‘Only joking!’ Jordan said quickly, trying to recover the situation.

‘Of course,’ the painter replied. ‘I’m only thirty-nine – I hope to have a few more years yet.’

His wife, five years his junior, gave the agent an awkward smile.

Neither of them, looking out at the views in turn, noticed the nervous glance the agent suddenly shot at the doorway.

Jason stared out through the rear gable at the huge lake, and the sloping field beyond, and the soft round contour of the hill rising up steeply beyond that. He watched the ducks – mallards and Indian runners – on the lake. It was so tranquil. ‘I could work here, I know I could – it’s just, wow, so inspiring! Well, this view to the north is, anyway. It is north I’m looking at?’

‘Yes indeed, Mr Danes, and that is part of the South Downs National Park, so it can never be built on.’

‘Unlike the other directions?’

The view to the south looked down at the brand-new houses directly opposite, and the rows of houses beyond, most of which were just shells still under construction. To the west was a vast, muddy site, on which there were bulldozers, diggers, men in yellow hard hats with theodolites, and marked-out plots. To the east was a huge empty and overgrown field.

‘I’ll show you the shape of the whole plan,’ the estate agent said, kneeling and unrolling a large map on the bare oak floor.

It was headed, COLD HILL PARK DEVELOPMENT – PHASE 1, PHASE 2, PHASE 3.

‘The whole site comprises just over twenty-five acres, Mr and Mrs Danes. Now this, where we are, is part of phase one, which is, frankly, the most exclusive area, with the largest homes, the very best of which – and of which this house is the very best – have the lake and rural views. The position is, frankly, superlative – you see, phase one is built on the curtilage of the original mansion that was here: Cold Hill House. Whatever your views on aristocracy and gentry, you have to admit they all knew a thing or two about position and views. And all the infrastructure is already in place – the roads, drains, utilities and, of course, the all-important super-fast fibre broadband. The area to the west, which you can see, is phase two, which will be smaller buildings: townhouses, a few two-storey apartment buildings and some affordable housing.’

‘You mean council houses?’ Emily quizzed.

Jordan looked a little awkward. ‘Well, in all but name, yes. But you’ll never even know they’re there, with their separate road network. And then to the east, that field, that will also be detached homes, very classy ones.’

‘How many residences in total will there be here?’ Jason Danes asked.

‘When phase three is completed, there will be one hundred and thirty altogether.’

‘So, this place will be a building site for the next two years?’

‘Yes, Mr and Mrs Danes, but honestly you’ll scarcely be affected. There’s very little phase one left, and of course the price of this house reflects the temporary inconvenience.’