With the fire crackling up the chimney, they sat up against the pillows, both of them hot and filled with joy. Montel lit one of his small cigars, and Mags breathed in the aroma she’d come to love.

‘Now I am ready to listen.’

‘Well, we haven’t long, as Betsy will be calling out that breakfast is ready.’

‘Oh, of course it iz Sunday, and she hazn’t to take the children to school.’

‘No, but she likes her routine, even if it does start later on Sundays. Now, what do you think of a craft shop, where we can sell everything that is made locally? And, of course, your paintings of the local area. You have so many now, and not all of them are for your exhibition.’

‘Hmm, I’m liking the idea. I can also offer a portrait-painting service for those who are here for a few days, with the backdrop of any scene they like in Portpatrick.’

‘That would be wonderful.’

‘I have all but one of my paintings ready to take to London. My pièce de résistance is yet to be painted.’

‘Oh? And what is that – have you something planned?’

‘I have. It is you, my darling. You in all your nude glory.’

‘What? No, that won’t happen.’

‘But it must. I have to. It is my dream.’

Mags didn’t know what to think. She knew he had painted Susan in the nude many times, but herself? This she wasn’t sure of. ‘Will my hair cover my face?’

‘No, of course not. The study iz of complete and utter wonderful womanhood. Nothing about a stunning woman in all her glory offends the art world.’

‘I will let you do it, but I have to approve of it before I agree to you showing it. It may be something that we keep between us, never to be seen by anyone but us.’

‘My love for every part of you will shine through. I will call it A Man’s Perfect Lover.’

Mags burst out laughing.

‘And zo what else do you plan we sell?’

‘Home-knitted garments. I have seen many a woman sitting on her step in the summer with her needles clicking away. I plan to find a local outlet selling wool from the highland sheep and pay these women to knit for me. And pottery, too. I was a very good potter in my youth; it was one of the crafts we did in my school. I am going to buy all the tools I need and try to use the clay produced locally. I know Lanarkshire is renowned for its clay production, but if I can find somewhere nearer, that would be more in keeping. I would want my vases to have scenes of this lovely village, so I will need some painting instructions from you. And maybe I’ll even stock a few tartan items – scarves, et cetera. Oh, and berets. Betsy is a handy seamstress. I will get her a treadle sewing machine. I need all of this done during the winter months, so that we have stock to open with, and it can be ongoing from there. I am thinking of finding out who owns that old boathouse on the edge of the village – the one that is almost falling down. I think it is an ideal setting and can be renovated to become our shop, and the back part can be our workshop.’