I notice there is a garage that will hold about four cars, but its doors are closed and Thea pulls up by what I assume is the main entrance to the house. As I open the car door I am surprised by the silence. We can’t be far from major roads, but there isn’t a sound. I guess the tall trees must act as natural barriers, and after everything I’ve been through, it is incredibly soothing. It is as if all noise has been deadened by giant earmuffs.

I think Thea can sense I’m slightly overawed, and she becomes brisk and businesslike. ‘Right, we’ll get you inside and I’ll show you where you’ll be living, then we can have that drink.’

I grab my bag from the boot and follow her. There is quite a grand stone portico to our right, but Thea walks around to the left where I see another door, which I presume is the one they usually use.

‘Boots off, please, dear,’ she says as we walk into a narrow entrance hall. There is a shoe rack to the left with nothing on it. I kick my boots off and put them on the rack, cross with myself that the only footwear I have brought is the pair of ankle boots with heels that I was wearing. I’ll just have to go barefoot in the house.

Thea leaves her sensible shoes by the door, slides her feet into a pair of slippers, and I follow her through into a dark, narrow passageway. There are no windows, the only light coming from dim wall lamps, and to my right I see three doors, all closed. To my left is a staircase, and Thea heads for it. At the top of the first flight another door faces us, but we turn away and keep climbing, finally coming out onto a small landing with a tiny window. There are doors everywhere, but Thea moves straight ahead into another long, windowless corridor towards the last room on the left.

‘Here you are,’ she says, flinging the door open and standing back. She’s waiting for my response, and she won’t be disappointed. I look into a beautiful large bedroom with a wide bay window and a fireplace on the opposite wall. Despite the overwhelming use of pink, it is stunning, and I turn to her and shake my head.

‘Am I really sleeping here?’ I ask, and she laughs.

‘Come on, I’ll show you the rest of this floor. You’ve got it all to yourself.’

I dump my suitcase and follow her out. There’s another smaller bedroom next door, then an amazing bathroom with an old fashioned roll-top bath in the centre.