‘It’s not just that, though,’ Elle argued. ‘Let’s say it all goes to plan, and we get some contributions of money or labour or whatever to help to keep us afloat in the short term. Let’s suppose that we fix up the rooms, give the place a lick of paint and with the best intentions and a heavy marketing push, somehow manage to secure an unprecedented number of bookings for the summer season. Can the hotel handle that? Can we handle that?’ She looked at Penny, and took a sip of her wine. She actually thought it had turned slightly, but never mind. ‘Mum was a natural at this. She’s what made this place so special. I’m not sure about you, Penny, but I know I don’t have the talents that Mum possessed. I’m not good with people, I don’t have a mind for community, I can’t envision the perfect evening for someone and make it happen with a snap of my fingers.’ To say nothing of the fact that she had a life in London that she needed to get back to, soon. Her boss was being very good about her absence thus far (possibly because she rarely took days off or used her annual holiday entitlements) but there were some crucial projects in the pipeline that would soon require her undivided attention. She needed to get all of this sorted and soon.

Rob started to laugh. ‘First of all, Elle, I think you sell yourself short. If I didn’t know you better, I would think you were fishing for compliments. But the truth is, and I’m sure Penny and your dad would agree with me, Anna wasn’t exactly a natural at this either. She would tell you that herself if she was still here: there was a lot of trial and error before she became the expert she was; there is in every business.’

‘That’s true enough.’ Ned sat forward. He looked around at them all, and they could tell he was gearing up to tell them a story. He so very rarely spoke at length, that there was an air of expectancy around the table. Penny had turned the lights in the dining room very low, and put candles on the table. The whole room seemed alive with the past, almost like the shadows of those who had dined and celebrated there were moving around the room.