She managed a quick smile, even though inside she suddenly felt a little wobbly. ‘Oh, you know, there’s so much history here.’

‘It does make you think, doesn’t it?’

She nodded and pushed her thoughts to the back of her mind as he showed her around, pointing out a host of treasures including the original Brian Boru harp, and the proclamation of the Irish Republic in 1916 before they went back downstairs to see the magnificent ninth-century manuscripts of the Book of Kells. Although it was atmospheric in a gloomy sort of way in the specially built viewing room, Hannah was a little disappointed that they were only able to see two of the original pages, although that was only to be expected of a priceless artefact. She decided that the Long Library alone had been well worth the visit.

With overloaded brains reeling with history, they left the twilit rooms to return to the bright sunshine of the afternoon in Library Square and walked out of the grounds onto College Street down towards the river.

‘One of my favourite facts about the university is that once upon a time students weren’t allowed through the grounds without a sword. In fact, myth has it that the rule has never been dropped, so students could still be fined for not having a sword. There’s also the one about a secret wine cellar but again I’m not sure how true that is, and another that if students walk under the campanile bell tower they’ll fail their exams.’

‘Glad I didn’t come here then.’

‘There were plenty of other bonuses,’ he said, idly staring back at the buildings.

‘You went here?’

He nodded. ‘Brains of the family.’

‘Wow. Just think, you trod the same halls as Oscar Wilde, Samuel Beckett, and Jonathan Swift.’

‘Not sure that ever crossed my mind while I was here. I was too busy getting acquainted with the black stuff.’

‘Guinness?’

‘Yep, and it’s true. You’ll get no better pint than here. I feel bad – I should have left enough time to visit the Guinness Storehouse. You get a fine view of the city from the Gravity Bar they’ve build on top. But we can have a pint at Mulligan’s. And then head down to the river, cross over the Ha’Penny Bridge, come back over to Dublin Castle, and then back to the hotel to pick up the car.’

‘I’m going to have to come back to Dublin. I feel like I’ve barely scratched the surface.’ And in that moment, Hannah promised herself she would come back. She’d fallen in love with the city, with its elegant Georgian thoroughfares in Merrion Square, the lively cobbled streets of Temple Bar, pulsing with personality and party vibes, as well as the stately grandeur of the university and other historic buildings.

The only problem was, she couldn’t imagine coming back without Conor.

Chapter Twenty-Three

‘How was Dublin?’