Fliss thinks about this for a moment. Then she says, ‘But whatever the shortcomings of the relationship, it’s clear that Cara loved him.’

‘What a mess,’ Hal says. ‘But then what do I know? I can’t talk, can I? I made a mess of my first marriage and for a great deal of the time Maria and I were very unhappy. Cara and Philip probably were happier than most.’

‘But now, I hope, she can begin to let it all go. Or at least put it into some perspective.’

They stand together on the top of the hill, looking out across the valley to the misty tors of the moor, and Hal slips an arm around Fliss’s shoulders.

‘We’ve been so bloody lucky,’ he murmurs. ‘It would be nice just to be able to pass some of it on. Share it around a little.’

She nods. ‘I know what you mean. I feel the same. I have a feeling that she’ll come and stay, I really do.’

His arm tightens suddenly and she feels him tense beside her.

‘Look,’ he says quietly, urgently. ‘Look.’

His other hand shoots out and she turns, looking to see what he’s pointing at. Honey is running down the hill at full tilt, uttering little excited barks as two crows fly up from the ground in front of her. They flap and croak above her head whilst she rushes in circles, tail waving. Hal is laughing, Fliss can feel it right up his arm as he holds her tightly against him.

‘She did it,’ he cries. ‘Good old Honey.’

Fliss laughs too. It might be foolish but she sees it as an omen. If Honey can cast off a lifetime of habits and restrictions, to run free, then so can Cara. Fliss remembers how Mole overcame his fears and ran round the spinney alone, and she hugs Hal tightly. All shall be well. Hal bends to kiss her. Whistling to Honey, turning for home, they walk back arm in arm to The Keep.

Alistair spends the days after he met Amy in the pub avoiding the town. Each morning he takes Reggie off in the car to explore some of the coast. They go to Dartmouth and Kingsbridge, and up on to the moor. Cosmo phones him at intervals from Hackney. Though Becks has thrown him out he is keeping up a determined siege. Al tells him each time that he has to be back in London by Thursday at the latest, and on Tuesday evening Cosmo gives in and says that he’s coming back to Salcombe.

‘Have you seen Amy?’ he asks Al.