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them,’ Joe answered.
    ‘Sophia?’ said Amelia, fishing for more information. She already knew about Doreen.
    ‘Sophia Deverell and Doreen Brock shared this cottage with Lillian, then a few years after Lillian died, they moved into Tapscott Manor Nursing home. There’re in their late eighties now.’
    ‘Yes, that’s what Reverend Lanceley said.’ Strange he never mentioned Sophia, Amelia thought. ‘Do you know if Lillian had a handyman or gardener to help around the place? The cottage is in such good repair considering its age.’ Amelia shoved the plate of biscuits under Joe’s nose.
    Joe beamed at her. ‘She did. You’re looking at him.’
    Amelia thought this to be the case and grinned. Joe dunked a bourbon biscuit into his tea and popped it into his mouth whole, returning her grin.
    ‘I still keep my eye on the cottage if truth be told. Well, not now you’re here of course, that would be snooping.’ Joe shook his head. ‘But after Sophia and Doreen moved out, I made sure to water the plants now and then, and during the winter months I checked for burst pipes and put the heating on a couple of times.’
    ‘You have a set of keys to the cottage then?’ Amelia inquired.
    ‘Oh yes.’ Joe looked guilt stricken. ‘I suppose I should have handed them back.’
    Seeing his look of concern, Amelia reassured him. ‘It isn’t a problem, Joe. It’s just that we’ve some keys missing and you may have them. Will you drop them off next time you come, and I’ll have some duplicates made?’
    Joe studied Amelia’s face a moment. ‘Does that mean I’ve got the job then?’
    ‘Yes, if we can agree on your wages. What do you normally charge, Joe? I haven’t got a clue,’ Amelia replied.
    ‘I usually charge eight pounds an hour for gardening. Maintenance jobs, well, it all depends on what it is.’
    ‘Okay, how about we start off with three hours a week on the garden, reducing it to one hour when winter comes? Any other work we’ll agree a price as and when. I’ll pay you ten pounds an hour, Joe, and for the extra you could continue to keep an eye on the cottage for us, especially when we go away on holiday. What do you think?’
    ‘I think it’s wonderful,’ Joe said gratefully. ‘I’ll go straight home now and get you those keys.’ Joe stood, pushing the chair back.
    ‘There’s no rush. Stop and have another cup of tea,’ Amelia said quickly, wanting the opportunity to glean more information from him.
    ‘I won’t be a jiffy. I’ll be back before you’ve poured the second cup,’ and Joe was gone.
    Pleased, Amelia dunked a biscuit into her tea and waited for his return. Then she remembered the gravestone and her face paled.
     
    ***
     
    Grace happily passed to Joe the job of tidying up the garden, after first insisting he concentrate on the vegetable garden and lawns. Any pruning of trees could be left until late autumn, she emphasised, and Joe agreed. She wondered if Joe knew about the gravestone. It was possible, but he hadn’t mentioned it.
    Feeling free to get on with other chores, Grace started by giving the kitchen walls a coat of ivory cream emulsion to freshen them up. Her next task, which probably should have been her first, was to convert the smallest bedroom into an office. Working with the window open, a crisp fresh breeze helped to rid the room of the paint smell. With plenty of ivory cream emulsion left over, she gave the walls a quick lick of fresh paint and then rearranged the desk, filing cabinets and bookcase. Books and ledgers were unpacked and she placed these on the shelves. Amelia had made new covers in bright pink for a futon chair and this Grace positioned in a corner. The colour gave off a rosy hue and warmed the walls. Standing back Grace looked at the room proudly, admiring the finished result.
    Feeling cold, Grace began to rub her arms and went to close the window. Automatically she ran her hand over the top of the radiator, knowing full well the central heating