He sounded hopeful, which only deepened Hannah’s confusion, but she answered honestly. ‘I would love to do that. I know our report’s almost finished, but there’s so much more I could do in Porthgolow. Work my way through the Cornish Cream Tea Bus menu, have a pamper session in the spa. I haven’t had a chance to try out the hot tub because of the weather, and now I’m going to miss out on a ghost hunt, too.’

‘You never know, the weather might force your hand.’ He leaned back and pulled the edge of the curtain, exposing glass that was so completely covered with rain splatter there was no longer any inkling of the view beyond.

‘Trains are pretty solid things,’ Hannah said. ‘I expect I’ll be OK.’

‘Which is a shame,’ Noah replied. ‘Still, it doesn’t stop you from planning another trip. And if Daniel goes ahead with the work we’re suggesting, Green Futures will want to continue the relationship.’

‘It would make sense for you to be the on-site consultant, though. The upgrade will take months.’

‘That doesn’t mean Gerald won’t want visits from head office to make sure everything’s going smoothly. And you should be that person.’ He touched a finger lightly to her chin, then tilted her head up so she was forced to meet his gaze. ‘Everything will still be here when you come back.’

Hannah held her breath. The moment felt overly intimate. The look he was giving her now, as if she was the only thing worth smiling at in the whole world, made her unsteady even though she was sitting down.

‘The ghosts won’t be here.’ It came out as a scratch, and she bent down to tug at her sock, breaking contact with him.

‘If they’re here now, then they’re probably here to stay. Unless Daniel gets a priest in to get rid of them, and I don’t think he’s the type to buy into it quite so wholeheartedly.’ Noah seemed perfectly composed, as if the face-touching had been completely normal.

‘You’ll have to tell me how it goes,’ she said, forcing lightness into her voice.

‘I’ll call you the moment it’s over.’

The dog stirred and Hannah looked down at their scruffy rescue mutt, making the most of his comfortable surroundings.

‘Dogs are very intuitive,’ Audrey said, making Hannah jump. She hadn’t heard her come back in. ‘They often pick up on presences that we can’t see.’

‘He’s pretty chilled right now,’ Noah pointed out. ‘Maybe there’s nothing here.’

‘Do you think we should give him a name?’ Hannah said. ‘Even if it’s temporary?’

The dog raised his head, then jumped up to standing, his paws landing in a delicate area of Noah’s lap. Noah’s face creased in pain, and he lifted the dog’s front paws, moving him slightly. ‘Umph. He knows we’re talking about him.’

‘What shall it be?’ Hannah asked the dog, biting back a laugh. ‘Something appropriate, obviously. Storm? Crystal?’

The dog stared at her impassively.