‘You’re doing great work,’ said Bridget, coming to watch. ‘Not a bother,’ she added as Hannah’s face fell when she realised that the pattern on the handle of a fork and spoon weren’t quite the same and had to start sorting through the cutlery again. ‘Don’t worry if it’s not perfect. We’ve collected everything over the years from antique shops and family hand-me-downs as well as friends donating to us. But it’s a nice touch rather than hire them all in from a catering company. Although we do hire in the plates and glasses so that everyone has the same size, otherwise making sure everyone gets the same portions goes a bit skewwhiff.’

An hour later, Hannah stepped back to examine their handiwork.

‘Doesn’t it look lovely?’ said Izzy, following her gaze.

‘It looks wonderful.’ The table had been transformed and the bright-white cloths highlighted the splashes of colours from the blousy flowers that billowed from their vases and the rainbow cheer of the different napkins. Fairy lights were now strung throughout the greenhouse and the candle jam jars had been suspended from the vent handles. When dusk fell, Hannah could see that it was going to look spectacular.

‘Excellent, girls, but there’s lots more to be done. If you can go back to the kitchen, I’m sure Adrienne can find you a hundred and one jobs.’

Both Hannah and Izzy lifted their eyebrows in mock dismay but Izzy probably felt as she did, Hannah decided: that it was fun to be involved. There was such a fizz of excitement about this evening’s dinner; the whole of Killorgally was involved and the place buzzed with activity, enthusiasm, and good cheer. All the permanent workers had been drafted in, the two men who looked after the pigs, the other women who worked at the hotel, the gardeners as well as the students who were here picking fruit and working on the farm. They were all familiar faces that Hannah had become accustomed to over the last few weeks and while she might not know their names, she knew what they did and that they were all part of the Killorgally family. Saying goodbye was going to be so hard. Feeling a sudden pinch of pain, she realised she was going to miss them all.