‘Good,’ said Christopher. ‘I very much want you both to like her.’

Christopher had warned Marnie that his mother would be unlikely to put them together on this visit and they had agreed in advance to forgo any corridor creeping – at any rate for tonight. Elspeth escorted Marnie up the wide, creaky staircase to the main spare room, a comfortably shabby room, overlooking the garden, with faded chintz curtains, piles of books and a vase of polyanthus on the dressing table.

‘Oh, what a wonderful smell!’ said Marnie in delight. ‘What is it?’

‘It’s mostly the wisteria,’ said Elspeth, ‘but there’s also a bed of lily of the valley below this room. One of my favourite flowers.’

‘Mine too. Will you show me round your garden tomorrow? I want to pick your brains about the castle’s garden. Did Christopher tell you?’

‘He did, actually. I can’t think of anything I’d enjoy more – but you mustn’t let me bore you.’ They stood by the open window together, inhaling the scent of an English summer garden, different from the wilder, mossy smells of Scotland, but equally delicious in its own way, Marnie thought.

‘You must be so excited about Christopher’s book,’ she said. ‘I gather it was all your idea that he should go to Glendrochatt. He was the star of the writing week.’

‘I’m thrilled about it. Not altogether surprised, because it’s what I always felt he could do. He had a tremendous imagination as a little boy, and when he was at school he won all sorts of essay prizes, but after university he took a different route. This has come at the perfect time. It’s just the sort of lucky break he needs after . . .’ She paused. ‘Did he tell you he’s had rather a rough patch recently?’ she asked cautiously, not sure how much Marnie knew and not wanting to be the one to tell her anything about Christopher that he might not have chosen to share with her already.

Marnie nodded. ‘Yes, he did . . . about the accident and the prison sentence and everything. It must have been awful for you and your husband too. Christopher said you’d been a complete rock for him all through his worst times.’

‘Thank you,’ said Elspeth, touched. ‘The last two years have been hell, not only the horror of seeing him in prison but seeing how much he blamed and tortured himself over what happened. Rightly so, no doubt, but it was painful for us to witness. I can’t tell you how wonderful it is to see him looking so much better. I wouldn’t have believed two weeks could have done him so much good. He’s transformed. Now, do you think you’ve got all you want? You must be exhausted after all that driving.’

‘I’m sure I’ve got everything anyone could possibly want, thank you. It’s so lovely here.’