Will Benson chuckled, ‘Mebbe, mebbe so. But they’ll shine up again with a bit of elbow grease. Come on, lass, afore an argy-bargy about who’s ridin’ in the trap starts.’

For Kate it was the best time of the whole day, her walk on the beach with her grandfather.

As they walked at the water’s edge towards home, she could see two figures in the distance. As they drew closer, Kate could see Danny digging in the sand, while Rosie, barefoot, skipped and danced around him. She saw the child run towards the sea and then heard Rosie shriek with delight, as the waves rushed up the beach towards her. ‘Ooh, it’s cold. It’s freezin’!’ The little girl hopped about on the sand, but seconds later she was dancing towards the water once more, daring it to catch her again.

Danny lifted his face to watch Rosie’s antics, an affectionate smile curving his mouth. He caught sight of Kate and his smile broadened. He straightened up and waved to her.

Poised on her toes, Kate said, ‘Grandad, I’m just off to see Danny and Rosie.’

To her surprise, her grandfather frowned. ‘I dun’t think you ought to, lass. Ya mam . . .’

‘I’ll not be a minute, Grandad, honest. You go on and I’ll catch you up afore you get home. You know how fast I can run.’

The old man laughed. ‘Aye well – all right, but dun’t be long, mind?’

But already Kate was running towards her friends.

‘Kate! Kate!’ Rosie squealed with delight. ‘Danny’s building me a sand-castle. Look – with a moat an’ all. When the sea comes in, it’ll go all round it. In’t he clever?’

‘Why don’t you collect some shells to decorate the sides of the castle, Rosie?’ Kate suggested, exchanging a glance with Danny. She had lost count of the number of sand-castles they had built together, digging deep moats and adding shells as windows and doors and turrets. Then standing and watching as the sea slowly demolished their efforts.

As Rosie began to collect stones and shells, Kate said, ‘I can’t stay. I’ve got to help with the guests.’

The smile on Danny’s face faded and he lowered his gaze. He resumed his digging, piling the sand higher and higher. Kate stood awkwardly for a moment, suddenly embarrassed because the Elands had not been invited to the christening.

‘I’ll try and get out later.’

He shrugged his thin shoulders.

Kate bit her lip. She badly wanted to stay and talk to him. She didn’t like Danny going quiet on her. It wasn’t like him. She glanced towards the sand-dunes. Her grandfather had disappeared. He’d be picking his way across the marsh now. Soon he’d be at Brumbys’ Farm and her mother would want to know where she was.

‘I wish I could stay now, but I daren’t.’