As soon as it was light, the birdwatchers emerged from their cars and vans and went onto the low headland to look at the sea. The short grass sloped into fingers of rock, so it was possible with care to climb to the water. There was no shelter on the exposed headland, and they huddled into the rock to get some relief from the wind. Soon it became clear that the night of cramped discomfort, the walk through the cold and wet, had been worth suffering. Thousands of sea-birds were blown close to the shore. By nine o’clock they had seen all the species of skua ever recorded in Britain. The birdwatchers squatted in huddles and peered occasionally through binoculars towards the horizon. They shouted above the wind to alert the others to especially exciting birds. By lunchtime they were cold and hungry, but no one dared leave the headland for fear of missing something spectacular. They knew birdwatchers would talk about September third for years. They would be envied for being there.

They were surprised when George Palmer-Jones refused to join them on the headland. He was feeling his age a little, he said. It must have been the accident. If he was feeling stronger, he might join them later. He took a chair into the enclosed front porch of the cottage. Through the glass he had a view down the valley, and he had his binoculars with him. Old George is being a bit optimistic, the birdwatchers said, if he thinks he can seawatch from there. Rose fussed around him and brought a rug to tuck around his knees and cups of tea. Only Molly knew he was tense and alert, and that it was all part of the plan.

The night before, when the others began to go to bed, Rosco had gone back to the cottage on the shore. George had stood up, too, stretched, and offered to walk down the lane with him. He needed the exercise he had said when Rosco seemed surprised. He was stiff after the car journey and could do with the walk. It was very late when he returned to Myrtle Cottage.

On the morning of the storm Rose fretted about Louis and wanted to go to see him.

“It can’t be safe,” she said. “Look at those waves, and it’s not high water yet. He should be up here with us.”

But Molly persuaded her to leave him alone.

“Louis knows what he’s doing,” she said. “If there’s really any danger, he’ll come back. Besides, you’ve enough to do here.”