When she put the phone down, she looked round. Was she sad to be leaving? No. This house had a lot of happy memories but it wasn’t the sort of place to live in on your own. She’d be ready to move at midnight if she had to be. The better her hip grew, the more eager she was to start her new life and get down to some painting.

What a good thing it was that she’d employed Harriet to help her clear things out!

She got on the phone again and persuaded her niece Mary to come home from work that afternoon and help her get ready.

That was the trouble with growing really old. You still wanted to do all sorts of things, even have adventures, but you needed more help doing them.

But she wouldn’t need help with her painting. Oh, no. Images were welling in her mind. She kept taking notes, hunting out a photo she’d taken and put in her file of potential subjects, and moving it to her current file for early use.

She was longing to start work again.

She had her art things packed by the time Mary arrived. When she opened the door, she burst out laughing at the sight of her niece’s worried expression.

‘Stop expecting things to go wrong, Mary! They’re going wonderfully.’

‘I must say, you’ve done well to get a place in this village thingy. How many places were there on offer?’

‘Two.’

Mary gaped. ‘My goodness. That’s brilliant.’

Elise didn’t spoil it by telling Mary about the possibility of Angus and Nell’s struggle against the council to retain the cottages.

Bless her, Mary worked like a Trojan and they had everything ready to go by midnight.

‘I’m coming to see you in your new place soon, Auntie,’ Mary said very firmly. ‘I intend to check that you’re all right.’

‘You’ll always be welcome, dear. Bring Harriet if she can get home for the weekend. I’d like to show it to you both. It’s the most gorgeous place to live, set in the grounds of a minor stately home.’

‘That does sound nice.’

Just before seven o’clock the following morning, the removers arrived. Phil, the older of the two men, suggested she find a chair and sit somewhere out of their way.

‘I’ve already done that.’

‘Show me where you’ll be sitting?’ He followed her to the kitchen.

‘I thought I’d be out of your way here.’

‘Yes, that’s fine. How are you getting there today?’

‘I’m driving.’

‘I couldn’t help noticing that you’re limping slightly.’

She shrugged. ‘I broke my hip a few months ago. I get achy days. I’m all right to drive again but I did a bit too much packing yesterday, that’s all.’ She changed the subject firmly, pointing to the items on the draining board. ‘I’ve set aside the tea-making things and kettle. If you tell me whenever you’re ready for a cuppa, I’ll make it for you both.’

‘Thanks. We always appreciate that.’