He took her hand and gave it a squeeze. ‘I’ll back you in anything you want, my dear, you know that. You’re welcome to invite any of your friends or relatives here.’

When Elise phoned Mary there was a gasp and her niece asked, ‘Is something wrong?’

‘No, nothing’s wrong except that I don’t want to be estranged from my only remaining relatives. Life is too short to hold grudges, so I’d like to invite you and Harriet to tea on Saturday, Kerry too, if she wants to drive over here.’

‘Oh. Well. Thank you. I was only trying to look after you. Truly I was.’

‘I know. But I can look after myself.’

‘I’m afraid of you having another fall in that house. You really ought not to live alone at your age.’

‘I’m not alone. I’m living with Victor for the time being.’

‘You’re still there? Are you two together now?’

‘Not in that way, no. I’m only here temporarily. There isn’t room for a studio or we might have shared this house. We and our spouses knew one another for several decades. He’s a very good friend, but only a friend.’

‘But there was a studio in that home I found for you! I made sure of that.’

‘Mary, I’ll say it one last time: I couldn’t bear to live in a group situation. I need peace and quiet to paint. I’m not an amateur; I’m selling my paintings regularly and I get two or three hundred pounds each.’

Another gasp. ‘That much?’

‘Yes. And I have an agent interested in handling my work. I’m not only not retiring, I’m going to be working harder than ever before at my painting. But not in my old home. You’re right about one thing. I can’t manage that place.’

She waited, holding her breath, hoping this admission would soften Mary, and from her niece’s softer tone of voice it did.

‘Well, I’m glad to hear that.’

‘So you’ll come to tea? And bring Harriet?’

‘Yes. I don’t think Kerry will be able to make it, though. It’s her best friend’s birthday this weekend.’

‘All right. Just you and Harriet – and Ian, of course, if he’s not playing golf.’

Her voice sounded bitter. ‘My dear husband always plays golf on Sundays, even in the rain. It takes snow or a thunderstorm to stop him.’

Elise knew better than to comment on Ian, who was a cold fish in her opinion. ‘Right then, just the two of you. Four o’clock suit you?’

‘Yes. We’ll be there.’

On the Friday, Victor drove Elise to the shops because his housekeeper had called in sick a couple of days ago and they were running out of fresh food. She also wanted to buy something special for the tea party.

He seemed to be walking more slowly than usual but she knew he’d hate her to comment. She stopped a couple of times to look in shop windows and give him a break, wondering whether to suggest he go back to the car and wait while she grabbed a few groceries.