He looked as if he was really considering what she’d said and that he wanted to say something, but in the end he just smiled at her. ‘I’m sure you’re quite capable of solving my work-related problems, but I wouldn’t bore you with the details.’

At that moment the waiters appeared with the starters. ‘I’m a good listener,’ she said. ‘If you ever want to sound off or get something off your chest, then I’m your girl.’ It was intended as a subtle signpost, that Harry could talk to her about anything – including Elizabeth – but she couldn’t deny that it was first and foremost meant out of genuine concern.

‘Thank you,’ he said, with a sincerity Steph hadn’t heard before. ‘Actually, before I forget, I meant to ask you if you need accommodation for the week – that’s assuming you still want to work here?’

‘Absolutely. I can’t afford to turn down that sort of offer,’ said Steph, suddenly anxious that she might not only lose another source of income for the week but she might also lose a line of enquiry. And another week with Harry, came a little voice at the back of her mind. ‘And yes, if I could stay here at the resort, that would be really handy.’

‘That’s not a problem, although I have to confess the staff accommodation isn’t anywhere near as upmarket as your lodge.’ He looked more serious again. ‘I just didn’t know if you wanted to stay with your mum at all? You did say she lived nearby.’

‘I’m not that desperate,’ said Steph. ‘We get on better when we’re not under each other’s feet.’ She didn’t add that she wanted to keep as much distance as she could between the Sinclair family and her mother, in all senses of the word.

‘Was it different when your dad was still alive?’

She considered his question. It seemed an odd sort of thing to ask and something she hadn’t ever really thought about before. ‘It was different when my dad was at home. We had a lot in common. If I’m honest, Mum was probably a bit of a bystander and I don’t think that helped strengthen any sort of bond between us.’

‘What did your dad do? For work?’