‘It’s different,’ she said shortly, fitting the projector into its battered box. ‘More physical, and there’s plenty to learn. Some of it I already know, but Luke’s knowledge of the country just amazes me. Seems I’ve lots of catching up to do.’

‘There’s always more to any job than the outsider thinks,’ he agreed, and yawned. ‘Time for my bed. I enjoyed the show, by the way, if you’d tell Luke?’

‘I will. Goodnight.’ She wondered if her curtness had driven him away, but she wasn’t able to pretend the ease she had previously felt in his company. And if he had been spying on them all, then she had no wish to spend time with him anyway.

‘Was that Connor?’ Luke asked. ‘Nice of him to come. I didn’t know he was interested in birds.’

‘Mmm. He told me he enjoyed it. Luke,’ Tilly said suddenly, ‘do you think Matt meant it, about Connor going through his stuff?’

‘Huh?’ The young ranger looked up from the tricky task of collapsing the screen. ‘Nah. Give me a single reason why he’d want to. Between you and me, I sometimes think old Matt lives in his head too much. All that chess. It’s like he’s always expecting a pawn or one of those horse thingies to sneak up on him.’

‘Knights,’ said Tilly. ‘They’re called knights.’

‘Uh-huh. Well, maybe he ought to get out more. Can you grab the legs and fold ’em in for me? There’s a clip at the bottom holds them closed. That’s it. Damn thing weighs a ton.’

Irritated by his easy dismissal of her problem, Tilly picked up the slide box, tucked the cassette recorder under one arm and aimed the torch ahead of their feet. ‘Got everything?’ she said brusquely. ‘Let’s go then.’ It was not that she wanted to be convinced of Connor’s villainy, she told herself, but surely the question deserved more than two seconds’ thought! Of course, Luke’s entire being was probably consumed with thoughts of his Jane. She huffed out an exasperated breath. Men had no curiosity. The sky could fall, and they’d just pick up the bits and never think to wonder what brought them down.

When the chance came to do her own asking, Tilly found herself reluctant to take it. The homestead was hers for the day, the others dispersed about the property. She fed the animals, loaded the washing machine, swept the floors and, having made herself a cup of tea, sat eyeing the phone. All she had to do was punch in the number on the slip of paper beside her mug, then ask to speak to Connor Doyle. The receptionist – did universities have receptionists? – would apologise for their inability to comply, would say he was away from the uni just now, and that would be that. So why was she hesitating?