Nell made an encouraging noise, hoping Angus would tell her more because he didn’t often speak about his parents.

‘I did mention in my last email to Mum that I’d met someone special, preparing the ground for her to meet you, so to speak, though who knows when that’ll be?’

Nell dared ask, ‘Don’t you get on with her?’

‘We don’t not get on because we hardly ever see one another. I’ll take you to meet her next time she’s over in the UK. Now, let’s lock up here and go home.’

He didn’t volunteer any more information about his family. Nell had met his daughter and Ashleigh had been perfectly polite but rather cool, not seeming to accept that her father could have formed a lasting relationship. His son hadn’t returned from backpacking round the world and she knew Angus was worried about Oliver, who was still in South-East Asia somewhere. Well, it was a rare person who didn’t worry about their offspring, however old they were and however long ago they’d flown the nest.

She worried about her children, too, and it was time she told them she was going to marry Angus.

He’d said a few times, ‘When we’re married, we’ll do that properly,’ or words to that effect but neither of them was in a hurry to tie the knot. They didn’t need bits of paper to feel like a couple.

The Ministry of Defence sent instructions that Angus was not to touch anything in the attic nor was he to let anyone else into the secret room. In fact, it would be best if he locked up the whole house until it could be thoroughly examined by experts from the Imperial War Museum because other valuable items might be concealed there.

‘That’s torn it!’ he exclaimed. ‘I was going to get all the houses replumbed.’

‘Well, Number 1 will have to wait. What’s the hassle? You can get the other five done and come back to that one later. What about the rewiring? It’s a good thing you’ve got an electrician’s ticket. Have you drawn up your new wiring plans yet?’

‘I was going to do the work myself, but I think I’ll find someone else to do it. I can sign up with an agency and earn more from IT work than I’d save doing the electrical work. Besides, it’d take ages on my own.’

‘I think you’re right.’

She knew he was worried about the roof and the winter weather, but one person could only do so much. The house had stood for over two hundred years. She was sure it’d last another few.

Chapter Seven

In Australia, Adam Torrington took a few days’ emergency leave from his job as a university lecturer because his ex-wife Judith had died suddenly of an aneurism. Her death had shocked everyone because she’d always been so fit and healthy, and his daughter Gemma, who’d been living with her mother, was nearly hysterical with grief.

He’d rushed round to see her straight away when a friend of Judith’s phoned to tell him the sad news.