A sudden breeze sent a flurry of blossom skittering before my

feet.

‘Not sure about the happily bit right now,’ I muttered.

‘At last she’s seen the light,’ Xavier drawled. He’d never bothered to hide his feelings about James.

The blossom whirled in circles on the ground before me.

‘Anyway, Kattan’s certainly a character. Very old-school polite, but a will of iron, I’m sure. And his son, Ash, is apparently disenchanted with Britain, and running for Parliament.’ I was rounding the last bend in the drive now, heading towards a stable block and garages on my right, walking into shadow beneath great elms that blocked the sun from my path. The gargoyles on the roof were still screaming silently as I neared. I had the unnerving feeling that I was being watched and I felt a shiver of apprehension. ‘But I’m sorry, I just can’t do it, Xav.’

‘Fuck, Rose,’ Xav swore softly. ‘It’s not like you to wimp out.’

The great windows of the Gothic manor frowned down like huge unblinking eyes, and then something stopped me in my tracks. I wasn’t sure exactly what I’d seen but it was like a flash of light, something white billowing in the window to the left of the great front door. Somewhere nearby the clank of metal on metal startled me. My own involuntary gasp made me laugh.

‘Rose?’

‘I’ll call you back.’ I hung up.

‘Hello?’ I called. Someone had been listening, I was sure.

Silence fell again; just the fluting of birdsong, and then the distant bleat of tiny lambs. It was an eerie sound; rather like my children crying. I took a few small steps towards an old cream-coloured racing car abandoned on blocks. Alongside the garage wall were stacked great canisters; presumably for petrol.

‘Hello?’ I steadied my voice. ‘Anyone there?’

There was no response. A sudden gust blew through the branches like a great breath as I took another step and then the light from the window struck me again, flashing across my face so I had to shut my eyes. Not a light I realised, some kind of red laser. It swept the ground before me and then disappeared.

I contemplated turning back – and then I heard the metallic sound again.

‘Hello?’ I repeated, awash with adrenalin – and then Danny Callendar emerged from the garage, rolling a cigarette.

‘You really made me jump.’ I tried to stifle my nerves. Wood smoke hung in the air like a distant warning. Like an exhaled sigh.

‘I’m sorry,’ he said easily, and licked the cigarette paper. ‘Can I help?’

I smiled politely. ‘I’ve just come to collect my car.’

‘Fair enough.’ Callendar looked down to light his roll-up, then up again as he inhaled. ‘It’s still up at the house.’