“Or perhaps she was a model I’ve worked with before under a different name.”

I reached for the teapot for something to do, only to find a pathetic trickle dissolve into my cup. “No, she isn’t a model. She must be in her early seventies.”

One of Flynn Talbot’s brows rose. He muttered something indecipherable under his breath, before taking a sip of coffee and setting down the cup with a decisive clink. I could sense his shutters were down and refusing to budge. “Right. Look, I have no idea what’s going on here. I don’t want to appear rude, but I don’t have a great deal of time.”

He studied me from under his lashes for longer than was necessary.

“Look, I’m going to be honest. I was intrigued when I received your Facebook message. That’s why I came here this morning.” There was a heated pause until his phone let out an insistent ring. I could see from where I was sitting that the person’s image on his phone was a platinum blonde.

Flynn Talbot declined the call.

“Yes, I can see how in-demand you are.”

He gave me an indecipherable look.

I thought again about the letter to Lily, nestling in my bag. “Please forgive me but the house – Merry Wood – do you recognise the name of it at all? You gave me the impression that you might.”

His clear silver eyes bored into mine. “You were mistaken,” he ground out. “In fact, you seem to have been mistaken on several fronts.”

My cheeks flared with embarrassment.

I noticed he possessed enviable, spikey lashes. “I’m obviously not the Flynn Talbot you are looking for, whoever he is.” His jaw clenched. “Where did you say you found this mysterious letter? In a house?”

“Yes. It’s called Merry Wood.”

Flynn Talbot looked troubled again

“What is it?” I asked, a kernel of hope unfurling in me at his odd reaction. “Do you recognise it? The name of the house, I mean?”

A pulse throbbed in his jaw.

“I’m sorry but I can’t help you. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have a meeting.”

He shot up, fished about in his wallet and tossed a ten pound note down.

I got to my feet. What was going on? He was suddenly very keen to leave. “Do you know the man who wrote that letter?”

Flynn Talbot’s eyes flashed.

“Please, Mr Talbot. You happen to share the same name as the man who wrote this letter to Lily. If there is any help at all you think you might be able to give me, I’d very much appreciate it.”

He fired his camera back around his neck. “Sharing the same name as someone else isn’t uncommon. Sorry, but I’m going to be late as it is.”

“Please, Mr Talbot. I could see something in your expression.”