Then she tossed it to one side and checked her watch. “Are you coming for lunch or are you heading off?”

“I’ll come for a sandwich and then I’ll leave you to it if that’s okay. I’d like to get back to the house for the afternoon. I still have a load of laundry to get through.”

“Okey doke.” She stood up and straightened her perfectly ironed skirt. Her untidiness didn’t extend to her personal grooming apparently.

I stood up too, closing my attendance pad. “Thanks for all your hard work. I should be able to pick things up easily enough on Monday.”

“It was fun. I’ll be sorry to leave.” She came out from behind the desk with a smile.

At the top of the stairs, I almost mentioned Harry, but the sound of the front door opening below interrupted my train of thought. And by the time we reached the bottom, Mary from the B & B was in the hallway, having just closed the door behind her.

She was deep in thought, gazing anxiously at the floor, but her face broke into a half smile when she looked up. “Ah, Phyllis said you were back.” Her brow furrowed again. “Have you a minute?”

I stalled, glancing at Marina for permission. Strictly speaking she was the solicitor who was insured until the end of business today; mine didn’t kick in until half past five. But she held her hands up in a “be my guest” gesture.

Mary saw the exchange and I explained the problem. “Please?” she said, clasping her hands together. “I’m not asking you to do anything. I just want a chat.”

I sighed. If this wasn’t true, I’d have to palm her back onto Marina in the afternoon, but if it was anything serious, I’d have to deal with it anyway the following week, in which case I’d also have to decipher Marina’s attendance notes. Having seen what they were like, it was easier in the long run to see Mary myself.

“Just a quick chat,” I cautioned, checking my watch, remembering that I also needed to get back to my cottage to let Guinness out. “I don’t have a lot of time.”

Relief flooded her face and I brought her into the front room, unable to face going back upstairs to my messy office. I’d deal with that on Monday once Marina had left. I turned on the light, seeing that the room had suddenly darkened, and Mary took a seat. I noticed her hair was damp.

“Sorry about the state of me.” Her cheeks glowed as she pushed a tendril behind her ear. “I’ve just been for a swim.”

I took an attendance sheet from a drawer. “I thought you’d got caught in one of the showers.”

She smiled. “Thought I’d do it while I got the chance. It helps me sleep.”