By far though, the most popular bidding item was the hotel itself. Elle was offering a full week’s stay in the newly renovated hotel, a romantic dinner for two at a table overlooking the sea, full Irish breakfast on the terrace and afternoon tea before check-out.

The bidding for this reached a crescendo and Rob felt once again that he had to get away, that the noise and excitement was too much for him. It made him dizzy to look up at the dazzling chandelier, too. He didn’t know what Elle’s original vision for it had been, but he had known that she saw this room as the heart of the hotel, and he now agreed that it was exactly right. It was mesmerising.

As the bidding finished, the side doors were flung open to bring relief from the heat that had been building up inside. The garden was strung with fairy lights, leading all the way down to the edge of the path towards the beach.

As Elle thanked everyone once again, she was surprised to see Hazel hop up and take the stage.

‘You all know me,’ she said. ‘And I know that everyone in this room, and in this town loves the hotel, and Ned, Elle and Penny. We want to keep them here. Tonight was about that certainly, but it won’t be enough to save the hotel. The truth is, the bloody bank is what is keeping the Bay Hotel from returning to its days of glory. You’ve supported the hotel tonight just by showing up, but what we need from you now, well,’ she smiled, ‘we need you to be pests. We need you to rattle a few cages. More than anything, we need you to be vocal.’

A cheer went up around the room. Good old Hazel. She knew how to get a crowd excited. Rob knew that Elle would never have been able to ask for this kind of support.

The cooler night air flowed in from the sea and Rob felt somewhat revived. He would get through the night, at least.

Colin approached Penny. She was standing by the drinks table, talking to Mona and thanking her for the dress.

‘May I have a dance?’ he asked. The music had started and the local trio were playing a mix of upbeat fast numbers, interspersed with slower, more romantic tunes. Colin had waited until they played something slow.

Penny followed him onto the dance floor. He led her to the very centre and they moved slowly under the soft light of the chandelier.

‘You look stunning tonight,’ he told her. ‘In fact, “stunning” seems like a poor word for it. I should be able to do better, considering.’