‘This was Dad’s study. I love this desk,’ she said, stroking the highly polished black surface. ‘It’s ebonised wood – mahogany lacquered black to make it look Japanese. It was all the rage two hundred years ago. Isn’t it beautiful?’

Max nodded. He’d never heard of such a thing, but it looked quality. Worth a few grand. He could taste dust in the air. Heavy velvet curtains, which had long since faded at the edges, were half pulled across the tall window. One wall was full of pristine leather-bound books and opposite the desk towered a grandfather clock which had stopped at five minutes past six. Maddy opened the top drawer of the desk and took out a key. The sun flashed on its silver fob.

‘For you,’ she said, letting it fall into his palm. ‘You asked about renting a room.’

‘You sure?’

Their eyes fixed on each other for several moments.

‘I’m more than sure. I’ve been thinking about it a lot and I’d like you to move in.’

‘I’d love to.’ He slowly pulled the belt on her dressing gown and she allowed it to slip to the ground. As she stood naked in front of him, he smelt the warmth from her skin mixed with an intoxicating but delicate scent of roses. Her body was full and curvy. He’d always gone for skinny girls like Ali, preferring a clothes-hanger frame, but while they might look better in clothes, a voluptuous figure like Maddy’s was more pleasing to the eye when naked; no hip or rib bones in sight.

He took her hands in his and kissed her lips. He’d never had such a full body surge while kissing a woman before. What was it about her? He held her in his arms, smoothing his hands up and down her silky skin. He couldn’t get enough of her. He shut his eyes and nuzzled in her rose-scented hair. He’d never felt so happy and secure. No complications, no games, no threats. Would he be able to hang on to her without fucking it all up? God, he hoped so.

Chapter Sixteen

Maddy: Early October 2019

In the morning, Maddy takes Poppy and Daisy for a walk after dropping Emily at school. All the way round the park she goes over the woman’s responses to her questions. Can she have really never heard of Max? Seems so unlikely when she’s driving around in his old car. And why did she rush off like that? Shouldn’t she tell the police in case they are involved with Max’s disappearance? Her thoughts twist and turn each time they skip back to the wallpaper and carpet. Her mind refuses to contemplate what it could mean.