confused. I thought he was Matthew.’ She drew her hand across her forehead and shook her head as if to clear it, to banish such memories for ever. ‘Matthew was a flirt an’ all. After anything in skirts!’

Ella sighed. ‘I don’t think Rob means any harm. He just – well – likes a bit of fun.’

Esther nodded. ‘He’s not got a dark side like Matthew had. Ah well, it’s all a long time ago now, and Beth’s coming today – thanks to you.’ She cast a comical look at Ella. ‘So I’ll have to be on me best behaviour, won’t I, else I’ll have your grandpa after me, an’ all.’

‘And I’d better get a move on, or I’ll never be ready.’

‘Ready, Missy? We’ve been ready a week.’ Laughing, Esther disappeared into the house.

At two o’clock when the first guests were expected, they were ready. Ella had put on one of her dresses Grandmother Trent had bought her and used a little make-up, carefully concealing the birthmark on her jawline. She had washed her hair and, longer now, it framed her face, falling in cascading curls and waves to her shoulders.

‘Oh Ella, you look a picture,’ Grandpa greeted her, looking resplendent himself, if still a little thin, in his best suit, whilst Esther had on a new royal blue dress. They were waiting, a little self-consciously it seemed to Ella, in the living room when she came downstairs. Ella saw her grandmother looking keenly at her face, at the place on her jaw where usually the birthmark was plainly visible, but she said nothing as Ella turned away, saying brightly, ‘They should be here soon . . .’ and went to the back door.

A car was turning into the drive; a huge, dark green car with soft leather upholstery.

‘Oh!’ Ella cried.