‘My goodness, how beautiful,’ Pat exclaimed, when she and Frank arrived. ‘I feel as if I’ve come to the most exclusive restaurant in the world.’

‘You don’t do things by halves, do you, lass?’ Frank laughed, as she seated them at the table and poured them all a crisp white New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc. ‘Where did you find the bench? What a wonderful idea.’

The story of her encounter with the Kiwi came out as they ate their starters – a salad of smoked salmon and cucumber lightly pickled with dill – and by the end of it both Pat and Frank were laughing.

‘The cheek of him!’ Pat said. ‘So what are you going to do?’

‘Not sure yet,’ Anna told them. ‘But I think he’d probably be good company for an evening. And I made myself a promise when I got here. I’ve spent too many years with no opportunity to experience new things. So while I’m here, I’m going to say yes to as many things as I can.’

‘Ooh, dangerous words,’ Frank chuckled. ‘I wouldn’t let him know that. Or any other bloke in these parts, for that matter.’

‘Frank,’ Pat scolded.

‘Ach, you should have some fun, Anna,’ he went on, ‘he’s been here since last summer. Took off over winter to see a bit of Europe, then came back again. He’ll be gone for good in another few months. Once the season’s over he’s off home again. Talk is that he’s got to take over his parents’ farm as his old dad is ailing. This trip of his was a last chance at a few months of freedom before he settles in to that.’

‘I’m sure,’ Anna said with a faint smile, ‘that Liam Harper has plenty of fun.’

They moved on to the bisque, which was met with rapturous approval. It was very good, Anna had to admit. Even at the great Four Seasons, despite its Michelin stars, the langoustines would have been a few hours older than the ones Liam had hoicked out of the sea and brought to her doorstep.

As they ate and talked, a couple passed them, nodding and smiling. They were clearly tourists out for a stroll, and Anna wondered if they had known that Crovie was here or whether they had followed the signpost on impulse and discovered it by accident.

‘Oh, you’ll find a lot of tourists find their way down here in the summer months,’ Pat said quietly, as Anna remarked on the couple. ‘Most don’t stay long, but they walk down the road and do a circuit of the village all the same.’

The three of them were still eating as the pair walked back the other way. Anna saw them pass and then pause, before the man turned back and leaned over the fence.