He was killing her with his honest, heartfelt arguments. ‘Stuart, I need to figure out where I’m going. I think that’s why I came on this trip, with Gran. I thought it was just to bring her back to where she wanted to be and heal a few old wounds, but it’s more than that. It’s about me and finding out who I am and where I’m headed. It’s something I need to figure out on my own. I can’t do that if I have someone else in my life to think about.’ She hated that it sounded so selfish, but it was the truth. She knew she was at one of those crossroads in life that, whatever direction she chose, was going have a major impact on her future.

‘I get it, Elle. I know all about following your dreams, but I also know that sometimes life leads you to places you weren’t expecting and gives you a different option to get to where you were meant to be.’

‘That’s the problem,’ she said helplessly. ‘I don’t know where that place is yet.’ She shook her head. ‘This wasn’t part of your plan either.’

‘Doesn’t mean I’m not glad it happened.’

‘I’m so happy that I got to spend this time with you. I will treasure these last few weeks forever, but right now I don’t see how this can be something permanent. I can’t stay here forever, I live on the other side of the world.’

‘Maybe the answer to your question is staring you right in the face,’ he said softly.

It sounded so simple. How easy would it be to just forget everything else and unpack her suitcase? But somehow it didn’t feel right. It felt like she was taking the easy way out. Something deep inside was telling her that until she worked out the rest of her life, even what she had with Stuart right now wouldn’t end the uneasiness she carried.

Wordlessly, she buried her head against his chest and felt his arms tighten around her. They stood like that for a long time, both lost in their own thoughts, taking comfort from each other. There was nothing left to say.

As Elle drove the now familiar track to the ruins, she brushed away the odd tear that continued to leak from her eyes and tried to concentrate on where she was going.

Pulling up at the site, she sat for a long while in the car, staring at the stone and rubble of the once-imposing castle before her.

‘Well, here we are, Gran,’ she said after a while.

Silence greeted her.