We enter the cellar. Liam leads the way through the low-ceilinged space, having to duck because of his height, until we reach the kitchen. I stay glued to his heels, my heart rattling loose in my chest and my breathing quick and fast, fuelled by fear. Every step I half expect the man to come leaping out at us. I wish to god Liam didn’t want to confront him.

‘There has to be another set of stairs up to the first floor,’ he says now in a whisper, looking around. ‘We just need to find them. Come on,’ he says, gesturing to the stairs we took last time that led up to the great hall. Reluctantly, I follow, and we tiptoe up them, entering the rubble-filled room.

Liam walks swiftly towards the study and I hurry after him, aware of every little noise I’m making. It’s almost impossible to stay quiet as our footsteps echo on the stone floors. I worry that the element of surprise will be lost, and we’ll walk into a trap.

Once in the study, Liam makes directly for the wood-panelled door and we enter the narrow servants’ passage that runs between rooms. My breathing seems riotously loud in the tight space, though it’s almost drowned out by the blood that’s now roaring in my ears. I recognise it as the start of a panic attack and I fight it, keeping my eyes fixed on Liam’s back and trying to screw up my courage. Everything in my body is screaming at me to get the hell away from this place, but, as though I’m under a witch’s spell, I cannot turn around. I can only follow Liam blindly on. I’m too scared to leave him and go off by myself, so I choose the lesser of two evils.

We keep following the passage until finally Liam discovers a staircase. ‘Here!’ he says. ‘Found it!’

Liam shines the torch up it and then starts to climb. I follow, my legs like lead, my heart still jackhammering with panic. I draw in huge gasping breaths as I try to fill my shrunken lungs.

We reach the top of the stairs and find ourselves in another passageway, but this one ends at a door. When Liam eases it open, we find ourselves in an upstairs hallway. Liam slips out, putting his finger to his lips again to remind me to stay quiet. My breathing is laboured, and I try to quiet myself down but when I pad out behind him, I let go of the door and it bangs shut behind me. Liam whips around and glares at me, annoyed. I shake my head in apology and mouth ‘sorry’.