But none the more for that, I didn’t have an endless amount of money at my disposal and if Ned couldn’t raise the funds to buy me out, I was going to need to do something. David had been right when he said I wouldn’t sell to just anyone and so, along with explaining to Caitlin where I was, I asked her to send on anything about the position that she could find out.

‘Bandit!’ I called, halting his sudden interest in a squirrel which had shot out of a tree. ‘Come on.’

The yard was abuzz when we got back. I left Bandit with David in the office, then went to let Wren know that I’d managed to get Ned safely back from the pub in one piece. Obviously, I gave her a doctored version of events, but she revelled in my description of his out of tune singing and subsequent thumping head.

‘Well,’ she said, adding more pairs of snowflake stud earrings to her display, ‘he’s none the worse for wear now. He was whistling when he came out of the lodge a few minutes ago.’

I was surprised, but relieved he’d negotiated his ablutions unaided.

‘I’m pleased to hear it,’ I said.

‘I think your evening together, away from here, has sorted him out,’ Wren nudged.

‘You’re making it sound like a date,’ I blushed. ‘It was hardly that.’

‘Well, whatever,’ she grinned. ‘He’s clearly back on track now.’

‘Here you go, Wren,’ said Sue, striding into the hut and thankfully putting a halt on the conversation. ‘Bunting as promised. Morning, Liza.’

‘Morning.’

‘You all right, love?’ Sue asked, scrutinising my complexion. ‘You look a bit flushed.’

‘I’m fine,’ I said, louder than I intended. ‘I’m just back from walking Bandit and it’s brisk among the trees.’

‘That explains it then,’ she accepted, before turning back to Wren.

‘And here are your earrings,’ said Wren, handing Sue a little paper envelope, embellished with her logo, which was of course, a wren.

‘Are you doing swaps?’ I asked, recovering enough to pay attention.

‘Sort of,’ said Sue, opening the envelope and moving to look in the mirror Wren had set up as she pushed the star shaped silver studs into place. ‘We thought it might be a nice touch to have a couple of things from other makers in our own huts.’

‘Abbie has promised me a wren,’ said Wren, ‘but I already know I’m not going to be able to part with it.’

‘But that won’t stop you pointing folk in the right direction to find her collection once they’ve admired it, will it?’ Sue pointed out.

‘That’s true,’ said Wren, opening out the string of festive bunting Sue had stitched.