The lights are on downstairs, the windows glowing like jack o’ lantern eyes. The removals lorry and the Mercedes are gone, but the blue Vauxhall is still there. I park next to it but stay in the car, gathering my courage. When I finally do get out, my knees are so shaky that I can barely totter in my heels through the mucky gravel. I manage to make it up the cracked stone steps to the front door. Holding my breath, I ring the bell. Within seconds, the door opens. Jack Faraday’s smile has the air of amusement. His face is too craggy to be considered classically handsome, I suppose. His blue eyes are sharp and intelligent, and I feel like they could penetrate the fog of my deepest dreams. I immediately experience a stirring in parts of me that I thought were long dead. ‘Hi Amy.’ He holds out my scarf. My heart plunges – is that it then? He gestures for me to come inside. ‘Come on in – it’s freezing out there.’ I put the scarf in the pocket of my coat and move past him into the great hall.
