Page 64 of Mirrors of the Past

They stared at one another for what seemed like an age as they both processed the information.

Tegan was the first to break the spell. ‘I have to get out of here,’ she said, almost in a whisper. ‘Right now. I’ve had enough.’ Finally! Thank the Lord, they could leave Pencradoc! ‘I’m going to see if the pub has a room for the night. I literally cannot be here tonight. It’s just — too much.’

The words were out before Ryan was fully aware that he’d said them. And given his current thinking about escaping from the place, he could have bitten his own tongue off by suggesting it. ‘If you want to get some clothes, I’ll come up and wait for you outside your room,’ he heard himself say. ‘I think we could both do with a drink tonight. I’ll stay in the village too.’

‘Where? In the pub?’ Tegan looked surprised.

Ryan shook his head. ‘No. In my van. It’s a campervan. Great for transporting things here, there and everywhere. And great for unscheduled stopovers. Like this one.’ There was a beat and he tried to swallow down any lingering animosity there was between them. ‘In all good conscience, I can’t let you cope with this on your own tonight. I’d rather spend some time with you and make sure you’re okay.’ He cringed. He had just given Tegan Burton an opening to throw his offer back in his face.

But, to his surprise, that didn’t happen.

‘Thank you.’ The words sounded strained. ‘I would — appreciate that. Would you — would you come with me now? Up the servants’ staircase.’ A smile struggled to appear on her lips, then died. ‘I’m not going up these things any more tonight.’ She nodded over her shoulder, indicating the Grand Staircase.

Ryan nodded back. ‘That’s fine. Lead the way. And this — hatbox. Where can I leave it?’

‘I’ll lock it in a cupboard in the office. Do you think we can take the photo album, though? I think I’d like to look at the photos in a neutral place.’

‘That sounds great. Surely they can’t get us in the pub?’

‘I bloody hope not,’ she replied. ‘Come on. And — thanks.’

‘No problem.’ He gestured for Tegan to take them through the maze of corridors he knew Pencradoc consisted of and tried to batter down the thought that, actually, if he was left to his own devices, he could probably lead Tegan there himself.

It was, very much, as if he was starting to recognise that he, Ryan, knew this place like the back of his hand.