‘What was that about?’ Ron asked.

‘There may be distant family on the other side of the Atlantic,’ Rachel told them. ‘It turns out that Cullen’s grandfather inherited the estate as a young man in 1879, by which time he’d already left for America. He came back a few years later and met Cullen’s grandmother… but neglected to let anyone know that he’d already left a wife and child over the water. They haven’t worked out where that line goes yet, but it’s the only one left. They’re still following up. It could be weeks before we hear more.’

There was a silence as the regulars took this in. Rachel’s fingers twisted around each other, anxious.

‘I have to start going through Cullen’s belongings in the gatehouse,’ she added. ‘The solicitor wants to be able to give any heir they find an accurate valuation of the estate.’

Ron stirred unhappily. ‘Tell him to send in an estate agent to look at the place then,’ he said. ‘No need to rush to get rid of Cullen’s belongings to do that, is there?’

There was a moment of quiet, in which no one said what they were thinking.

‘Ron,’ Rachel said softly, ‘maybe you could help me? There must be things of Cullen’s that you’d like to keep?’

Ron said nothing, staring into his whisky glass, but after another long moment, he nodded.

‘I’m going to need someone to staff the bookshop while I’m sorting out what needs to be done,’ Rachel went on, ‘and—’

‘Oh, we can help with that,’ Ezra interrupted. ‘We can take shifts. Can’t we?’ he looked at Edie as he said this, as if challenging her to say something to the contrary.

Edie swallowed the last mouthful of her whisky and put the glass down on the empty chess table. Ron promptly refilled it. ‘Of course we can. But…’ she trailed off, as if hesitant to say what she was thinking.

‘Come on, Edie,’ Ezra said, ‘you can’t tell me there’s something more important in your hectic social schedule than helping out a friend in need.’

‘Ezra, don’t,’ Rachel said. ‘I wasn’t thinking of any of you, you all have your own lives. Crosswick is happy to pay – I was going to ask if any of you knew someone in the village who could take on some casual work, that’s all. Maybe one of Jo’s kids? Perhaps the eldest?’

‘That’s just it,’ Edie said, casting Ezra a withering look. ‘I wasn’t going to say no – of course I’ll help if you need it. I was only going to suggest an alternative, that’s all. What about Gilly?’

The group’s surprise was palpable.

‘Gilly?’ Toby said. ‘That’s a great idea.’

‘It is,’ Rachel agreed. ‘I haven’t seen her for a few days now though. She might have moved on.’

‘She hasn’t,’ Edie said.

‘How do you know?’ Ezra demanded.

‘Because I’ve seen her.’

‘Where?’

‘In my workshop. Every day for the past week. She wanted to learn how to make a print, so she comes in for an hour every afternoon. Well,’ Edie added, crossing her arms, ‘it’s supposed to be an hour, but she’s been coming earlier and earlier. Give her the job, Rachel, I know she’s lying when she says she doesn’t need the money.’