‘We might get Morwenna and the Colonel to come with us too,’ he went on. ‘Nudge their budding romance on a bit.’

‘Are they having a romance?’ Louisa looked surprised.

‘Not yet, perhaps – but I think they might . . . given some encouragement.’

‘Well lucky them,’ said Louisa, laughing. ‘I have to say I hadn’t cast you in the role of Cupid, Christopher, but who knows what romantic situations might develop in another week? Anyway, it’s a lovely idea,’ she went on. ‘How good that you’ve decided to stay for the extra week too. That will be fun. Let’s suggest the plan to the others then.’ But at that moment Isobel got up and brought the lunch party to a close, so the conversation ended there.

Before he departed Jonathan Mercer came to find Christopher. He tapped the large package he had tucked under his arm. ‘All safe and sound,’ he said. ‘How can I get hold of you? I’ve just realised that I haven’t got your address. How much longer are you here for?’

‘Only another week. I’m sure you won’t have time to wade through it by then.’ Christopher fished in his pocket for a card, crossed out the details of his London flat and scribbled down his parents’ address on the back. ‘I’ve put my mobile number as well, but that’s where I’m based at the moment and where I can always be contacted.’ He grinned ruefully. ‘My movements are still a bit restricted.’

‘Of course – due to the “useful background experiences”, no doubt. Don’t worry. I’ll track you down, but don’t expect anything too soon. By the way, if I think it might be helpful, would you mind if I showed it to someone else?’

‘Mind? I’d be only too delighted. You don’t know how grateful I am . . .’

But Jonathan Mercer waved his thanks away and the two men shook hands before Jonathan went in search of Catherine and the Grants to make his farewells. Christopher watched him walk away with a heart full of hope.

Chapter Seventeen

On Friday Isobel had arranged that Amy, who usually flew to Edinburgh from school, should come on the London to Inverness train that stopped at Perth, so as to coincide with Edward’s bus from Aberdeen. It was a new venture for Edward to undertake even such a comparatively short journey on his own and it still made Isobel anxious, but both Giles and his school felt he was ready for this experiment in independence; provided someone actually put him on the coach and there was someone waiting to receive him at the bus station the other end, it had so far been a success. Isobel still worried that he might panic if there was any sort of hitch on the journey, but knew she had to help him towards as much self-sufficiency as was possible and this represented a huge step forward – something that even a year ago would have seemed out of the question.