‘Does anything faze you?’ he asked as they climbed over a stile. He offered his hand to help her down, but she used the post to steady herself instead, before jumping down, either ignoring or oblivious to his gesture. He pushed his hand in his pocket.

‘Oh, stand there, just like that,’ she said suddenly, twisting out of the straps of her rucksack. ‘No, don’t move.’

Harry did as he was told, while Steph took her camera from her bag and framed up a shot of him. The shutter clicked several times. Steph took some more shots but from different angles. ‘Perfect!’

‘Can I see?’ asked Harry, moving towards her.

‘All in good time,’ she said, turning off the camera. ‘I want to vet them first and then show you my favourite.’ She slung the camera onto her shoulder.

The path made its way further up the incline and then ran parallel with the lake. There was a five-metre drop from the path down to the water’s edge.

Harry came to a halt and looked out across the lake. The vastness and stillness of the water seemed to capture him, paralysing him.

He felt the cold nip in the air on his face, and as his gaze travelled back to the murky water below he felt his body sway. It was as if the water had a kinetic force of its own and was drawing him in. Not for the first time he wondered if Elizabeth had felt that same pull. Was that why she had come up to the lake so often, her subconscious drawing her towards danger?

‘Hey! Careful.’

Steph’s voice brought him out of his trance, and he looked down at her hand on his forearm and the other holding tightly to his upper arm. He took a step back from the edge.

‘Sorry, I was miles away there.’ He blinked rapidly and concentrated on his surroundings.

‘I thought you were going in for a moment,’ said Steph. Her voice was light, but Harry could see concern in her eyes. ‘Thought I was going to have to jump in after you.’

‘You wouldn’t want to have to do that,’ said Harry. ‘Not here. Not this side.’

He could see she knew instantly what he meant. This was the spot where Elizabeth had entered the water. He shivered, not able to decide if the air temperature was the cause or not.

‘Shall we walk on?’ Steph let go of his arm. ‘Or would you prefer to go back? I can use the shots I took earlier.’

He could tell she didn’t really want to cut short her walk and he had a feeling she would only venture out here again if they went back now. He didn’t like the thought of Steph being out here on her own – this side of the lake was too dangerous.

‘It’s fine. I’m fine,’ he reassured her.