More laughter then gradually the sensation of someone else being nearby faded. ‘I think they’ve gone,’ she whispered.

He shook his head in bafflement. ‘If you say so.’ As he finished his meal slowly, he looked thoughtful.

When he brought his crockery across to the dishwasher, he said, ‘Well, let’s return to more tangible matters. We’d better get someone in to inspect the houses in Saffron Lane structurally, but first, would you like to have a look at the rest of the row? I’m feeling like a stroll in the fresh air to clear my brain.’

‘I’d love to. I’ve had enough of sorting through dusty documents and it’s a beautiful afternoon, though they’re forecasting showers for tomorrow.’

Saffron Lane seemed to be waiting for them, the dilapidation of the houses softened by the lengthening shadows cast by the nearby trees.

‘I like the look of the bigger houses at the far end. Let’s go and look at those two first. Number 6 is much bigger than the others, double frontage, three full storeys.’

‘Your wish is my command.’

He stopped at the door and barred the way with one arm. ‘Wait there! I need to check that it’s safe.’

‘Ooh, you’re so masterful!’

He twirled an imaginary moustache. ‘You wait till later, my lady, and I’ll show you masterful.’

She pretended to be afraid of him, but she wasn’t, couldn’t ever be, she was sure. There had been a time when she’d been afraid of her first husband and his sudden outbursts of angry shouting, not to mention the hurtful things he said, but that had been long ago. Her Angus didn’t have a nasty bone in his body.

She watched him jump around again, testing the floor, then he beckoned her to join him.

There were two rooms with big windows at the front, again looking as if they were meant to be used as a shop, though a much bigger one than the other houses. The wooden floors were scuffed and marked, the walls covered with dingy pale-green paint. A big noticeboard still hung on one wall.

‘I don’t think it’s been touched since the MOD moved its people out in the fifties,’ he said. ‘Look at that old-fashioned plug socket.’

She sniffed and wrinkled her nose in distaste. ‘If you ask me there are mice here.’

‘We’ll buy some traps.’

‘If we catch any, you’re disposing of the bodies. I can’t bear to touch them.’

‘OK.’

Once again there were storerooms between the front and rear of the house, and to their surprise a big wing to one side with a large kitchen and bathroom in it.

When they went outside, it was obvious that this wing was an add-on. ‘Very utilitarian, isn’t it?’

‘Perhaps it was done during the war. I can’t understand why it’s just been left. It wouldn’t take that much to bring it up to date and rent it.’

‘The elderly relative I inherited from did everything as cheaply as possible. There was some really shoddy work done, a lot of which cost more to repair in the long run.’