Page 5

‘That’s kind but I think I’ll be very comfortable in here as it is,’ she said cheerfully, longing to sink on to the Chesterfield and be swallowed up by the cushions. This place was bringing out every childhood fantasy but she didn’t want to let Arlo see that. ‘Better change into dry stuff first, though.’

‘OK. When you’re ready, shall I give you a mini-tour or would you rather have something hot first? To drink, I mean,’ he added hastily.

Katie swallowed a snort of laughter. ‘A change of clothes then the tour, please,’ she said primly, as if she hadn’t caught his accidental innuendo. It had, however, crystallised a thought that had developed since the first moment she’d seen him take his hood off at the jetty: that he was every bit as imposing and handsome as his house.

‘Of course.’

She followed him upstairs, trying not to admire the way his jeans showed off his muscular bum. After the year she’d had, she wasn’t looking for anything hot beyond the steaming-mug variety, but if any of her heroines had been, Arlo Crabtree would have fitted the bill perfectly.

Ten minutes later, Katie’s luggage had been deposited in her room, the largest, with an en suite and a huge sleigh bed – appropriate for Christmas – and she changed hastily into dry clothes before scooting back downstairs where Arlo was waiting in the kitchen.

Like all the rooms, it had high ceilings with decorative cornicing, deep skirting boards and large panelled doors. Everywhere had a feeling of space, yet also of comfort. She’d ordered a food parcel and found it all packed away already in the pantry and American fridge. He explained that there was another fridge-freezer in the scullery cum boot room. The kitchen was a perfect mix of old and new, with gleaming appliances and a coffee machine set against dark blue wooden units and racks of copper pans.

He handed over a mug of hot chocolate awkwardly. ‘Sorry, I don’t do the whipped cream and marshmallows.’

‘It’s fine. I don’t expect to be waited on, though this is very welcome.’ Katie held up her mug. ‘It’s self-catering so we’ll be looking after ourselves.’

‘Of course.’

‘You said that you normally have a housekeeper to meet guests. I read on the website that she sometimes stays overnight if guests want her to … but if she can’t make it, that means I’ll be on my own.’ Katie hadn’t meant to blurt it out.

‘Yes. Is that a problem?’

‘No.’ Katie heard the creak of the boiler from overhead. Used to the almost constant bustle and lights of the city, she suddenly felt slightly panic-stricken. ‘It’s only that I expected her to be here on my first night but it doesn’t matter.’

‘This might sound strange but I could stay if you like,’ Arlo offered after a moment’s hesitation. He didn’t sound that enthusiastic at the prospect.

‘Oh no! Absolutely not.’ Katie checked herself. ‘Sorry, I mean please don’t stay if you didn’t plan to.’

‘Well, I really don’t mind. I sometimes stay over to cover for Helen or the other staff or if there are any problems – not that I’m expecting there to be,’ he added hastily. ‘There’s a staff flat in the attic where I sometimes kip with Pongo.’

A madman in the attic. That was Katie’s immediate thought and it made her smile. However, she didn’t know this man and even if he had a touch of brooding Mr Rochester-type vibes, he was a stranger.

‘I won’t disturb you, if that’s what you’re concerned about. It’s totally self-contained up there and I’ll fend for myself but if you’d rather I went back to the Lodge and left you to it, that’s absolutely fine.’

Katie would and she wouldn’t. It had been one thing booking the place when she’d thought Helen would be on hand for any glitches with boilers, Agas or merely to be a reassuring presence. It was quite another to be in this great big place alone in the middle of nowhere.

‘I mean, you’re probably a thousand times safer than in London …’ Arlo said.

Katie raised an eyebrow.

‘Sorry, I’m sure your area is, um, lovely.’

‘I know what you mean,’ Katie said, amused at his attempts to back-pedal. Hearing barks outside, she managed a smile. ‘If it’s really not too much trouble, then it might be a good thing on my first night if you and Pongo could stay. You can show me how everything works and then I can be relaxed and ready for my guests when they arrive tomorrow.’

He nodded and smiled. ‘It’s no problem at all and I’m sure Pongo will enjoy a night out.’

A few hours later, still smiling at the thought of Pongo enjoying a night out, Katie rooted through the fridge. She decided, as she often did, that she didn’t want to cook for one. Picky bits would do for dinner on her first night.

After acquainting her with the quirks of the central heating and Aga, and showing her the woodstore, Arlo went to chop some more logs and didn’t reappear. Pongo stayed outside with him and the house fell silent apart from the sharp thud of the axe from outside.

Night fell fast and hard in the northern winter. Before she drew the curtains in the sitting room, Katie peered out into the dark. With barely any light pollution, it was almost pitch black. Perhaps, through the trees, she could imagine a few glimmers from isolated farmhouses on the fells.

Although she thought she heard Arlo and Pongo come back into the house by the boot room, they didn’t join her in the sitting room. Now she had Wi-Fi, Katie sent another message to the Island House WhatsApp group accompanied by a picture of the Christmas tree and the blazing hearth decorated with swags of greenery. Within moments, the replies pinged like crazy.

Jess: OMG. Cannot wait! XXXXX

Auntie Wanda: Make sure that’s died down by the time you go to bed. I hope there’s a guard for it.