After Sam and Cara have gone, Fliss and Hal wander back across the courtyard. Fliss pauses to fix back some trailing stems of the clematis that grows against the old stone wall, stepping carefully into the border beneath it, reaching up to weave the stems on to the wires that support it. Hal watches her, thinking about the past. It was their grandmother who was firm with him when he wanted to marry Fliss all those years ago when they were both very young. Freddy Chadwick didn’t approve of first cousins marrying, and Hal’s mother agreed with her. Reluctantly he was prevailed upon to establish his career, to see the wider world – and then he met Maria, pretty, sexy, and he fell in lust. He sighs, thinking back over the drama that was his marriage to Maria. How long ago it all seems.

Fliss steps out of the border, scrapes her muddy shoe on the grass and smiles at him. He smiles back at her, grateful for these last twenty years they’ve spent together.

‘I liked Cara,’ Fliss says. ‘Did you? Not what I expected at all. I hope you didn’t mind me inviting her out of the blue like that. I just felt she must be feeling pretty vulnerable and buying a house is such a big decision.’

‘I like her, too,’ says Hal. ‘And of course I don’t mind. She’s good value. Sam must bring her over for lunch. She’ll be good for him. He still seems to have something on his mind.’

‘I know.’ Fliss catches his arm as they stroll, frowning. ‘I thought it was to do with Lizzie going but I’m beginning to think it’s more than that. The trouble is, it’s difficult actually to confront him. He’s so like Mole. So self-sufficient.’

‘Of course, it might just be that he’s slightly daunted about going to Dartmouth. He’s had too long to think about it. It was better in the old days when you just left school in July and started in September.’

Hal stands back to allow her to go into the hall but once inside she pauses to look around her, and he wonders if she is remembering past times.

‘What’s up?’ he asks. ‘Seeing ghosts?’

She looks surprised at his perceptiveness, and gives a little laugh.

‘I still can’t get over it being only us,’ she admits. ‘There were always so many people. Grandmother and Uncle Theo. Ellen bustling about, managing everything. Caroline looking after me and Mole and Susanna.’

‘And don’t forget old Fox living in the gatehouse.’

She shakes her head, sighs. ‘And now it’s just you and me and Sam, and he’ll be gone soon. Perhaps we should start a B and B.’