Rob’s mother brought it to him in the hospital. ‘I thought you might be interested in this,’ she said. ‘I must say, the place is looking far superior, from a distance, at least. Amazing what a lick of paint can do. It’s a pity you almost had to break your back over it, though.’

Rob knew that far more than a lick of paint had gone into the renovating of the hotel, and it broke his heart that his crew hadn’t been involved in it. It was evident in the pictures that accompanied the article that the Bay Hotel was simply stunning. How they had managed it without ruining the original pieces and the stateliness of the old building, Rob didn’t know.

But it was time to find out. Enough of this waiting around. Elle would have to see him, whether she liked it or not.

He feigned tiredness, and when his mother left, he slipped out of the room, pretending he was going for a walk. He’d had his mother bring him some clothes for when he was finally discharged next week, which he now carried in a bundle under his arm. Rob’s heart beat so loudly he was afraid someone would hear it. This was the most exciting thing he had done in weeks.

The feature piece that accompanied the photos on the press release for the Bay Hotel was a little unorthodox, and this was remarked upon by a few people. It wasn’t exactly a story, but it wasn’t exactly an article, either.

The Bay Hotel in Mulberry Bay was constructed in 1883 by John Winterson, as an engagement gift for his bride-to-be. The building has stood through the ravages of history, and experienced a slide into disrepair and was facing almost certain destruction, only to be lovingly revived and restored by the Harte family.

Many guests have spent nights between its hallowed walls, and the people of the local community all have stories about what the Bay Hotel has meant to them over the many years it has stood watch over the town and the sea, like a protector.

Each visitor has felt the magic and romance that exists in the hotel’s very foundations. Built for love, and reared on it ever since, the hotel retains the original feeling of devotion in which it was created, all of those years ago.

As you stroll into the entrance, the air is splintered with rainbows of colour from the stained glass window above the front door. The old sash windows, lovingly restored by a local glazier, are your first clue that the space you are walking into is more than a hotel; it is a sanctuary.

Common areas are large and luxurious, suffering from none of the stinginess of space suffered by modern hotels. The dining room has long been a much-loved feature of the hotel and following its remodelling, can claim this title more than ever.