‘How much was he offering?’

‘I don’t know. I sent him away.’

‘You might have found out how much. It’s always nice to know where we stand.’

He fumbled in his pocket. ‘He left an envelope. I think it contains specifics. Here. You open it.’

She grabbed it and tore it open, pulling out the piece of paper, reading it, then whistling softly.

He had been turning away, but now his interest was caught. ‘How much?’

‘I thought you weren’t interested,’ she teased.

He grabbed her and pulled her towards him, kissing her ruthlessly. When he let her go, they were both rather short of breath.

‘Now will you tell me or do I have to punish you some more?’

She glanced at the clock. ‘I’d not normally be able to resist your delightful punishments, Sir Jasper, but I’m afraid I need to get ready for our guests. Prepare to be astonished by what this developer is offering. I don’t want you to have a heart attack.’

He gaped at her in shock after she told him. ‘How can a scruffy little street be worth that much?’

‘Don’t forget they’re also offering to finish repairing the outer structure of Dennings.’

‘They know something we don’t,’ he decided. ‘What’s the council up to now? They wouldn’t make an offer like this if they weren’t sure of getting council approval for whatever they’re planning.’

‘Well, further discussion will just have to wait.’ She gave him a push. ‘Chop-chop! Our guests will be here in half an hour and I’ve still got a lot to do. Put the outside lights on for them, then grab a quick shower.’

Winifred and Janey walked up to the top of the street from Number 5 and down the drive to the big house, with little Millie bouncing about in her pushchair. Luckily, there was nearly a full moon to light their way as well as the street and house lights.

‘Isn’t it nice to be invited out?’ Winifred said.

‘Lovely. And Nell is a good cook, even when it’s only what she calls a scratch meal. No one bakes cakes as good as yours, though. I can’t wait to see her face when she tastes your new one. It’s my favourite of all, Auntie Winnie.’

‘I do love finding new recipes.’

‘And I love testing them.’

The two women smiled at one another, one in her later years, the other not yet twenty. There was no actual relationship. Janey and her daughter rented rooms from Winifred, but she’d been told to consider her landlady an honorary aunt, and she hadn’t got an aunt or Winifred a niece, so that suited them both perfectly.

‘Did your solicitor sort out the paperwork you’ve been worrying about?’ Janey asked.

‘Yes, dear. All sorted.’

They arrived just then and Winifred hoped her blush hadn’t shown in the light streaming from the doorway. She wasn’t used to fudging the truth, especially with her dear girl.

‘Come in! Come in!’ Angus went to help Janey with the pushchair, and they all walked through the magnificent but chilly entrance hall into the kitchen. This was the warmest part of the house; it contained a big Aga cooker and was large enough to act as a sitting room too, most of the time.