‘I wonder what will happen to that place when Marley passes away. That’s Heartcross Castle over there.’ Callie pointed in the distance.

‘It looks stunning,’ replied Ella, glancing over, then back towards Roman, who was participating in the conversation, but the faraway look in his eye suggested his mind was elsewhere.

‘It’s a huge place to stay empty. Has Marley got any relatives?’ he asked.

‘I’m not entirely sure, but I think I heard Wilbur talking about a daughter, but she doesn’t live round here,’ answered Callie.

Five minutes later Roman slowed the boat down and pulled in alongside the jetty outside The Boathouse. After he’d secured the boat Callie and Ella stepped on to dry land.

They thanked Roman before ambling down the jetty towards the rocky path. Ella cast a glance back in his direction and saw he was standing in the middle of the boat with his phone pressed to his ear again.

‘Don’t you think that was a little strange?’ asked Ella.

‘What’s a little strange?’ replied Callie, linking her arm through Ella’s.

‘On the way there, Roman is over-chatty, shows me how to drive the boat, he’s laughing and joking. But on the way back, he barely looks at us, his conversation is minimal and he didn’t seem quite there.’

‘I didn’t notice at all. Maybe you’re over-thinking it. He was just doing his job.’

But Ella had noticed. There was no mistaking the fact that the easy-going, jovial atmosphere she’d enjoyed on the journey over to The Lakehouse had somewhat plummeted on the return journey. Something was bothering Roman, she just knew it.

Chapter Five

The following morning, as soon as Ella opened her eyes, she felt like she was being watched. She bolted upright to discover McCartney sitting on her bed, his eyes firmly fixed on her.

‘Good morning, McCartney,’ she said, reaching forward to stroke him.

As soon as Ella moved, his tail began to wag and he leapt forward, trying to lick her face before waggling his bum and rolling over on the bed, waving his back legs in the air. Ella tapped his nose then ruffled his tummy.

‘You must be missing Dolores, staying here must feel a little strange,’ she guessed, scooping him up in her arms and swinging her legs out of bed. ‘Let’s hope Dolores has had a comfortable night in hospital and hopefully will be home soon.’ Walking into the living room with McCartney in her arms, she popped a kiss on his head.

Callie was walking through to the living room from the kitchen, and placing McCartney down on the floor, Ella swiped a piece of toast from Callie’s plate.

‘Oi!’ exclaimed Callie, holding her plate up high, but it was too late.