When it had finished, he said, ‘Recognize any of the other names?’

Looking shocked, she pointed at the book. ‘Some of them are here. Brangwyn; Matilda; Evelyne.’ She hesitated. ‘Caro – that’s short for Caroline. Caroline Harcourt?’

‘Could be.’

‘What about the others?’

He debated whether to say anything. Should he hold back what he had discovered in the graveyard the day before? It would only freak her out even more. And yet, to say nothing would be dishonest. They’d always promised to tell each other the truth. So that they could deal with problems together.

He shrugged. ‘The others are all names on graves in the churchyard, down in the village.’ He showed her the photographs he’d taken.

Very deeply shocked, she said, ‘I read them all out in my sleep?’

‘You did.’

She blanched. ‘I’m reciting the names of dead people I don’t know, in my sleep? Why? What’s that about? Why didn’t you tell Beavis and Butthead, while they were here?’

‘Because…’ He was trying to think straight. Why hadn’t he told them? He realized the answer. ‘Because I hadn’t read this book. OK?’

‘No, not OK. When I was reciting these names, I hadn’t read the book either. So how did I know them? Tell me, how? Who put them into my head?’

‘Honestly, Em, I don’t know. Look, it’s damned weird, really creepy and I have no explanation other than maybe somewhere, sometime, you had read the history of this place and forgotten all about it.’

‘That’s a bit lame.’

‘Are you sure you didn’t google it ever?’

‘No, but I damned well will now,’ she said.

‘I’ve found out a little about the names already – I know how the families died – but I’ll have a trawl of the net and see what more I can dig up.’ He walked around behind her and rested his hands on her shoulders. ‘You and I are positive people, right?’

Hesitantly, she said, ‘Yes – meaning?’

‘OK, we’ve had all kinds of weird shit since we moved in. Now we’ve had the place exorcised – delivered – or whatever they call it. We agree it feels lighter.’

‘It did until I read that damned book.’

‘Our ghost has gone. We both saw her go. Let’s take the positive out of all of this. It does feel better, right?’

Reluctantly, Emily nodded.

‘I’ll re-do the paintings. We’re going to enjoy Christmas in our gorgeous home. We’re going to forget about all the shit that’s happened; it’s in the past, we’ve dealt with it now, end of.’

‘End of,’ she echoed, flatly. ‘Let’s hope so.’

‘We’ve God on our side. He’s just a phone call away.’ He tapped the business card printed with the name Reverend Gordon Orlebar that the Minister of Deliverance had left on the table.

Emily smiled, reached up and entwined her fingers through his. ‘It’s all pretty ridiculous, isn’t it, considering neither of us are believers?’

‘It is.’ He nuzzled her ear and whispered, ‘Just in case it’s of interest, I’m suddenly feeling very horny.’