She raised one of her thin pencilled eyebrows. ‘It must be hard being a single parent.’

I nodded. Better than the alternative, I thought, although I didn’t say that.

‘Did your husband leave you this cottage?’

I hesitated. She thought I was a widow. What to tell her without giving anything away? You have to understand, Lolly, that I had always been so honest. Before. Telling people everything – the cost of a new top, how much I earned, who I was going out with – whether or not they actually wanted to know. But I’d learnt the hard way to keep my mouth shut.

I nodded and sipped my drink.

‘How long ago did your husband die?’

‘When I was pregnant,’ I replied. I felt terrible for lying.

‘How awful,’ she said, playing with the stem of her glass. She glanced at my hand, noting the absence of a wedding ring. I didn’t want to admit there had never been a ring.

‘Have you . . . ever been married?’ I asked her instead.

She shuddered. ‘God, no. I’m never getting married.’

‘Really?’

‘I don’t understand why anyone would want to tie themselves down to a man.’

Was it because she’d also been treated badly? Or had I got her wrong? Maybe she was just a bit of a free spirit. Or a hippie. Maybe she believed in free love. She was attractive with large hooded eyes, an elfin face and long, dyed-blonde hair, the brown roots visible. I was sure she’d have no shortage of male interest. I’d always thought of myself as reasonably attractive, not stunning or a head-turner, or anything like that, but natural, unthreatening. I could see that Daphne was more striking. ‘Um . . .’ I cleared my throat. ‘I know this is a bit delicate, and we probably should have talked about this before you moved in. But . . . with Lolly and everything . . . I think it’s better there are no . . .’ How could I put this tactfully? ‘. . . overnight visitors.’

She stared at me for a few moments, then let out a loud laugh. ‘Oh, Rose! Look at you, you’ve gone red. I promise I’m not going to be entertaining men in the bedroom. Honestly, men are the furthest thing from my mind.’

I sipped my drink in relief.

‘Do you mind if I smoke?’

I shook my head. ‘I try not to smoke around Lolly if that’s okay.’