Hannah laughed and sat properly on the seat, scratching the fur between his ears. He lay down and put his nose on her thigh, his gaze never leaving hers. ‘You’re adorable,’ she said. ‘Where did you come from? Who’s missing you tonight?’ She swallowed. Who was missing her? Who would have been worried if they’d known she was out in the storm?

Saskia was enjoying her updates from Cornwall, but was busier than ever at work; her mum had been impatient with her the last time they spoke; a call with her brother, Mike, was long overdue, and her dad was god knows where. Even Seth was unaware how much Hannah had cared for him. She paused. Had? She couldn’t stop being interested in Seth because she’d spent a week with an often irritated, occasionally teasing man who, after Saturday, she would only communicate with via phone and email. She put her head in her hands and the dog whined gently.

‘Hannah? Goodness, are you OK? You look positively bedraggled.’

Hannah looked up to see Audrey staring down at her. Her words were full of concern, but her expression was curious. She was a researcher, Hannah remembered; she was probably intrigued by everything.

‘I’m OK,’ she said. ‘We got caught in this on the way back from the pub.’ She waved a hand towards the window. ‘I’m just warming up.’

‘May I?’ Audrey gestured to the chair opposite.

‘Of course. I think Marnie’s bringing us hot chocolates. Noah will be here in a moment, and maybe Daniel, too.’ She knew she was wittering, but she found Audrey’s gaze unnerving, as if she could tell that Hannah had been thinking about Noah and was quietly amused by it.

‘And your furry companion?’ Audrey asked, as she placed a large glass of red wine on the table. ‘I didn’t realize dogs were allowed at the hotel.’

‘I found him on the way here,’ Hannah said. ‘He came from the beach, I think, though I have no idea how he ended up there.’

Audrey turned her hazel eyes on the dog. ‘A little mystery, then.’

Hannah swallowed. ‘Have you found out any more about the hauntings?’

Audrey gave her a warm smile. ‘Are you interested?’

‘Yes,’ she said, realizing she meant it. Maybe it was the storm adding to the atmosphere, but it felt like the perfect night for a ghost story. ‘I really am. It’s not a typical haunted hotel, is it?’ She laughed, and Audrey joined in.

‘No, but in some ways that makes it more fascinating – more worthwhile. Sceptics can easily discount strange noises in a centuries-old building: the creak of floorboards, timbers shifting. Here, there are fewer places for the ghosts – and the explanations – to hide.’

Marnie carried over a tray with three hot chocolates on, each one topped with a cream and marshmallow mountain. ‘Would you like one?’ she asked Audrey.

‘No, thank you.’ Audrey gestured to her wine glass.

‘Are Daniel and your friend joining you?’ Marnie said to Hannah. ‘I don’t want these to go cold.’