The drive to Keswick had taken longer than they'd anticipated. The main road had suffered some damage in the night, several trees coming down and at least one of the becks had burst its banks and spilled out over the tarmac. Workmen were out fixing it but that just meant temporary traffic lights and long queues. "You're being mysterious, Robbie. What are these errands?" she asked. He knew she was getting annoyed, he could hear the irritation in her voice all too clearly. But, on balance, he thought she'd be more irritated if she knew what he wanted to do. It had been him after all who'd insisted this was a week away from work.

"A man needs some secrets," he responded, half-joking. "I'll only be half an hour tops. You pick up the wine for later and I'll meet you back here at the car." Sensing this wasn't going to cut it, he added, "After that we can do whatever you want, even shopping."

She gave him a look, but smiled. "I wouldn't inflict that on you. But half an hour, no more. I really want to drive up to Hilltop Farm. I read all of Beatrix Potter as a child and it would be a shame to miss it as we're so close." He watched her stroll off in the direction of the fancy wine merchants, her head disappearing amongst the morning market goers before walking in the opposite direction. 30 minutes wasn't very long to find what he needed but it would have to do.

Laura was getting more agitated by the minute. Where was he? She looked at her watch. It had been nearly an hour now and there was still no sign. She pulled out her phone to try his mobile again but it was still going straight to voicemail. If she wasn't so cross, she realised, she'd have to admit to herself that she was getting rather worried. Part of her was tempted just to drive home. She'd done that before when he'd kept her waiting, but that was in Oxford when he could easily get home under his own steam. Plus they had been in the middle of a blazing row so there'd been more to it than him just being late. Now she came to think about it, she'd forgotten just how mad she'd been him that day. It had been the only time in the last two months when she'd questioned whether they'd have been better staying as friends.

"Laura?" She looked up, pulled away from her memories of their terrible fight, and was surprised to see Rosie standing in front of her. "You looking for Robbie? I just saw him coming out of the police station. Is everything ok?"

Having seen the row of desktops in the reference section, Robbie had taken the only option available to him and his limited computer skills, persuading a librarian to help him. She'd made quick work of finding the newspapers from the various dates and printed off the copies he needed. He looked at his watch, he had ten minutes. Nowhere near enough time really but he had no choice. She'd understand, once she knew what was going on. At least that's what he was banking on.

"I don't understand, he said he was running errands. Why was he in the police station?" Laura was thinking out loud more than anything. She subconsciously turned the rings on her fingers, a nervous twitch that gave away how worried she now was.

Rosie added two spoons of sugar to her tea and gave it a stir. She'd suggested they sat in the greasy spoon that overlooked the car park whilst they waited. "Something for work, maybe? Didn't you say he was a policeman?" she suggested, trying to be helpful.

Laura shook her head, "He would have said something, I'm sure of it. Although..." she paused, "We did promise we wouldn't do any work this week so maybe he didn't want to tell me." She looked at Rosie, and smiled. "I'm sorry, this is silly. You don't need to look after me, I'm sure he'll turn up."

"Oh, I don't mind. I'm only waiting for Arthur anyway. He'll be forever at the solicitors." She took a sip of tea. "Urgh, to be honest I wish he'd give it all up. I'm not with him for money so what does it matter anyway." She put the mug down on the table a bit more forcefully than she'd meant to, tears springing up in her eyes.

"Do you want to talk about it?" Laura asked gently. Rosie sniffed and giving it some thought, nodded.

Robbie knew by now that he was going to be in big trouble. It had taken longer than necessary to persuade the copper on the front desk that he was who he said he was, and then even longer to convince him to pass a message up to his superiors. But having done that, and reasonably confident the information he'd provided was going to be taken seriously, he had just one last job to do.

"So, the cottage should be Arthur's?" Laura asked incredulously. "But then how come this Mr Bellows is claiming that it's his?"

"It's complicated. When Arthur's uncle died he left behind a lot of debts. His estate just about covers them but it leaves nothing for Arthur. But even if it did his uncle didn't leave a Will, so there's little proof that he'd always promised it to us. Plus he's only an uncle by marriage so the legal standing is pretty shaky. It's destroying Arthur. He's desperate to see his uncle's wishes carried out but there's no way round it." Rosie smiled at Laura, "You know, you really are a very good listener. I hope Robbie knows that about you."

She chuckled, "I think he probably does. We've had a lot of practice, the two of us." Rosie tilted her head, desperate to ask but polite enough not to. Recognising her curiosity and thinking that she wouldn't even know where she'd start, Laura gave a slight grimace, "I could bore you for a long time on how we finally managed to get together, one for another time perhaps." She looked at her watch and deciding she was now beyond cross and worried, declared resignedly, "Well, between my Robbie and your Arthur, I think we can safely say we've been stood up. What do you think? Wine bar? Their credit cards?"

Rosie eyed her, wondering if she was serious. Who was this amazing woman who she'd just poured her heart out to? She was a breath of fresh air compared to some of the people she'd met since moving here. Laura was looking at her expectantly, waiting for an answer, and deciding that she wasn't joking, she nodded decisively. "You're on! But let's make it the expensive one at the other end of town. No point otherwise, is there?" They laughed conspiratorially as they pulled on their coats and headed out of the door.

"Robbie!" Laura uttered, her hand going to her chest in surprise, as he appeared suddenly in front of them. He was wearing that ridiculous grin and those puppy dog eyes, the one he reserved for occasions such as this, her face turning to anger at the sight of him. "Where on earth have you been?"