‘And poor Christopher too!’ said Isobel. ‘He’s obviously going to be in for the third degree from Bunty when she next sees him. Bet she tries to sit next to him at dinner this evening. I must try to forestall her.’ She looked at Louisa. ‘Are you going to tell Christopher that you know about his past?’ she asked.

Louisa wrinkled her brow. ‘I think I ought to tell him, don’t you?’ she asked, looking bothered. ‘It might be a bit unfair otherwise and I really like Christopher. I thought he was amazing the very first time I met him.’

‘Oh, Louisa – don’t go and cause trouble, will you?’ said Isobel impulsively.

Louisa looked indignant. ‘In what way?’

‘Well, I’m sure you wouldn’t intend to,’ conceded Isobel, ‘and it wouldn’t be about the prison episode if you did, of course – and yes I agree, you’ll have to tell him – but I think you could stir up a hornets’ nest in other ways without meaning to. You’re such a flirt and you’re so attractive but you don’t always realise the strength of your own effect on people.’

Like Catherine, Isobel had picked up on Marnie’s reaction to Christopher, and though she had no doubt that Marnie, in certain situations, could fight her own corner fiercely and effectively if she had to, she couldn’t help feeling the dice would be heavily loaded against her if Louisa decided to make a play for Christopher’s attention and pit her own sophisticated confidence against the lack of self esteem that led Marnie to be so chippy and ungracious. Also, now that she knew what Christopher had been through so recently, she thought he might easily fall seriously for Louisa and get hurt himself if she was only looking for a light holiday flirtation.

‘Of course I won’t cause trouble,’ said Louisa, rather upset that Isobel should think she might do so.

‘Just so long as no one gets hurt – yourself included.’ Isobel glanced at the clock. ‘I must be off. I have to pick up a ham from the butcher in Blairalder and then I’ve got to collect Rory on the way home. It’s Sheena’s day off and he’s been to play with our farm manager’s little grandson. It’s so good for him to have a friend to play with. He’s so unnaturally well behaved compared to most other children that it’s great to see him whooping and screaming and running a bit wild.’