‘I’ll bring this rat-infested hotel to its knees.’

‘Go ahead.’

‘You’ll never welcome another guest.’

‘Fine.’

‘I’ll end up homeless. You could live with that, could you?’

‘I’d celebrate it.’

‘Well, too bad. I’m not going anywhere. I’m the grandmother of two Montgomerys. I’m legally entitled to be here. Edgar said so.’

Olivia walked out, slamming the door behind her.

Five minutes later, she was back at her desk, adrenaline still racing through her body. She couldn’t even ring Maxie. She didn’t want to interrupt her time with Hazel. Her phone rang. She snatched it up, hoping it was Eliza.

It was Alex, asking if he could come to her office. There was something he wanted to talk to her about. He was the last person she wanted to see. But it was a distraction, at least.

‘Yes, of course,’ she said.

Chapter Thirty-three

CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE

The castle wasn’t officially open so early, but the gate was ajar. Sheila knew someone in the office.

‘Just showing a visitor around,’ she called. They received a wave to go ahead.

Sheila hadn’t stopped talking since they’d left the hotel. All about the filming of Braveheart. Sheila hadn’t met Mel Gibson, but she’d seen him from afar, she told Eliza. The filmmakers had built onto the castle ruin, to make it look whole again —

Eliza stayed silent, waiting, until Sheila finally ran out of Braveheart facts. They kept walking until they reached the centre of the castle, out of sight of the entrance. They were surrounded by tall walls, broken by gaps. Eliza could see the fast-flowing river. The Yellow Steeple. Beyond that, the town itself.

Sheila stopped, her arms around her body as if she was cold, despite her coat. ‘My husband was one of the pillars of this town, Eliza. Everyone knew him. He was a good man. A family man. A sporting man. The whole town turned out for his funeral. There were so many people outside, they had to broadcast on loudspeakers. Everyone was so kind to me afterwards. To the boys too. We were married more than fifty years. We had such a big celebration for our fiftieth. In that hotel you’re staying in. It was controversial at the time, so close to the castle, but we all go there now. It’s brought a lot of business to the town, and —’

‘Sheila, please —’

‘I’m from here. Born and bred. My parents owned a shop in town. Everyone knows me here. Hugh was from Meath too, but the other side of the county. My uncle had the pub – he was the one who offered it to us as a business. No kids of his own, no one to hand it on to. Because it’s all about family, in business and in life, isn’t it?