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‘I’m sorry—’ She lurched out of his way, only to have him steady her and steer her back inside the cookhouse

She made her way distractedly back to the table

‘Where’s the coffee? Never et us some’

Lizzie sank into the chair, feeling extrerandmother had always been the lynchpin of her life, and she loved her without qualification The letter was preparing her for a truth that Lizzie would never be ready to face How could she stay on here now, as her grand her grandined she could stick it out here while all this was going on at home?

‘What’s the matter?’ Danny said as soon as she ca to upset you?’

Lizzie shook her head

‘So it’s the letter frouessed

‘Yes—I’m sorry, Danny—’

‘But your breakfast—’

‘I just need a minute—’

Chico stood back as she barged out of the cookhouse Running blindly across the yard, she didn’t stop until she reached Flame’s stall where she hunkered down in a corner to bury her head in her knees to think She should go home That here she was neededin the office of the business she was going to rebuild Without that accreditation, she was no use to anyone What to do? What to do—?

‘Lizzie?’

‘Chico!’ She sprang up, pressing herself against the wall between the stalls as he slipped the latch and walked in

‘If this course is too much for you—’

‘It isn’t,’ she said, recovering fast

‘Then, what is the lanced at the letter in her hand ‘Not bad news frorandmother?’ he prompted with concern

Not for the first time, he had disarmed her with his hu randht tears to her eyes, and she hated herself for the weakness, but, like it or not, Chico was a link between here and horandmother He remembered what a special lady she was

SheShe owed it to her grandmother to leave Chico Fernandez in no doubt that, whatever happened, she wasn’t going anywhere until she finished his course

‘If you need to go home—’

‘I don’t,’ she said firmly Decision made, she stuffed the letter into her pocket ‘You may not think I’ve made the best of starts, but I can and will improve—’

‘Lizzie’ The faintest of s really well, but we have a waiting list if you do want to drop out?’

‘I don’t want to drop out And I’m only too well aware of how many candidates would love to take my place’

Chico held up his hands to calest you relax and make the most of your time here?’

How close they’d been, she thought as a wave of wistfulness swept over her, and how far apart they were no fierce was her urge to hug hirandmother with someone ould understand, but there was a barrier between the so Perhaps the past would always stand between them

Lizzie looked so vulnerable that he was tempted to soften, but then he re characters in the Fane faeneration Had they skipped another with Lizzie?

‘If there’s a problem I expect you to tell me,’ he said in his firm tutor’s voice ‘If randmother, I’ll buy you a plane ticket home’

‘Thank you for the offer, but it’s not necessary’ She tipped her chin up to stare him in the eyes