Cover

Dedication

For Emily Yolland, one of the unsung heroes of publishing who always brightens my day by simply being a genuinely lovely person.

Chapter One

Wiping the rain from her face, Hannah pushed her way through the revolving door into the hotel lobby.

‘A touch wet outdoors today, Miss Campbell,’ commented the young male receptionist with a cheerful smile. ‘There’s a lovely fire in the bar if you’d like to warm up. It’s not a day for sightseeing, I’m afraid.’

‘No.’ She laughed, pulling the hat from her head and shaking the raindrops from the ends of her curls. ‘Although I did manage to see some of Trinity College.’ Sadly, not the Book of Kells nor the Long Library, which had been top of her list, but the thought of being crammed in along with dozens of soggy tourists smelling of wet dog had put her off. They’d still be there tomorrow and every day of the next six weeks that she’d be in Ireland.

‘Would you like me to take your coat? I can hang it up here in the cloakroom. It’ll dry nicely and save you having to go up to your room.’

See, this was the bonus of staying in a small boutique hotel. She gave him a delighted smile, already accepting the implied suggestion that she should go toast her toes in front of the fire. While she was there she’d send a text to her sister, Mina, thanking her for recommending this place. It was definitely a Mina sort of place. Without her sister’s intervention, Hannah would probably have booked a Travelodge or something, as it was only for one night, but Mina was the one who always managed to seek out the trendy, happening-right-now places.

Hannah handed over her dripping coat and walked through to the cosy bar with its lovely vintage feel. It was Victorian-brothel-meets-20s-speakeasy – quite a look to carry off but someone had done it rather well. Dimly lit, it offered a warm, cocoon-like welcome which, after the miserable wet weather outside, was extremely appealing. The long wooden bar with brass trimmings and accessories, which glinted in the low light, was presided over by another good-looking young man with a bright, open, friendly face. Like all the staff in the hotel he immediately swung around to greet her with sincere enthusiasm, as if she were the very person he wanted to see.