Thankfully, we had reached the landing, and I opened the door to the guest bedroom I’d set aside for Jack to use.

‘This is yours. I hope it’s all right.’

Jack walked in, carefully placing his luggage on the floor and looking around as he did so.

‘All right?’ he repeated, laughing. ‘It’s beautiful. You really shouldn’t have gone to all this trouble.’

‘It was no trouble,’ I insisted. ‘Nothing I wouldn’t do for any guest.’ I was suddenly and inexplicably gripped by a need to assure him he wasn’t getting preferential treatment.

He levelled the almost hypnotic green gaze at me. ‘From what I hear, you’re not really overkeen on the whole guest thing apart from your family.’

I waved my hand in dismissal. ‘You shouldn’t believe half of what my brother tells you. You know what he’s like.’

‘I do, but I think we both know he’s right about that. And, of course, there is the fact that you’re known as the reclusive romance writer.’

Turning to look out of the window at the cows in a field two along from mine, I spoke without looking at him. ‘I would have thought that coming from a family like yours, you would know better than to believe everything you read in the media.’

He smiled as I turned back. ‘Touché.’

‘So, through here’s the bathroom,’ I continued the tour. ‘There’s some toiletries there, with extras under here.’ Briefly opening a cupboard under the sink, I showed him backup supplies. ‘If there’s anything else you need, just let me know.’

‘Lily, this is all great, but you’re not a hotel. You don’t have to do all this.’

‘Like I said, I wanted you to be comfortable. And with that in mind, you look pretty tired, so I’ll leave you to rest. If I’m out in the morning, help yourself to anything from the fridge and cupboards for breakfast.’

We both knew it was highly unlikely I’d be out, as there wasn’t a blue moon due for ages yet, but I kept up the pretence and Jack went along with it.

‘Thanks, Lily. I really do appreciate you putting yourself out like this. I’m aware that this wasn’t really your idea.’

‘Well, none of that really matters now, does it? You’re here and I’d like you to be comfortable. Besides, Felix would never forgive me if I was rude to you and bearing in mind he’s one of the few people I see, I kind of have to keep him sweet.’ I gave a quick smile, only half joking. ‘Goodnight, Jack.’

‘Night, Lily.’

With that, I closed the door behind me and went downstairs to lock up, preparing myself for a soak in the bath and a read of my book. When I returned upstairs a short time later, no light shone from beneath Jack’s door, and all was silent within.

4

The next morning, I tentatively stuck my head out of the bedroom door, listening. When I didn’t hear movement, I stuffed my feet into furry slippers and padded downstairs into the kitchen.