‘Hi.’

‘Hello. You look comfy. How was your day?’

‘Good, thanks. Have you been out?’

‘I have!’ I said shucking my coat and walking out to the hall to hang it up in the cupboard before returning to the kitchen.

‘Great! Anywhere nice?’

‘Just further out into the countryside. I took myself off for a walk and got some proper fresh air and exercise.’

He rested the book down on his broad chest. ‘And how was that?’

‘What?’ I laughed. ‘You mean leaving the house again?’

Jack pulled a maybe yes, maybe no kind of expression.

‘It’s all right. I already had all that from my brother. And yes, I know it’s unusual but, in answer to your question, I think it did me good.’

‘Did you just walk?’

‘I stopped for breakfast and read my book then had a nice long, invigorating walk before finding somewhere to get a much-needed cup of tea, where I read some more of my book and then came home.’

‘Sounds like a perfect, not to mention, full day.’

‘Full enough for me.’

‘You look better for it,’ said Jack.

‘I’m not quite sure how to take that.’

‘Take it as a compliment, which is how it was meant. You looked fine before, just to clarify, but you have a… I don’t know… glow about you now.’ He waved his hand. ‘I don’t know. It’s just obviously done you good. That’s all I’m trying to say.’

‘Thanks. What did you do with yourself today?’

‘I went back to my parents’ and then also took a long walk, which was much needed after Part A of the day.’

‘Oh goodness. Did it not go well?’

‘About as well as can be expected,’ he said, laying the book aside and pushing himself up off the sofa, crossing to where I stood by the hob in a few easy long strides. ‘They still want me to take my place at the head of the family and marry the right woman with the right name and the right breeding. I thought being away for that long might give it time to sink in with them that’s not what I want or how it’s going to be,’ he said, taking the lid off the pan and stirring the dish that lay beneath it.

‘God, that smells good.’

‘Thanks. All that excitement today has probably built up your appetite. At least, I hope so, and I also hope you like it, because I made enough for several meals.’

‘You didn’t have to cook for me.’

‘I know. And you don’t have to cook for me either, but when we do it’s nice.’

I looked up at him. It was. I realised the more often I sat at dinner with Jack in the evening how much my soul had missed the simple art and enjoyment of conversation with another person. Yes, I had that with my family, but it was regularly interrupted by small children, as family meals often are. Conversation with Jack was easy, sometimes light and sometimes surprisingly deep.