‘I’ll say it is. If you are okay about spending the cash, let’s save me and my arm for more meaningful tasks.’ He was relieved, but also concerned about some cowboy turning up and charging them a fortune for a crap job. However, this wasn’t the time to mention it. Her good mood seemed to have returned, and he wanted it to continue. He smiled. ‘Let’s take the rest of the day off. It’s still early. We can go and see your builders’ merchant, then, if the weather clears, drive up to Gibraltar Point for a walk in the sea air. Or what about lunch in Stamford, nose around the shops, then on to Rutland Water?’

She didn’t answer him.

‘Okay, then what about a wander around some garden centres, get some of the plants you want for the garden, then go on to Skeggie? I’ll buy you a candy floss if you’re good.’

A smile slowly crept across her face. ‘And a plate of cockles?’

‘Deal!’

* * *

The day out did them both good, and by nightfall they were relaxed and happy.

Kate seemed to have left behind her mission to be rid of Angela’s fairies and had got some of her projects into a better perspective. She had spoken to someone at the builders’ yard, who had said he would call the following morning.

Will found some citronella candles and they took them out to the garden. They sat together on the seat overlooking Whisper Fen, beneath a sky filled with a million stars, sipping glasses of Sancerre. All the recent worries and tantrums seemed to have slipped away, leaving them peaceful and at ease.

‘This is beautiful,’ Kate breathed softly. ‘I wonder if old Mrs Holland used to sit out here and watch the night sky over the marshes? I bet she misses all this now she’s in a nursing home.’

Will looked doubtful. ‘It was her home all her life, but I don’t suppose she had much love for the marshes.’ As soon as he’d uttered them, he regretted his words.

‘Why? To have lived here all that time surely you’d have to love it?’

A tiny stream of disquiet trickled between his shoulder blades. He hadn’t intended to mention the missing child. ‘I heard there was a bit of a family tragedy years ago.’ He glanced towards the fen. ‘Someone got lost out there.’

‘You never said! How come I don’t know about it? Come on, you tight-lipped copper, spill the beans.’ Her tone was still light, however. Will knew that the story would come out sometime, so maybe it was best that it came from him. He told her what he knew about the child who had gone missing.