‘You liked the Telling you had this afternoon. You should check out the distillery here. There are tours and tastings. It’s very popular, especially the tasting.’

Hannah gave a non-committal nod. She was heading out of Dublin first thing and didn’t want to spoil the evening by talking about real life. This all felt like a rather lovely fantasy and real life could butt out.

The narrow cobbled lanes were starting to liven up, boards outside pubs advertised live music, people spilled out onto the pavement, pints in hand, and there was a general air of jollity, almost as if a football match had been won.

Conor steered her down the lane and along another street until they came to a tall brick building with elegant arched windows situated high up in the walls through which glowed the currently fashionable bare lightbulbs hanging from black cables in the ceiling. Inside, there was a white marble staircase leading upwards.

‘It used to be a bank,’ explained Conor as he ushered her up the steps.

Upstairs, the restaurant, which was one large room with wooden floorboards, had a laid-back, mellow vibe. The relaxed decor held a touch of that not-trying-too-hard feel that had obviously cost a lot of money. Retro-style leather seats with metal legs were arranged around solid, not-quite rustic wooden circular tables, each of which was set with elegant glasses, silverware, and neat black linen napkins. A gentle hum of voices rose in the room which was packed.

‘Conor, good to see you.’ The casually dressed man at the front desk clapped Conor on the back with easy familiarity before turning to Hannah with a cheerful smile. ‘Hello there, and welcome to Fintan’s.’

‘Gerard. Good to see you. Looks like you’ve got a hit on your hands. I had to beg for a table.’

‘Sure, you did not. You and the family have always a welcome here. If it weren’t for your mam I wouldn’t be here. You know that.’

‘She sends her love.’

‘And well she might but when she’s going to grace me with her presence?’

‘You know her; it’s almost impossible to winkle her out of her empire.’

‘No surprise really. She’s created a paradise there. Ah, Audrey,’ Gerard called to a passing waitress. ‘Will you show Conor and his friend to table one?’

‘Sure,’ she said and then as she looked at Conor properly, her eyes widened in sudden recognition. ‘Good evening, sir. Gerard mentioned you were coming by. Nice to meet you.’

‘Hi,’ he said with his usual easy smile. She led the way through the tables and Hannah noticed a few heads turn as they passed but quickly forgot when they arrived at a corner table, right beside the window, with a fabulous view out over the River Liffey.

Hannah looked round with pleasure. ‘We’ve got the best seat in the house. Gerard’s a good friend I take it?’