‘Ah. I’m sorry.’ He ran one hand through his hair and said, ‘Perhaps we should start again. I’m not usually so grumpy.’

Nell threaded her arm through his. ‘My partner was ready to make a start on renovating the whole row of houses, had his plans charted in detail and he gets very single-minded when he’s working on a project.’

‘It must be annoying to have to wait, but it’s exciting too, don’t you think? We will try to hurry things up, I promise you.’

‘Let’s go and look at the room,’ Angus said. ‘I’d love to know more about it, but we haven’t liked to touch anything.’

‘Very wise.’

When they went into it, Dawn sucked in her breath sharply. ‘I hadn’t realised it was still complete. My goodness, this is a treasure trove, Mr Denning, a national treasure trove. I don’t think anyone can have touched it since they closed it up.’

Mac walked slowly round the central table, starting to take photographs.

‘We’ll bring in a team and work here on the premises, if you don’t mind. That’ll give us so much more authentic detail. I wonder … ’ He looked questioningly at Dawn. ‘Are you thinking what I am?’

‘The Kinnaird Trust?’

‘Yes. This would be perfect.’

They turned as one to Angus. ‘Jason Kinnaird’s father, Stanley Kinnaird, worked in intelligence during World War II. Jason wants to set up a museum exhibit in honour of his father and those who worked behind the scenes. They didn’t cop much recognition or gratitude, even after the war, and were still bound by the Official Secrets Act, so what they’d done wasn’t revealed until well after Stanley Kinnaird’s death.’

She looked round and nodded again. ‘This place might suit his son’s purpose nicely. He’s not rolling in money, but he can spare some and is very determined to set up a memorial to his father.’

‘Well, I’m not looking to sell the house, so he’ll have to look elsewhere if he wants to buy it,’ Angus said firmly. ‘I don’t want my inheritance frittering away, and anyway, I have plans for these houses.’

Nell stepped in again, explaining about the artists’ colony they’d been hoping to set up. The two visitors looked disappointed.

‘Well, whatever we decide to do with this find,’ Dawn said regretfully, ‘we need to document it carefully, not only the individual items, but exactly how they’ve been set up. Perhaps we can make a start by spending an hour or two here taking photographs, Mr Denning?’

‘Yes, of course. I’m happy for you to do that before you dismantle it. I’ll wait with you, if you don’t mind.’

He could see that they’d have preferred to be left alone, but he didn’t care. It was his house and street, his plans they were disrupting, so he intended to keep an eye on every single thing that went on here.

Later, when they’d gone, he locked up and went back to the big house, where he found Nell preparing their lunch in the kitchen.