The walls were wainscoted and painted in the same sage green and there was another vase of wild flowers tucked into what must have once been a window nook. The colour scheme felt restful and relaxing, and there were several pale green and cream cable-knit throws folded over the back of the sofa.

‘There are a few provisions in the fridge,’ said Fergus. ‘To keep you going. You don’t have to eat with everyone if you don’t want to. Some people like to have breakfast by themselves. It gets a bit intense being with everyone all day every day. Especially if you’ve got some aul fecker on the course.’ He stopped with a guilty expression. ‘You didn’t hear me say that. Everyone’s always grand.’ With a roll of his eyes, he grimaced. ‘Don’t tell anyone.’

‘I won’t.’ Hannah shot him a conspiratorial grin. ‘I’m sure everyone will be lovely.’ Although she had her doubts about Jason and Fliss.

She looked around again at the cosy little sitting room, imagining snuggling down on the sofa, tucked up in a throw with the fire burning, a good book, and a glass of something. She wondered if provisions included wine but at least she had her transport – she could go off and do her own shopping if need be.

‘I’ll take your bag upstairs. As you’re first here, you get first dibs on the bedroom. One has the en suite, the other, the main bathroom. The choice is yours.’

Upstairs, the two bedrooms faced each other over the small hallway. One had a large double bed, the other two singles. Hannah ummed and ahhed for a minute, her natural decency feeling that it wasn’t fair to choose when the poor woman had missed her ferry. Swings and roundabouts. The twin room had the en suite with a rather impressive shower with a magic button by the bathroom door which you could use to set the shower going before you even set foot in the room. Although she was taken with the idea of not having to wait for the shower to warm up, she also liked the light airy double room with its big wooden bed, plump pillows, and soft cotton-clad feather duvet. Perhaps if they got on well, her new housemate might let her use the shower occasionally.

‘If you just leave my case here, we’ll toss for it when the other lady gets here.’

Fergus stared at her with a touch of teenage scorn. ‘I’d have bagged the big bed.’

Hannah lifted her shoulders. ‘I have to live with her.’

He grinned. ‘Every man for himself.’

She laughed. ‘I’d rather live in harmony, thank you very much.’

‘You don’t come from a big family, do you?’