‘How are things with you?’ she asked, rocking the pram with one foot as the baby began to stir.

‘I’m permanently knackered at the moment. The scar’s healing nicely but I’m still getting some discomfort from it. Jack does his bit I suppose, but of course he can’t breastfeed, so all the getting up in the night is still down to me. How about you?’

‘I’m getting there. Eddie was never any help anyway, and at least Mum can take Alfie off my hands for a bit when she’s here.’ She paused for a forkful of beans. ‘So how’re things coming along with the house?’

‘Very slow progress – everywhere still needs decorating and Jack’s been working long hours, so he doesn’t feel much like getting the paintbrush out at the weekend. Hopefully we’ll get a bit more done in the spring.’

‘You’ll get there eventually. That’s the thing with houses – always something that you need to do. How are you getting on with the old girl next door?’

I winced. I really wanted to tell her all about Mrs Barley’s unusual pastimes but felt it would be disloyal. Plus, I didn’t want to add fuel to the local suspicions about her. I tried to be diplomatic.

‘She’s – interesting, shall we say. A bit unpredictable with her moods, but she’s been very helpful since Elodie was born. We haven’t really got anyone else we can call on to help us out and I’ve been so grateful – she cooks us things, and she even helped to clean the house when Jack’s parents came to visit.’

She looked thoughtful. ‘Just be careful, that’s all. I did ask my mum – you know, if she knew anything else about her.’

‘And did she?’

‘She remembered my gran talking about a fella that used to live in the village years ago, who was mates with her husband; a chimney sweep he was. My granddad would have a pint with him now and again. Anyway, they were in the pub one evening and Mrs Barley came bursting through the door in a right state, proper yelling at him and saying he’d be sorry if he didn’t stay away from her Frank. Sounds as if she didn’t like sharing him with anyone. The bloke laughed it off but I think she put the wind up him.’

‘What happened?’