Mags walked through the gate. The early summer flowers were blooming, and the rose bushes by the front wall had many buds, as well as one or two flowers that had been teased open by the warmth of the sun. Turning as she reached the top of the slope that brought her to the house, she looked out over the beautiful view across the port and the calm sea. Even though she was blissfully happy with Jerome and loved him dearly, here she was reminded of her Montel, who always held a special place in her heart. Tomorrow she would visit his grave and chat with him, as she was used to doing every time she visited.

Not letting her mind go further into the past, Mags called out, ‘I’ll just let our driver in, so he can unload the car, and then I’ll be with you.’

‘Will he want a cuppa?’

Conscious that her driver would be embarrassed to drink tea in her company, she refused this offer from Betsy on his behalf. ‘No, he’ll go over to the inn you booked him into, and most likely enjoy a beer. He’s going back to Blackburn tomorrow.’

When they were seated with their steaming hot tea, and had sampled the buns, Betsy asked after Jerome and the girls.

‘You will see for yourself, in a week’s time. Jerome is coming to pick us up and is bringing the girls. They are staying for a couple of days.’

‘Eeh, that’s grand. Neither of you gets enough breaks – what with you and that mill, and Jerome and his vetting.’

Mags laughed at this. ‘Vetting? You make him sound like someone who ticks people off for approval.’

‘Ha, you knaws what I mean – doing all his vet work.’

‘I do, and it describes it very well. Anyway, as always, Jerome’s in the best of health. We are lucky as we don’t experience the shortages that many do.’

‘Oh, aye?’ Betsy gave a half-smile and winked. ‘Well, we do all right along them lines an’ all.’

Mags felt a pang of irritation at the insinuation that she was getting what she shouldn’t as she didn’t approve of trading on the black market, but realized Betsy meant that Angus did more than talk to the fishermen from Fleetwood.

‘No, I meant that, because of his work, there is often a gift of a couple of eggs or some other farm produce by way of payment.’

‘Well, we’ll leave it at that – we all have to take what we can get, no matter how we come to get it. Anyroad, as I said, it’s good to have you here. So, the girls will be free to come up with Jerome? By, it’ll be good to see them.’