“Oh God, I’m so sorry.” Lucy reached out and put her hand over his. “No wonder you were like a bear with a sore head.”

“I worked so hard that day, trying to blot it out,” Finn admitted, “and then I followed up with too much whisky. Not my finest hour.” He turned his hand over, still holding hers, and rubbed his thumb across her palm. “It kind of helps that you know what it’s like to lose something precious, you know. As though I don’t need to explain. You understand.”

Lucy was startled. “It’s not the same, though,” she said. “I mean, in my case, no one died...”

“Your future was changed in an instant,” Finn said. “Just like mine. However, I don’t want to depress you.” He released her hand and sat up. “I’d be glad of any help you can give us, to be honest. But if you’re looking for a proper job there are other opportunities in the village, especially in summer. You could try the shop, or the museum...”

“No thanks.” Lucy just managed to repress a shudder. “I didn’t really hit it off with Gabriel,” she admitted, when Finn looked amused, “and I don’t think Persis would thank me for treading on her toes at the shop either.”

“I can see your point.” Finn lay back, hands behind his head. “Gabriel is a first-rate prick.”

Lucy burst out laughing. “I didn’t say that!”

“You meant it, though.” Finn gave her a lazy smile. “And you’re in good company. The whole village thinks so. He’s done himself no favors setting himself up as the expert on everything.” He turned his head to look at her. “What sort of work do you want to do? What are you good at?”

“Nothing much really.” Lucy plucked a blade of grass and shredded it. “I’ve never done anything except play music. It’s been my entire life. But I can try to learn new skills, I suppose.”

“Don’t be so hard on yourself,” Finn said. “If you’re good at music then you’re creative, you can handle pressure, you can plan and work with other people, and you’re good at performing. There’s loads of transferable skills right there.”

“I’ll get you to write my CV when I apply for full-time jobs,” Lucy joked to cover how ridiculously touched she felt by his championing her. “I’m only looking to fill a few weeks anyway, just to cover the summer. That way I can spend some time with Cleo and not go scuttling straight back to London like a frightened rabbit—” She broke off, but not before Finn had picked up on this. She was learning that he really paid attention.

“Why would you be frightened?” he said, eyebrows raised.

“Oh, just that being on my own at the barn spooks me sometimes,” Lucy said, deliberately vague. “But like I say, it’s just for a few weeks. If there isn’t any work going, that doesn’t matter.”

“Mortimer Hall, the stately home up the road, is always looking for part-time volunteers to meet and greet visitors,” Finn said thoughtfully. “I saw an advert in the shop just the other day—you welcome people, sell tickets and postcards, that sort of thing. It’s nice, because there’s people coming and going all the time—as long as you can handle the grumbles over car parking and the lack of a tea shop as well. I’ve got the phone number of the visitor services manager somewhere. I could dig it out for you.”