‘Oh, beer, lager – anything you’ve got. I’m not fussy.’ Christopher was hugely looking forward to his day. He had been secretly relieved to discover that he would be fishing from a boat. An expert fisherman, who had fished since he was a child and caught his first salmon when he was twelve – a day of never-to-be-forgotten excitement – he would not normally have given a second thought to the prospect of being up to his waist in the middle of a powerful river, a wading stick hung round his neck, skilfully Spey-casting as long a line as might be required, but would have regarded it as part of the pleasure of the expedition. Now, however, he was uncertain how his bad leg would stand up to slippery stones and a strong current and had no wish to be either an anxiety or a nuisance to his host. Though he had no intention of giving up wading for good and felt his mobility and confidence were still improving after the latest operation, a boat, for today, seemed the perfect solution.

‘Will your leg be okay?’ Marnie had asked him before he left, echoing his own thought. Christopher had been touched at her solicitude. He couldn’t imagine Nicola ever asking such a question.

‘It’ll be fine,’ he said optimistically, and added, ‘Will you be all right yourself? Don’t let Louisa upset you, will you?’ He felt extremely protective towards Marnie and had only resisted the impulse to say something sharp to Louisa during the Edinburgh trip in the knowledge that he would probably only make the situation worse for Marnie, whatever its real cause was.

‘I’ll be fine too. Louisa gave me a handsome apology yesterday for being so offhand and I guess today is her way of making it all okay between us. When we’re on our own Louisa and I really get on very well – specially if you’re not there!’ she added with a grin. ‘But don’t let that give you any inflated ideas about yourself!’

‘I’ll watch it.’

‘Don’t worry – we’ll have fun. See you this evening. Tight lines, as my father would say.’

They were both surprised to find that after only ten days in each other’s company, it seemed quite odd to be spending the day apart.

Isobel waved the two fishermen off. ‘Keep an eye out for an osprey,’ she said to Christopher. ‘I once watched one following Giles as he was fishing along that stretch of river. Oh, and you must make him point out the famous Meiklour hedge when you pass it. It’s supposed to be the tallest hedge in the world – thirty metres of wonderful beeches and a local landmark. At its best at this time of year. Have a lovely time, both of you.’