‘Not if we had to pay the full market value,’ Ella said cautiously, ‘but if we came to a private arrangement, there would be savings for both of us in terms of fees.’

Faith sat up, the water having lost its warmth. ‘You have thought this through.’

‘And will you?’ asked Ella. ‘Imagine a life full of new beginnings rather than living with empty rooms that remind you of what you’ve lost.’

To the untrained ear, the arguments were reasonable and persuasive, but not to Faith. How dare they discard her feelings so casually. She was well aware of the empty rooms. They were like open wounds, and Derek’s family was ready as always to stick the knife in.

‘Jack and I hope to have kids one day, Dad’s grandchildren,’ Ella continued. ‘Don’t you think he’d want us to bring the house back into the family?’

Faith forced down the corners of her mouth. ‘I thought I was family, Ella.’

She imagined Ella kicking herself in the pregnant pause that followed. ‘You’re right, you are family. And you’d always be welcome.’

‘I appreciate your concern and, as I’ve told you before, you’ll be the first to know if I do decide to sell, but I’m not there yet.’ Through gritted teeth, she added, ‘I won’t be pushed.’

‘That wasn’t my intention,’ Ella said. ‘I just wanted to float the idea past you as something you might want to consider. I’ll be honest, I was in two minds whether to say anything at all, but I thought it was worth you knowing that there’s another option on the table.’

‘And that’s very kind of you,’ Faith managed to reply. ‘But if you don’t mind, I don’t want to think about it right now. I’m tired.’

The call ended amicably enough and as Faith drained the bath, she attempted to put her words into action by not thinking about Ella’s kind offer. Wrapping herself in a fluffy towelling dressing gown, she picked up her wine and travel brochure and made her way downstairs. She paused in the palatial hallway and shuddered as an image came unbidden of Ella’s offspring running through the house with Rosemary holding up the rear.

Faith could tell herself that the house was simply bricks and mortar, but it meant so much more to her than that. It represented the last vestiges of the dreams she had shared with Derek, and she would rather live with empty rooms than in some tiny apartment. She didn’t want to downsize. Her parents had lived in a dingy flat above her dad’s workshop, and the place she had rented before marrying Derek hadn’t been much better. She loved this house. She would never surrender it, especially not to Rosemary.