After a moment’s hesitation, the captive said, ‘I cut my hand on that damned window getting in. You can check it. It got both of us even though I’d swear we cleared away all the shards of glass.’

‘Serves you right. We’ll get your brother’s DNA from it.’

‘But I thought Tam wiped the blood away.’ He broke off, realising he’d given his brother away.

‘Doesn’t look like you managed to do much damage in here. You two make better burglars than arsonists, and that’s not saying much considering the number of times we’ve had to arrest you. What exactly happened tonight?’

‘The damned accelerant spray clogged up and the wad suddenly burst into flames on its own. How that happened, I’ll never understand.’ Jock looked round, scowling. ‘This is a bad luck place. You’d have to drag me back here by my hair.’

Angus and Nell exchanged glances and he knew she too must be wondering if they’d had some help from his ancestors in foiling the arson attempt. No, that wasn’t possible … Was it?

‘Seems a nice enough place to me,’ the officer said. ‘Are you going to be letting the houses out when they’re finished?’ But she looked round in a puzzled way. ‘Did you hear something?’

‘Sort of.’ Angus explained quickly about the village.

‘What a great idea! I love looking round places like that. Oh well, we’d better take this fellow away and charge him properly. We’ll send someone to pick up his brother. It’ll be easy to get some samples of blood from that window and prove who the other man was. There are a few big splashes. Don’t touch anything till the crime scene team have checked the place over.’

When they’d left, Angus looked at Nell.

‘Could my ancestors have intervened?’

‘What other explanation is there?’

‘Hmm. We’re not going to tell anyone else about them, are we?’

‘What’s the point? They’d not believe us. But that female officer did hear the laughter, so she must be sensitive to such things.’

‘I’m still not mentioning it. I’d better get a glazier in as soon as places open. We don’t want our applicants finding the place trashed. I’m going to stay here till daylight, just in case. I’ll walk part-way back with you first, though, and watch you to the door of the big house.’

She didn’t try to stop him. Why attempt the impossible? Her Angus would always try to protect the ones he loved.

As they parted, he said, ‘Well done tonight. I didn’t realise I’d married a martial arts whizz.’

‘Hardly that. Fighting’s not my hobby and I detest people who solve problems by violence. But I prefer to be able to defend myself, if needed.’

‘You did well. Now, put some lights on once you get into the house. I’ll stay here till I see them and know you’re safe.’

He shook his head admiringly as he watched her stride up the drive and veer off left to get round to the kitchen door, not hesitating or showing any signs of nervousness.