‘It must be the new hens – Dorothy and Bessie – we’ve not had this colour before. I’ll have to ask Bruno. I’ve put him in charge of them and he’s now responsible for keeping them clean, feeding them and collecting the eggs. I think it will do him good and get him out of that damned bedroom. And I’ve told him if there are any eggs left over, he can sell them and pocket the money.’

‘I like it. Good parenting! I’d actually given up on them ever laying,’ he said.

She shook her head. ‘The guy at Wishing Wells Farm said it could be a while before they started laying and he was right. I’ve been checking the nesting boxes every day and so has Bruno, so we know they’re freshly laid.’

‘Great, let’s hope we get a few more quickly and we can make a meal out of them!’

‘Definitely! One of your omelettes?’

‘Bien sur!’ he said, with a French accent. ‘Oeufs Grace? A little grated cheese, chopped chilli, spring onion, red peppers and tomato, madame?’

‘You’re making me hungry!’

‘So tell them to lay some more, quick!’

‘I will pass on your instructions.’

‘How was your day?’ he asked, following her through to the kitchen, slackening his tie and slinging his jacket on the back of a chair.

‘OK, quiet at the mortuary – only two new admissions.’

‘Signed the guest book, did they?’

‘Their hands were a bit stiff.’

He grinned again.

‘And Kaitlynn said Noah’s got a cold and been pretty grumpy. He’s asleep now.’

‘Where’s Bruno?’

‘Where do you think? In his boy cave, the very one I’m trying to find ways of getting him out of!’

Roy stood behind Cleo, putting his arms round her waist, and pulled her in towards him. ‘I’m glad it was quiet at work for you, we need to wrap you in cotton wool. I’m grateful every day that you’re OK now.’

‘Me too. I think about it constantly. It was around now we lost the baby last time.’

‘I know you’re worried, but you are fit and healthy and the doctor’s said there’s no reason why everything shouldn’t be fine. And, of course, now I’m back in Sussex I can wait on my beautiful bride hand and foot.’

She laughed. ‘As if! That will stop the first time you get called out. But I do know you’ve made a big sacrifice not staying on in the Met – I know how much that meant to you.’

He went to the fridge. ‘It was the right decision. I’m good with it. Sussex is where I belong, and where I want to be. For sure my time on the streets in London has opened my eyes, and it’ll help me here. And maybe I’ve made a tiny difference.’