Everyone arrived back thoroughly happy with their varied outings. The Colonel and Morwenna had been entranced by Glamis, with its mixture of charm and history, the chilling legends and spooky stories so beloved by tourists co-existing with the feel of a loved and lived-in family home.

Christopher had caught a beautiful spring fish of twelve pounds and lost another, and Giles, fishing from the bank, had caught two, of eleven and thirteen pounds. They had enormously enjoyed each other’s company and found many interests in common. Christopher felt he’d taken another important step back to normal life.

After dinner Christopher and Marnie exchanged addresses with the Colonel, Morwenna and Louisa. They made promises not to lose touch with each other – and meant it. There had been a message from Neil Dunbarnock for Marnie, suggesting that she and anyone else who might be interested should go over the following day for a drink. Marnie rang him to say how genuinely sorry she was that she couldn’t come now that she was leaving Glendrochatt early. She told him about Evie Fergusson’s suggestion that she should visit Eilean Dobhran and he wished her luck with her search.

‘If you find your castle, then you’re bound to be coming up again soon,’ he said kindly, ‘so do let me know when you’re next in these parts and ask yourself over any time. I’d love to show you my cars.’

‘You really made a hit with him,’ said Isobel. ‘He wouldn’t say that if he didn’t mean it.’