‘How did it go?’

‘All right, I suppose. They were very tight-mouthed.’

‘You didn’t exactly try to win them over, love.’

‘I want to get on with things and who knows how long they’ll be now the other chap has died.’

‘So what are you going to do about the renovations?’

‘I’ll have to leave Number 1 out of the schedule, and that means it’ll cost more. The plumbers are ready to come in and they were going to do the whole row.’

‘If you need some extra money, I could—’

‘I’m not taking your nest egg.’

The air was fraught for a moment or two, because she knew how this was stretching his finances.

Then he picked her up and swung her round in a circle. ‘Never mind the money. It’s you I care about, and we’ll manage somehow.’

But she did worry about the money. She helped him in every way she could but the old house was a demanding mistress, regularly springing surprises on them.

She’d been shocked at how much it would cost to run a heritage house like this one, even in a frugal manner.

But it was still a lovely building, inside and out. She too had fallen under its spell. There had to be some way to make use of its undoubted charm, there just had to.

When they heard nothing for two weeks, Angus sent a registered letter marked ‘Urgent’ to ask what was going on.

He received a telephone call from a woman called Miss Peberdy at the Imperial War Museum.

‘I’m so sorry, Mr Denning. Discussions are under way with Jason Kinnaird about how to deal with the house and—’

‘You’re talking about my property here, so any discussions ought to involve me.’

‘It’s the nation’s history we are concerned about.’

‘I know that and I’m concerned too. I could easily have destroyed that room and its contents and no one would have been any wiser, but I didn’t. So at least grant me that I’ve acted responsibly so far and include me in any further discussions.’

There was dead silence at the other end, then she said, ‘Noted. I’ll be in touch as soon as there’s news,’ and ended the call.

He stormed into the kitchen, where Nell was preparing their evening meal.

‘Put that aside, love. I need to go to the pub and have a beer or two.’

‘Tell me why.’

He explained, sounding so sharp, so unlike himself that she immediately set aside the cooking and went to get her coat. ‘Are we walking?’

‘If you don’t mind. Apart from the fact that I don’t like drinking and driving, I’d really welcome a brisk walk.’

‘All right. I’ll just change into my trainers. They’re much easier on the feet.’

After meeting a couple of friends in the pub, Angus began to cheer up and they combined forces for the meal. A couple of hours later he and Nell set off home, going the back way, which was more direct.