‘Do you not drive?’

‘Yes, but I’m recovering from an operation and not up to driving there and back in one day.’

‘Oh, I see. When did you book the car for?’

‘Monday morning.’

‘Oh dear. I’ve just put the phone down and one of the other applicants has booked Monday morning.’

‘I see. I wasn’t thinking very clearly, was I? It’s just that I need to move out of this house by the end of next week, so if I got one of the houses, I wanted to see if I could move in immediately. I’m so sorry. I can change my booking for another time, I’m sure. Would Monday afternoon or Tuesday morning be all right instead?’

Nell took a sudden decision. She’d had to move out of her Australian house very quickly to get a lucrative sale and she knew how every day counted. ‘Why don’t we leave the booking as is? If you get one of the places, you’ll want to meet the other applicants and see if you get on with them.’

‘Are you sure?’

For some reason she felt quite certain it would be all right. ‘Yes. I’d say if it wasn’t. But how about you arrive around eleven? The other woman is arriving at ten. We want to have a private chat with each of you, but we can talk to you on your own after she leaves.’

‘I’ll do that. Thank you so much. I’m deeply grateful to you.’

‘I’ll look forward to meeting you. Oh, and could you please bring the two paintings you sent photos of and another one? However good the photos, there is something better about a painting in the flesh as it were.’

‘Yes, I can do that.’ She had no need to change her car booking. The timing was exactly right. What luck!

Now she’d spoken to the first two applicants they wanted to interview and made the necessary arrangements, Nell was free to work on the houses or catch up with her housework.

Both of them had sounded as friendly as their letters and … well, warm-natured. Could you tell such a thing over the phone?

She couldn’t wait to tell Angus. She debated going down to the lane to see him, but since the fitters were just finishing the kitchens in Numbers Two and Three, so would be able to keep an eye on the houses, she had said she’d stay near the landline at the house today and he could join her for a proper lunch.

If he didn’t forget.

But for once, he didn’t. He arrived just after noon, smiling and ready to discuss the news about the interviews.

After they’d eaten, he took her down to see the kitchens, which were looking great now that the units, surfaces and glass splashbacks had been installed.

Best of all, the guy in charge thought they’d be able to finish that night if they put in an extra hour or two’s work.

He cocked one eye at her. ‘Any chance of a bite to eat, Mrs Denning, so we don’t have to go out for food? We don’t need anything fancy, just something to fill our stomachs.’