‘Someone was in the lodge,’ she said. Her voice wavered as the realisation of what had happened to her came into sharp focus.

Harry reached out and held her hand. ‘What?’

‘Someone was here in the lodge while I was sleeping. Something woke me up, a noise from out here. I came out and then … I don’t really know what happened next … I think someone pushed past me and I slipped.’ She touched the side of her head with her hand. ‘Ouch. I must have knocked my head on the breakfast bar as I went down.’

‘Are you sure there was someone in here? Did you leave the door unlocked?’

Steph wiped away a tear as she tried to recall the chain of events. ‘I’m certain I locked the door. I’m pretty good with that sort of thing.’

‘How did they get in, then? Did you leave a window open?’ Harry looked around the room and then got up and methodically checked all the windows in the lodge. ‘They’re all closed,’ he said, before going to inspect the front door. ‘And it doesn’t look like anyone has forced the lock.’ He sat back down on the coffee table.

‘I didn’t imagine it,’ said Steph firmly, her shock making way for anger at the thought of an intruder being in the place. ‘There was definitely someone in here.’

‘You had been drinking; could you have simply tripped and fallen?’

‘No, I wasn’t drunk,’ insisted Steph, annoyed that he should imply she was too drunk to know what she was doing. Gingerly she touched the side of her head where a lump had already formed.

Harry moved her hair to take a look. ‘You need that looked at.’

‘No. I’ll be OK. It’s not bleeding. Just sore.’

Harry didn’t look entirely convinced. He got up and plucking a clean tea towel from the kitchen drawer, he proceeded to run it under the cold water, before squeezing it out and folding it into a pad. ‘At least put this on your head,’ he said, coming back over and offering her the compress.

‘Thanks,’ said Steph, wincing as she placed it to her head. ‘There was someone here, Harry.’

‘Did you see what they looked like?’

‘Not really. It was dark. I didn’t put the main light on, just the passageway light.’ She closed her eyes as she tried to envisage the intruder. ‘They were taller than me, I think, but I couldn’t see their face. I think they had a hood up. Other than that, I can’t tell you anything.’

‘Shit,’ muttered Harry and then took her hand again. ‘I’m so sorry, Steph.’

‘It’s not your fault,’ she replied, allowing her hand to be held.

‘I feel responsible. You’re here as my guest and then something like this happens. We should report it to the police.’