‘Em? What’s the matter?’ Rupert appears beside me, his face flushed pink with exertion from wrestling with the heavy bags.

‘Nothing,’ I say quietly, and start to climb the stairs, heading towards our bedroom. As I open the door it gets stronger, the feeling that someone has been in our house while we have been away. I sniff the air delicately, wondering if I can really smell a faint hint of perfume or whether I’m imagining it. Rupert appears behind me, wrapping his arms around my waist and nuzzling against my neck.

‘Straight to the bedroom, eh? I like your style, Mrs Milligan.’

‘Rupert, stop.’ I pull away, a ghostly draught washing over my skin and I wrap my arms around myself, unable to stop the shiver that ripples through me. ‘Does it feel weird to you?’

‘Weird? Does what feel weird?’

‘The house.’ I reach out a hand and smooth the already immaculate duvet, not sure what it is that I’m looking for.

‘The house?’ Rupert shakes his head. ‘Sorry, Em, I have no idea what you’re talking about.’

‘It feels… odd. Like someone has been in here. You know like, when you come home and you know that I’m here, just by that feeling in the air. You know that there’s someone home, right? That’s how it feels. Like someone just left.’

‘Em, please,’ Rupert sighs, reaching out for me. I let him pull me into his arms, even though I feel as though I need to look under the bed and check in the wardrobes. ‘Not this stuff again. I told you, no one is interested in us. There wasn’t anyone watching the house, and I certainly don’t think anyone has been in here while we’ve been gone. And if they have, it’ll only be Amanda – I asked her to keep an eye on the place.’

I stand there, silently, wishing I could believe him.

‘Is this about the messages you received?’ Rupert holds me at arm’s length and looks into my eyes, making me feel as though I’m under a microscope. ‘I told you, I’ll look after you. Whoever it is, they’re no threat to us, to our marriage. I swear to you, Em, no one has been in the house. It’s been a long day.’