‘I think maybe the roof of the big house has priority.’

‘I think we can make the roof last a bit longer.’

‘Are you sure?’

‘Hmm.’

‘How much did the app bring in?’

When he told her she was pleasantly surprised. ‘I think you could be right. But let’s go and explore Saffron Lane now. We can’t make a final decision until we know exactly what we’ve got there.’

‘I want to get someone in to make sure the buildings are safe first.’

‘Oh, pooh to that! We’re not stupid enough to go inside a building if there are holes in the floor and the walls are crumbling, but we can at least stand in doorways and look inside rooms. Actually, it’s a wonder someone hasn’t broken in, if they’ve been empty for half a century.’

‘An old tramp did try to break into the end house two or three years ago, but he didn’t even get any of the front doors open. He ran away down the street at the back screaming that the place was haunted. The police thought he was drunk and picked him up. When he told them what he’d been doing, they didn’t bother to prosecute, he was still so freaked out. They just gave him a warning and sent him on his way. I didn’t contradict his tale of the ghosts. Rumours like that are much cheaper than putting in a security system.’

She wasn’t giving in. ‘I’m not afraid of your family ghosts and I’m dying to look at Saffron Lane. Let’s do it.’

She’d dreamt about his family ghosts even before she’d come to England, only she hadn’t known who they were then. She’d heard their voices again soon after her arrival. They’d seemed friendly to her, not threatening. She’d never been certain before this happened whether there were any such things as ghosts, but everything the women’s voices had predicted had come true. They’d told her exactly when she’d sell her Australian house and that she’d find love here in England.

He put his arm round her shoulders. ‘OK. You’re on. I must admit I’d like to see inside the buildings now that I’ve got a bit of spare time, but we won’t take any risks. We ought to wear our scruffiest clothes and safety helmets.’

‘Most of your clothes are scruffy. You’re as much in need of renovation as your house.’

He chuckled. ‘My computer doesn’t care what I wear and you fell in love with me in spite of my sartorial faults.’

‘I didn’t realise then that you were allergic to buying new clothes.’

‘Shopping is a total bore.’

‘Well, we’re going out to buy you some new clothes tomorrow, so get used to it. I’m not having my new English relatives seeing me walk around with a scarecrow.’

‘You’re such a nag.’ He plonked a big, sloppy kiss on her cheek.

For a moment she had difficulty breathing, then she realised from his poorly concealed smirk that he was distracting her, changing the subject. He always did when clothes were mentioned. She gave him a mock slap. ‘Yes, and I intend to spend the next few decades nagging you. Get used to that as well, and gird up your loins, because you’re definitely going to face the horrors of shopping for new clothes tomorrow.’