‘I’m not used to such huge portions,’ said Nell, ‘but it was all delicious, thank you.’ It had all been far too rich, though, and filled with the kind of ingredients she was certain she was supposed to be avoiding. She’d taken two guilty bites of the tiramisu, and let Maude finish the rest.

Carolyn didn’t believe her, obviously. Nell had the feeling she’d like to be confided in. ‘This has been lovely,’ she said, ‘you have such a – lovely house.’

Carolyn smiled. ‘We’ve been very lucky. There was a time when I – we – thought we might like more kids, but mostly we’ve been . . .’ She glanced at Evie, who was showing Maude something on her phone. ‘You’ve never thought of having one of your own?’ she asked.

‘Maude’s enough for now,’ said Nell, turning back to the sink. ‘Anyway, if we did, we’d have to move, find somewhere bigger.’ That was something else to think about, another conversation she had been avoiding.

Carolyn looked out of the window, considering. ‘Some people don’t like old places,’ she said, ‘too much – history. But not me, I like them. I couldn’t imagine living in a modern house.’

‘Have you ever . . .’ Nell hesitated. She wasn’t sure what she intended to ask, something about Elder House and the death of the child; that was Carolyn’s thing after all, wasn’t it? History.

‘Ever what?’

‘Nothing,’ said Nell, ‘nothing important.’ She would definitely do something about the shoe tomorrow, she thought. She’d ring the letting agents, first thing, find out why they hadn’t returned her call.

Oliver looked up. ‘How’s that coffee coming along?’

‘Nearly there,’ said Carolyn.

*

There was no avoiding the goodbye hug. ‘Thanks,’ said Nell.

‘We should do it again,’ said Carolyn, ‘before you go.’

It was a clear night, the sky a rich velvet blue and full of stars. Flossie slipped past Nell, circled around, sniffing at the damp stone. She seemed to consider heading up the steps to Elder House, staring at it for a moment, her ears pricking, before thinking better of it.

‘You should come to us, next time,’ said Nell, avoiding Maude’s eye.

‘Stupid old thing,’ said Oliver, bending down and fussing over the dog.

‘Well, goodnight then.’

Nell led the way up slowly, feeling strangely weary, conscious that Carolyn was at the bottom of the steps, watching.

*

It was dark inside the cottage and she couldn’t find the light switch.

Nell dropped the key as Maude switched on the hall light and moved past her, and bending to retrieve it made Nell dizzy. Her back ached and she felt faintly sick. ‘Are you . . .’ She straightened, steadying herself against the wall. ‘Are you OK, Maudie? Did you have a nice time?’

‘I’m fine,’ said Maude as she headed upstairs. ‘It was fine. And don’t call me that, I’m not a little kid.’

*