‘Don’t worry, lovely. Honest to God, it makes no difference to Conor. He’s away at work all day. He only needs to be here to keep an eye on things in the evenings. I can see you’re worried but I promise you he’s quite well house trained. He might even cook for you, if you’re lucky.’ Although she flashed a quick grin, it didn’t hide her incipient worry.

‘I am here, just in case you’d forgotten,’ he said frostily.

‘You are indeed, and isn’t it lucky for us all.’ Adrienne was crisp now, back in charge. ‘She’ll probably be glad of the company. You’re not a complete neanderthal.’ She turned back to Hannah. ‘And you were expecting to share with someone.’

‘Yes, but—’ Hannah looked desperately at Conor for support.

‘I insist,’ said Adrienne, and from the set of her jaw Hannah knew that there would be no changing her mind. ‘I would be devastated if anything happened to you.’

‘But…’ Her mind darted in different directions, trying to find an answer. ‘I’ve been using the shower in the other bedroom.’

‘Oh, don’t be worrying about that. I’m sure you can come to some arrangement. Conor is an early riser. He won’t give you any bother.’

Conor didn’t even look her way, giving her the clear impression that he couldn’t care less what she did.

‘Besides, he’s fully occupied with his cottage. Not that I’m allowed to see it.’ Although she said it with a light smile, Hannah got the impression that it irked her slightly. She liked to be in control.

‘Are you sure he’s… you’re not too busy? I’d hate to disrupt your work.’

‘I’ll be so much happier knowing he’s here with you,’ said Adrienne. ‘We’ve never had any trouble like this before but I’m sorry to say by the looks of those footprints we might have ourselves a peeping Tom and I want to reassure everyone that we’re taking it seriously. I’d like to think it’s Moss Murphy up to his usual tricks but, as Conor says, it’s just not his style. I’ve called the guard again but there’s nothing they can do. I’ve no idea who it could have been; it’s not someone local that’s for sure and that’s what really worries me.’ She clasped her hands together over her chest, not quite wringing them but close enough and Hannah realised that she was genuinely anxious.