‘Sorry?’ Ruth moved her eyes from Jackson to Caroline. The woman was much older than he was, twenty years, probably, and wearing faded blue jeans, a thick jumper, and a powder-blue scarf around her head. Ruth didn’t need to be told this woman had cancer. Her cheeks were slightly bloated from steroids, and chemo had stolen her eyelashes, her eyebrows, the colour from her cheeks.

‘I thought you must have recognised him. You were staring.’

‘No, no, I don’t think so.’ Ruth felt wrong-footed – her cheeks burned.

‘Don’t worry,’ Caroline continued with a small laugh. ‘He’s a bit of a head-turner. I’m used to it.’

Ruth held her smile, but desperately wanted to hide her face. She certainly couldn’t recall seeing Jackson on TV, but there was no doubting he had the kind of look people noticed, the kind of eyes – green with flecks of hazel – that could ignite a fire inside you – something that hadn’t happened to Ruth in a very long while.

Caroline picked up a pen. ‘So where do I sign?’ she said, her eyes fixed on Ruth, as though taking her in.

‘If you could write your name in the register please, and the names of your party, and their relationship to you.’ Ruth didn’t need all that information, but it helped her get to know her guests better. She unbuttoned and rebuttoned her cardigan as she watched Caroline write, her handwriting distinctive, flamboyant swirling and curling on the page:

Caroline Taylor

Jackson Cromwell (partner)

Robert Taylor (ex-husband)

Amelia Taylor (daughter)

Lark Taylor (daughter)

Thomas Taylor (son)

Maddie Jenkins (son’s carer)

Ruth couldn’t help but notice what a complicated setup it was, with Caroline’s ex-husband being with them, and a fizz of excitement ran through her. This could get interesting.

Caroline placed the pen on the register, and straightened her back, letting out a little gasp, as though the job had exhausted her.

‘Thank you.’ Ruth picked up the pen, put it in a wooden pot, and closed the register. ‘You have the weather on your side. Eighteen degrees in late November is almost unheard of around these parts. We normally have snow by now.’

‘Yes, it’s beautiful out there,’ Jackson agreed, as Ruth reached behind her and unhooked two sets of keys from a small rack. ‘It’s so peaceful too. I’m sure we’ll have a relaxing stay.’

‘I’m sure you will.’ Ruth glanced at Caroline, who had moved towards the window, and now had her back to her.