‘It is rather posh, I suppose. Uncle Phil’s a lecturer at the university and I think he inherited quite nicely when his father died. Aunty Jude came from a bit of old money too. When in doubt, marry rich.’ I fossicked around in the pantry until I found the open packet of Toffee Pops to offer, and then sat down at the kitchen table, opposite where Paul had already plonked himself. He had the knack for making himself at home in any situation.

‘So, why do you call them aunt and uncle if they’re Maggie’s relatives?’

‘You don’t come from a big family, do you? Lots of relatives, cousins?’ He shook his head. ‘When you do, everyone a generation older than you who’s not your parent becomes aunt or uncle. The habit’s stuck.’

‘I take it your family breeds well, then?’

‘We’re farming stock, what else can I say?’ I slid a mug across the table and under his nose.

‘Thanks,’ he said. ‘Looks like there’d be plenty of space to squeeze you and Maggie in. What is this place, six, seven bedrooms?’

‘Eight,’ I said, while munching on a biscuit. ‘Well, originally, but Aunt and Unc have a den each, they converted one into an en-suite and walk-in wardrobe off the master bedroom – got to have the mod-cons. There’s a permanent guest room, the twins had a room each and the last one’s been turned into a sun room.’

‘Great what money can buy,’ he said, with only a hint of envy.

‘Yeah. Haven’t had the chance to find that out yet, personally. I have to say though, it must have felt a bit empty here when the twins left home, before we came along. It was all a bit echoing hallways and vast spaces. I think they were quite pleased to have a couple of extra warm bodies in the house.’ They were certainly gracious and accommodating hosts.

‘I bet you’re in no hurry to go. Bit of board money in exchange for the Ritz.’

‘Oh yes, a girl knows a good thing when she’s on to it, and Aunty Jude’s a fabulous cook. Why would you leave that? Anyway, they charge mates’ rates and I couldn’t afford to live anywhere else. I lost everything in the fire in Mataura, remember?’

‘Maybe you should have been insured, then.’

Like I needed to be reminded. I shot him a look that left no doubt about what I thought of his insensitivity. ‘Why did you come here again?’

He had the grace to look abashed and held his hands up in supplication. ‘I’m sorry Sam, that was a bit low.’ He turned on the full-beam look. ‘I was worried about you.’ That look might have got my pulse up a bit on another day, but I was too numb for it to even elicit a token twitch.