‘I’ll leave off then,’ he said, shrugging. ‘No bother if it’s a worry. I’m the same myself.’

‘The same?’

‘Independent. Don’t much care for other people’s help. They always seem to want something in return.’

We shared a smile. I found myself liking him. Then a thought occurred.

‘You just helped Felicity. Was that Brian that Pike was after?’

He nodded. ‘Pike’s all bluster. Never had a dad. Just needs a couple of reminders what’s OK and what’s not.’

‘And that’s where you come in?’ I asked, looking sceptical. ‘Why?’

‘Who else? Every bugger else is scared of him.’

Behind him I heard a sudden rustle and an instant later Heron’s hand was across my mouth. He pressed himself close to me and I was suddenly overwhelmed by his nearness. I could smell the fire and the gunpowder and the paraffin upon his fingers and with my face pressed into his jacket I got the whiff of the skin beneath the mingled scents: an earthy, woodland smell, like dew the night after a bonfire. My eyes widened at the suddenness of it and then his face was a shade from mine – his blue eyes growing bigger and smaller and blurring as I tried to make sense of it. He jerked his eyes right and I followed his gaze. There were six of them. One great, majestic stag with antlers like hawthorn trees. Two smaller does. Three youngsters. They moved through the trees like liquid.

‘Don’t speak,’ breathed Heron. ‘They can’t smell you. You smell of me right now. And they know me.’

I found myself suddenly aware of myself and where I was – pressed against a tree and pinned beneath this strong, mysterious man as these forest creatures slunk between pockets of shadow. I felt him relax his grip and I gave a tiny nod, promising not to make a sound.

‘There’s two rich bastards from the castle been tracking that king for weeks.’

‘King?’ I whispered.

‘The buck. King of the woods.’

There was no mirth in his voice as he said it. He meant every word.

‘You were a gamekeeper once, so I heard,’ I said, under my breath.

‘I were all sorts. And none sat well. Now I keep them safe.’

‘The animals?’

‘Those I can.’

We watched the family of roe deer flit past the abandoned cottage and after a moment I let out a breath. ‘Thank you,’ I said, and it may have been the first sincere one of my life.

‘Not a bother,’ he said, shrugging. ‘I’ll walk you up the spa path, if you like.’